Companion Animals

Cat Dental Homecare

Dental disease affects the majority of cats over 3 years old and can cause significant chronic pain, making homecare prevention essential.

Key Facts

Around 70% of cats over 3 years old have some degree of dental disease
Dental pain in cats often goes unrecognised because cats mask illness
Daily toothbrushing using feline-specific toothpaste is the gold standard prevention
Dental chews, water additives, and dental diets provide adjunctive benefits
Untreated dental disease can lead to systemic infection and organ complications

Welfare Considerations

Feline dental disease causes chronic, often unrecognised pain for millions of cats. Preventive homecare combined with regular professional dental assessment significantly improves quality of life.

What You Can Do

Begin toothbrushing training with your cat from kittenhood if possible
Use feline-specific toothpaste only - human toothpaste is toxic to cats
Schedule annual dental assessments at your vet to catch disease early
Consider dental diets or water additives if toothbrushing is not possible
Watch for signs of dental pain: reduced grooming, food avoidance, and facial rubbing