Companion Animals

Cat Dental Home Care Prevention

Daily toothbrushing and dental diets significantly reduce periodontal disease in cats, preventing a major source of chronic oral pain.

Key Facts

Periodontal disease affects over 70% of cats by age 3
Daily toothbrushing is the most effective dental prevention intervention
Dental diets and chews reduce plaque accumulation through mechanical action
Professional scaling under anaesthesia treats established disease
Dental disease causes chronic oral pain that cats typically conceal

Welfare Considerations

Periodontal disease is one of the most common yet underappreciated causes of chronic pain in pet cats. Most affected cats continue eating, masking the extent of their discomfort. Preventive dental care from kittenhood - particularly daily brushing - is one of the highest-impact lifetime welfare interventions available to cat owners.

What You Can Do

Begin toothbrushing training in kittens using feline toothpaste
Schedule annual dental examinations with your vet
Use dental diet or treats if brushing is not tolerated