Some pet parents may not follow the best oral and dental practices to keep their mouths and teeth clean. And others may take good care of their teeth but not their fur baby’s teeth. Even while gnawing on chew toys and munching on dry food can promote your kitty cat’s dental health, it is not sufficient to ward off potential dental issues.
For this reason and many others, as a cat parent, you must learn how to brush your fur ball’s teeth and stick to your cat’s daily/weekly dental schedule. Also, remember that dental issues can be painful for a fur baby, and diagnosis and treatment to cure them can be financially taxing. And it is one reason why you must consider purchasing a cat insurance policy.
The best cat insurance includes medical care for specific dental diseases, illnesses, cat health emergencies, and more. Also, you can find cheap cat insurance plans at economical costs with a bit of shopping around. If you haven’t purchased a pet policy yet, start by inquiring about the pet insurance cost across various insurers.
While you look for the best-fit cat health insurance policy, read this article to learn about the cat’s dental structure and cat brushing essentials.
Cat dental structure
Initially, kittens are equipped with 26 baby teeth that will eventually fall, making way for 30 adult teeth. The adult teeth begin to set in when a kitten is half a year old. The adult cat’s dental set comprises four canines, twelve incisors, ten premolars, and four molars.
The most prominent teeth are canines and incisors (clearly visible when a kitty opens its mouth); they help in picking up/holding onto the food and gnawing while grooming. In contrast, premolars and molars contribute majorly to chewing activity and are considered very important.
Cat supplies needed for feline dental routine
Have a checklist beforehand so you don’t have to beg your kitty that is ready for the brushing session to hang in there for a minute until you sort out necessary cat dental supplies. Every kitty is unique. Some cats stay calm through the teeth cleaning activity, and others may wreak havoc or allow you little access to their mouth and the dental apparatus. Whatever the case, stay prepared with these brushing essentials to hopefully accomplish the dental cleaning task.
1.Cat toothpaste
Toothpaste made for humans is not suitable for cat use. Instead, you must purchase toothpaste specially designed for the feline palate. Such toothpastes are pet safe (even when swallowed), produced in various flavors, and enjoyable.
2.Finger toothbrush
You can choose items like a dry Q-tip, small-headed cat brush, etc., to clean your fur baby’s teeth. A full-fledged toothbrush can be too big for your fur ball’s little mouth and teeny-weeny teeth, which is why you must select a correct-sized feline toothbrush.
3.Cat treats
Learn your kitty’s preferences and pamper them accordingly. You can bribe your fur baby with delectable treats made of ingredients like shrimp/tuna/cheese, canned cat food, and tasty lickable, or other smelly delights, so they oblige your brushing request.
4.Tranquilizers
You can use vet-recommended calming supplements, medicines that relieve anxiety, pheromones, etc., to bust your kitty’s brushing-related fear and stress.
5.Bathing towel
You can simply wrap your munchkin in a towel to restrict motion when you need to brush its teeth. By doing so, your kitty feels not only cozy but also secure. Plus, the advantage is your furry friend will not be able to kick away the brush.
Regular brushing can help prevent potential dental infections, diseases, and other oral problems. Dental issues are critical to a kitty’s health because they can quickly spread to other organs and cause colossal damage.
Cat insurance can significantly reduce your medical financial stress during unexpected pet health troubles. It would help if you knew that pet insurance cost could be much lower than the hefty dental bills you may have to pay for testing and treating dental complaints.
