That’s right, even your sweet kitty needs to have his teeth cleaned.
While you may be wondering how you’re going to fit your toothbrush into his mouth and if cats even like to be minty fresh, brushing your cat’s teeth isn’t the same as brushing yours.
First of all, it requires some specialized equipment, patience, and persistence.
The most important piece is the toothpaste.
In this article, we’re going to review the following Cat Toothpastes:
- CET Enzymatic Toothpaste
- Nylabone Advanced Oral Care
- Sentry Petrodex Dental Kit
- Oratene Veterinarian Antiseptic Oral Gel
- Enzadent Pet Toothpaste
Later on, we’ll discuss the best cat toothpastes, but first let’s talk about how to use them.
So what’s the big need for brushing a cat’s teeth?
It’s not like wild tigers are brushing after every meal.
True, but a tiger’s diet helps to keep his teeth clean.
Domestic cat diets aren’t quite the same as they would be in the wild, so our precious pets have to deal with tarter buildup, bad breath, and dental disease.
If your kitty is willing, lift up her lip sometime and see if she has any dental issues looming.
Yellowish-brown buildup along the gum line is unwanted tartar caused from daily plaque being allowed to adhere to the teeth.
Too much tartar can actually lead to tooth decay and loss.
Gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums, is another complication of neglected dental care.
Both conditions can be painful and cause a decrease in appetite.
The huge concentration of bacteria in an unclean mouth can also make your kitty very sick.
So in short, it’s best to brush your cat’s teeth to maintain a healthy, long life.
The best cat toothpastes really look nothing like your toothpaste.
They’re not all blue and minty and they don’t use fluoride as it can be toxic to cats.
Rather, some are flavored like something a cat would love, chicken or beef, and they use enzymes or other ingredients to break down and prevent tartar buildup.
So let’s take a look at the five best cat toothpastes.
5 Best Cat Toothpastes Reviews
1. Virbac CET Enzymatic Toothpaste
CET Enzymatic Toothpaste by Virbac has a dual action enzyme formulation that works for both dogs and cats.
The enzymes work to inhibit plaque from forming and do so without having to be rinsed.
This is great news because brushing your kitty’s teeth might be hard enough without having to get her to rinse and spit.
CET toothpaste also comes in four flavors: beef, poultry, vanilla mint, and malt.
Vanilla mint and malt are animal product free so they won’t interfere with any food allergies or sensitivities.
When it comes to cat toothpaste, you need one that is effective and that your cat will love.
Not every kitty is going to be willing to let you mess around in his mouth with a toothbrush, so it’s important to have a toothpaste that they think of as a treat.
CET Enzymatic Toothpaste is both of those things.
With different flavors to choose from, you should be able to find one that your cat will enjoy.
It is also effective at preventing plaque buildup, freshening breath, and preventing dental disease.
Some pet parents just couldn’t get their kitty to cooperate with the tooth brushing.
They may have liked the flavor of the toothpaste but would not tolerate the brushing action itself.
Some said that their cat just didn’t like the toothpaste.
CET Enzymatic Toothpaste may be just what your kitty needs to have a healthy smile, fresh breath, and a long, toothy life.
This product works well at cleaning teeth and most kitties seem to like the flavor and will tolerate tooth brushing just so they can have it like a treat.
When starting your kitty on a tooth brushing program, it may work best to let your kitty taste the toothpaste before trying to actually brush.
Since this toothpaste is made to be swallowed, it can seem more like a treat.
2. Nylabone Advanced Oral Care
Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Toothpaste for cats uses Denta-C instead of enzymes to clean plaque away from teeth.
Denta-C prevents bacteria buildup that can cause odors and dental disease.
Nylabone Advanced Oral Care only comes in one flavor.
People really seem to like the brush that comes in the Nylabone Advanced Oral Care kit.
It has a small head and is angled so reaching those back molars is easier for you and less awkward for your kitty.
The bristles are also very soft to prevent any gum irritation.
Nylabone Advanced Oral Care toothpaste is also meant to be swallowed and is a kind of sweet flavor that most cats love, so brushing their teeth will seem like a treat.
Some kitties just didn’t like the taste and would run from Nylabone Advanced Oral Care toothpaste.
It even made some cats foam at the mouth, which is most likely just due to the bad taste, not some toxic ingredient.
It would be nice if there were other flavors available to help with these kitties as the product is a good one if only you get a chance to use it.
Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Toothpaste for cats makes the best cat toothpastes list because it is a good product that cleans teeth, freshens breath, and prevent dental disease.
The small, angled toothbrush is also great at getting to those hard to reach teeth way in the back of your cat’s mouth comfortably and easily.
You may experience some trouble with the flavor as some cats just don’t go for the sweet taste and might prefer a meat flavor option better.
Even if your cat is a picky eater, this product might still be worth a try, especially for the toothbrush.
3. Sentry Petrodex Dental Kit
Petrodex Dental Kit by Sentry uses hydrogen peroxide to gently clean plaque away.
Even though it contains hydrogen peroxide, it doesn’t foam or need rinsed.
The malt flavor is sweet, so it might not be for all kitties.
For cats that like the taste of this toothpaste, Petrodex seems to work well at keeping plaque and tartar down, freshening breath, and keeping teeth and gums healthy.
Hydrogen peroxide is also the ingredient in most of those over-the-counter human teeth whiteners, so it should have the same effect on feline teeth.
The major downside to Petrodex is the flavor.
Malt isn’t every cat’s cup of tea and if a cat doesn’t like the taste of the toothpaste, tooth brushing just isn’t going to happen.
Again, other flavors like beef or chicken might be more appealing to these kitties.
Petrodex cat toothpaste is a good product for cleaning your cat’s teeth if you can get them to like it.
Hydrogen peroxide is a great cleaning agent and can really reduce plaque and tartar buildup that can lead to dental disease and bad breath.
It might work best to slowly introduce this toothpaste to your cat by simply offering it as a treat at first.
You can then slowly work your way to the brushing action itself.
For those cats that did like the flavor, Petrodex toothpaste worked great and they saw positive differences in their cat’s dental health and breath.
4. Oratene Veterinarian Antiseptic Oral Gel
Oratene Veterinarian Antiseptic Oral Gel is serious toothpaste for cats with existing dental conditions.
This powerful gel can be used in all animal species and has antibacterial and antifungal activity.
It is especially beneficial for cats suffering from stomatitis.
Oratene Antiseptic Oral Gel also works well with no brushing.
You can just rub the gel onto the teeth and gums and leave it.
The no brushing possibility may be the best thing about Oratene Gel.
For those cats that just can’t handle that action, rubbing this gel on the gums might be a better alternative.
Also, the broad spectrum ability of Oratene makes it a good choice for the more serious dental issues, just make sure you talk to your veterinarian first.
Again, as with all the toothpastes so far, some cats just don’t like it.
Since Oratene only comes in one flavor, that makes it impossible to switch it up so that picky kitties can enjoy the benefits of Oratene.
A few consumers reported that their cat vomited after using the Oratene Gel.
This could be that they gagged due to the flavor.
There aren’t any toxic ingredients.
Oratene Veterinarian Antiseptic Oral Gel might be the answer for your kitty with dental issues.
Stomatitis, gingivitis, and bacterial or yeast infections can be treated by applying this gel and without having to do the brushing action.
Just be aware that it only comes in one flavor which isn’t pleasing to every kitty.
Always be sure to contact your veterinarian when dealing with any dental issues.
If it’s more than just bad breath or plaque buildup, follow your vet’s advice above all else.
5. Enzadent Pet Toothpaste
Enzadent Pet Toothpaste uses a combination of three enzymes to clean away plaque and prevent tartar while freshening breath.
The poultry flavor works well for nearly every kitty making it easier to use.
It is also no foaming and is made to be swallowed in small amounts so no need to rinse and spit.
Cats using Enzadent Pet Toothpaste really seem to enjoy the flavor and have had good luck with preventing plaque and tartar.
The triple enzyme action keeps the teeth free from bacteria meaning better breath and less chance for illness.
Pet parents find it easy to use and are happy with the success.
It also works well without brushing.
You can just rub it on the teeth and gums and let the enzymes do the work for you.
Enzadent Pet Toothpaste, like most toothpastes, doesn’t work well on tartar itself.
Once tartar is there, it’s there and it usually takes a dental cleaning to get rid of it.
What Enzadent does do is prevents the tartar from coming back after a cleaning or from settling in in the first place.
Enzadent Pet Toothpaste makes the list of best cat toothpastes because it uses a powerful triple enzymatic action to remove plaque and keep tartar at bay.
It also works to freshen breath and prevent more serious dental disease.
The poultry flavor is well liked by most cats making tooth brushing time a more pleasant experience.
Just don’t expect this toothpaste to remove tartar accumulations that are already in place.
Conclusion:
Brushing your cat’s teeth may seem like an impossible and stressful ordeal and it can definitely be that way.
Having the right toothpaste can make it a more positive experience for you and your kitty.
With a flavor that your cat loves and the powerful cleaning action that you want, the best cat toothpaste can leave a clean, healthy, nice smelling mouth that you and your cat will love.
It’s best to start brushing your kitty’s teeth as early as possible.
This not only promotes a healthy mouth, but also makes it easier for your cat to get into.
Starting as a kitten will ensure that your cat’s teeth stay healthy well into adulthood and beyond.
If starting your cat young isn’t an option, get your adult cat into a tooth cleaning routine as soon as possible.
Don’t wait until he needs a professional cleaning before you find that perfect toothpaste.
Hopefully this list of the best cat toothpastes will help you and your cat find a toothpaste that not only tastes great but will also leave a healthy, sparkly shine to your feline’s pearly whites.
- Read more: The 5 Best Cat Toothbrushes
