Your Cat Hates When You Brush Their Teeth — Here’s What to Do

Recently, our editors, one-half of whom are cat parents, were discussing the common vet recommendation to brush your cat’s teeth every day. Turns out, it’s rather important. Cats don’t just use their teeth to eat. They’re also essential tools for carrying things, playing and living life to the full. Teeth are as important to cats as our hands are to us. A healthy cat needs a healthy, comfortable mouth, pet parents should have their cat’s teeth checked regularly by a vet or vet nurse and establish a daily oral care routine at home.

Cat teeth brushing, then is not something you can just ignore. According to Banfield Pet Hospital, dental disease affects more than 65% of the cats they see. In 2017, Cornell University found that up to 90 percent of cats older than four years old have some sort of dental disease. That's why it's vital to perform good home brushing plus regular professional dental cleaning which helps your pet's teeth and gums be happy and healthy.

“To prevent dental issues such as periodontal disease – a painful condition that causes damage to not only the teeth, but also surrounding structures like the gums, ligaments that hold the teeth in place, and even the jaw bone – it’s important to have a regular brushing routine,” Dr Gabrielle Fadl of Bond Vet, says.

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OK, but when I’ve tried the toothbrush with my cat, they freak out. What do I do?

There’s one thing you don’t want to do: force your cat to let you take a toothbrush to their teeth. Cat behaviourist Mikel Delgado told us in 2022 that, in addition to being unkind, making your cat do anything they don’t want to do is not going to be successful. 

“Unfortunately, I think people believe ‘I have to do this and I have to do it now… so therefore, I’m going to hold my cat down [to get it done], which 99.999 percent of the time is going to backfire and make things worse,” she says. 

Start slow

Dr Fadl still recommends teeth-brushing as the number-one way to care for your cat’s pearly whites, but if your cat is not going to tolerate your coming at them with a toothbrush from the jump, you’ll need to ease in. “Start by getting your cat comfortable with your hands near their mouth – don’t jump into using a toothbrush right away,” she says. 

She recommends touching the outside of your cat’s mouth and lips while you’re stroking them. Do this one to two times a day for five days.

Reward them

Try gently lifting their lip and touching your finger to their gums and teeth. When they allow you to do this, give them a treat immediately. Do this for one to two weeks, keeping sessions under two minutes. Dr Fadl says to be especially gentle here. 

Build up to the real thing

Next, she says to try the same thing with pet toothpaste for a few days. Remember never to use human toothpaste on your cat; it can be toxic. Once your cat allows your fingers to be in their mouth without fuss, wrap one finger in medical gauze. Touch it to their teeth and follow with a reward. “With time and enough treats, you'll be working up to a full mouth in no time!”

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I did all that, but it’s still a no-go with the brush. Now what?

Dr Fadl to the rescue: “If you’ve tried all the recommendations for brushing your cat’s teeth, and it’s still an unpleasant experience for both of you (or if your cat tries to bite during toothbrushing), don’t worry, you tried your best! Cats are independent, and sometimes it’s just not possible.” She adds that everyone’s safety (including yours) is the most important thing here.

She says you can try cat dental treats, dental diets and water additives. Ideally, those would be combined with tooth-brushing, but if that’s truly not gonna happen, these are good steps to take. If your dental treat is approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC), too, even better.

“The VOHC reviews veterinary dental products and data to ensure that they are effective at plaque and tartar reduction when used as labelled,” she adds. The main takeaway: doing something to help your cat maintain their dental health is crucial. When it comes to oral health, prevention is better than cure so establishing a daily oral care routine for your cat is essential.  

Cats are stoic animals and can hide oral pain very well so look out for subtle changes in behaviour: your cat becoming less lively or less sociable, eating differently, drooling, having bad breath or being reluctant to let you touch their face. If you spot any of these signs, a trip to the vet is needed. Pet parents are often amazed by the difference in how lively and happy their cats become once they’ve received professional dental treatment and have a pain-free mouth.

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Does a toothbrush-resistant cat mean more vet visits?

Dr Fadl stresses the importance of annual or semi-annual exams, which include a full oral exam. This is especially necessary for a kitty who resists having their teeth brushed. These visits may require dental cleanings under general anaesthesia.

“These professional cleanings are strongly recommended, as up to 60 percent of painful, dental-related issues in cats can only be identified with an X-ray,” Dr Fadl says. “Although the anaesthesia that is necessary for these procedures can be intimidating, have a conversation with your vet to discuss how to make these procedures as low-risk as possible for your individual pet.”

Here’s one final word of advice: you want to do anything and everything you can so that even if you're not brushing your cat’s teeth every day, most days you’re still doing something to improve their dental health. “Tackle the problem from as many angles as possible,” Dr Delgado says. Even if, according to your cat, that doesn’t involve a toothbrush – ever.