Brushing a cat's teeth

Brushing a cat's teeth

Bad breath in a cat is usually a sign of tooth/gum problems and ranks as one of the top reasons people seek veterinary care for their cats. Like humans, cats need to have their teeth inspected by a vet twice yearly and brushed daily if they are to maintain good oral hygiene. Although cats are not naturally fond of this activity, it is important to start the tooth brushing routine between 3-6 months of age (but better late than never) due to the fact that by age three 85% of cats have some sort of periodontal problem.
http://www.mybloglog.com/buzz/community/goldteeth

Start with a child's toothbrush, a finger brush or a pet toothbrush (available at many pet stores including the one on this site) and use a specialty toothpaste or something tasty like pâté that is safe to swallow. Do not use human toothpaste, it is not good for cats. Start VERY slowly, gently brush 1 or 2 teeth and reward the cat for not squirming with a GOOD food reward. Try again the next day and go slightly longer. Reward again with food. If the cat starts to squirm stop the activity and do not give a food reward. Try to anticipate the cat's tolerance level and end the activity with a food reward before the cat starts to squirm. Gradually increase the length of time until hopefully, by two weeks you can brush all the teeth, top and bottom and front to back.
Tip: Try brushing first thing in the morning before you give your cat any food.
http://portal.blogfusion.com/blogs/catdisease/index.cfm/id/cat_teeth_diseases