Trying to brush your cat’s teeth? It’s not easy. Cats make it a challenge to get them to agree to anything. But skipping teeth cleaning means neglecting their health.
Oral hygiene is key for your cat’s overall health and happiness. Issues like plaque, tartar buildup, gum disease, and bad breath can happen without regular brushing. Start brushing when your cat is young, if you can. It helps prevent future problems. But really, it’s never too late to begin.
This guide explores different toothbrush options, what to look for, and reviews some of the best cat toothbrushes out there.
Best Cat Toothbrush
We’ve picked out our favorite rounded head and finger toothbrushes for cats. Here’s a quick look at our top choices.
Best Finger Toothbrush for Cats
Harzara Professional Pet Finger Toothbrushes
This 6-pack of finger toothbrushes makes applying toothpaste simple. You get good control when brushing your cat’s teeth. The small ring helps with grip, making them easy to use, even with small mouths. We really liked the feel and control these finger toothbrushes offered. It made them our top choice.
Our Rating: 5/5
Best Rounded Head Cat Toothbrush
PetSol Dental Care Kit for Cats
This dental kit offers great value. It includes three different brush head sizes and a 50g tube of good quality toothpaste. The rounded heads help reach the back of a cat’s mouth. The various head sizes and bristle firmness made brushing easier, even with a cat that wasn’t fully cooperative.
Our Rating: 4.5/5
Criteria used in our cat toothbrush reviews
As cat owners, we brush our cats’ teeth often. We’ve used many toothbrushes over the years. To give you the best details, we focused our reviews on these key things:
- Is the toothbrush made well? Will it last?
- Is it safe for your cat to use?
- How easy is it to actually use the brush on your cat?
- Does it offer good value for the money?
Cat Toothbrush Reviews
There are many cat toothbrushes out there. Most are good quality. Still, some toothbrushes stand out. They offer better affordability, last longer, and are easier to use. We can’t promise your cat will love brushing, but these brushes will make the effort worthwhile. Especially if your cat lets you get the job done.
1. Harzara Professional Pet Finger Toothbrushes
Summary
If you’ve been unsure about using finger toothbrushes because of safety concerns, the Harzara finger toothbrush can ease those worries. It’s made from soft, non-toxic silicone and fits well on your finger. There’s also a safety ring for extra steadiness. We found these brushes easy to clean. They provide a gentle cleaning that our cats accepted very well.
Key Features
- 100% non-toxic silicone for good grip and bendiness
- Safety ring stops it from slipping into your cat’s mouth
- Comes with a storage bag
- Includes 6 finger toothbrushes, enough for up to 6 months of brushing
- It’s advised to change each brush monthly
2. PetSol Dental Care Kit for Cats
Summary
This dental kit offers a lot for its price. The toothpaste, made with quality ingredients, helps reduce plaque and tartar. It also freshens breath and supports healthy gums. With three different brush heads, including a double-headed one, it’s flexible for all teeth. The slightly firmer bristles are great for older teeth that need a deeper clean. We really think this kit gives you excellent value.
Key Features
- Comes with a toothbrush and toothpaste
- Toothpaste helps freshen breath, whiten teeth, and improve overall oral health
- Includes 3 different brush heads (one has two heads) for even tough spots
- A cheese flavored toothpaste
3. VTurboWay 360-Degree Pet Toothbrush
Summary
This brush, with its smart design, is a good choice if you don’t want a regular or finger toothbrush. The VTurboWay brush is made for small mouths. So, it fits inside your cat’s mouth without a problem. It helps remove food bits from those tricky spots. Plus, it has a short handle, which is great for owners who prefer not to put their fingers inside their cat’s mouth.
Key Features
- 360-degree bristles mean you can turn it for full coverage
- Easy to hold
- Simple to clean
- Designed well for a smaller mouth
4. H&H Cat Finger Toothbrush
Summary
This finger toothbrush is simple but works well. It’s made from FDA-grade stuff. It has curved bristles, not flat ones. This makes it simpler to clean those harder-to-reach areas in your cat’s mouth. You get 8 reusable finger toothbrushes in a pack. These should last you a few months of good cleaning before needing new ones.
Key Features
- Curved bristles help clean tough spots
- A firm bristle to help clean the worst plaque
- Comes in large and small sizes to fit your finger (but watch out, we found the small size still pretty big)
- H&H gives some of their profits to Hope for Paws
What to look for when buying a toothbrush for your cat
Picking a cat toothbrush isn’t the hardest thing. But you want the right tool. It should keep their teeth shiny. Before you buy, think about these features. Reading customer reviews helps, too.
The type of toothbrush
You won’t know which toothbrush type your cat likes until you try it. Some brushes have two heads, giving you different bristle sizes. Finger brushes usually give you more control for reaching spots and holding your cat. If these don’t work, consider a chew toy that supports good oral health.
Toothbrush material
Most toothbrushes either have bristles or softer, more flexible silicone. Bristle-headed brushes are generally firmer. They clean teeth better. But they can be too hard for cats with sensitive gums. Silicone is soft and flexible. Many finger toothbrushes use it. If your cat has sensitive gums or dental problems, silicone might be better.
Size and length of the toothbrush
The toothbrush size and length matter. If your cat eats a lot of carbs, more food bits might stick to their teeth and gums. A longer brush could help you clean more thoroughly. If not, a shorter brush or finger brush might be fine. Also, think about your cat’s mouth size. You want them comfy, not trying to fit a huge brush head in there. That’s a quick way to make them hate brushing forever.
What is the best cat toothpaste
The best cat toothpaste is enzymatic toothpaste. It has enzymes. These enzymes help lessen bacteria in your cat’s mouth. This stops tartar from building up. Enzymatic toothpaste also really helps with bad breath, even if it comes in meaty flavors.
Our favorite cat toothpaste is the Virbac Enzymatic toothpaste for cats. It has a fishy taste. Our cats love it. Don’t worry, it doesn’t leave their breath smelling fishy.
How often should I brush my cats teeth
Ideally, you should brush your cat’s teeth every day. As cat owners, we often forget. So, we probably brush their teeth a couple times a week. We do it for about 10-20 seconds each time.
It’s best to start cleaning regularly when your cat is a kitten. This helps them get used to it. It also prevents any dental issues as they grow older.
Can I use a human toothbrush and toothpaste on my cat
Do not use a toothbrush or toothpaste made for humans. Cats have much smaller mouths than people. One slip with a human toothbrush could hurt your cat. It might make them avoid brushing for good. Human toothpaste also has fluoride and artificial sweeteners. These are bad for pets. They can make your cat very sick. You can buy toothpaste for cats in different flavors, like beef or mint. We might not like tuna-flavored paste, but your cat just might.
Alternatives to brushing a cats teeth
Some cats just won’t let you brush their teeth. We’ve had cats that won’t come near us, let alone let us clean their teeth. We’ve found these ideas helpful for their oral health:
- Rubbing their gums with an enzymatic toothpaste – even if you have to put it on a treat to get it on there.
- Adding a dental water additive to their water – we like TropiClean Cat Breath Freshener.
- Adding a cat food supplement to their daily meals – we like ProDen’s Plaque Off for Cats.
- Feeding your cats dental treats – we like Purina Dentalife Dental Treats for Cats.
- Choosing a cat food that has dental benefits – we like Royal Canin Dental Dry Cat Food.
- Giving your cat toys designed for oral hygiene.
Our top tips for cleaning your cats teeth
Cleaning a cat’s teeth might seem tough at first. But we’ve got some tips to make it easier for both of you.
- Keep it fast. Don’t make it a stressful experience. We usually brush for just 10-20 seconds.
- Start when your cat is a kitten. Younger cats tend to adjust to brushing more easily.
- Don’t fight your cat. Be firm, but don’t wrestle them.
- Begin with a gentle clean. Getting your cat used to it is better than a single deep clean.
- Leave a new toothbrush near your cat’s toys. This lets them get used to seeing it.
- Hold your cat with their back to you while brushing. Keep a firm hold on their tummy. They’re less likely to run, and it feels less like a confrontation.
- If your cat is used to a cat harness, put it on during brushing. It helps you hold them without hurting them.
- Give your cat a dental treat and a long pet after cleaning. It’s a good reward.
- If your cat is okay with getting their claws cut with cat nail clippers, try to do both at once. They might see the toothbrush as part of that routine.
- If your cat truly hates it, stop. Look at the other options for dental care we listed above.