Diet and dental health for cats

As well as a full belly and fresh breath, there’s a whole stack of health benefits to making sure your cat has a nutritional diet and good dental hygiene. 

Whilst each cat will have slight individual needs that can be affected by age, any health conditions and more, there’s a few golden rules you have to obey to make sure your cat is fit and healthy. 

Top dietary tips for cats

• Cats should always have access to clean drinking water. Without it, they could get unwell quickly. 
• Little and often is key to a cat’s heart. They generally eat a few small meals per day and we’d recommend splitting their meals up this way. 
• Cats are carnivores and they cannot survive on a vegetarian diet. They need a well-balanced, meat-based supply of food and a regular source of protein. In our experience, dry food is great in reducing the build-up of plaque on teeth. 
• Speak to your vet if you have concerns about your cat being underweight, overweight, showing a lack of appetite or seeming to be constantly hungry.
• Always check the labelling on the food you pick-up and do your homework on any kitty treats you pick up to make sure they are healthy and nutritious. A downside of the massive popularity of pets these days has been the explosion of unhealthy, cheap treats and foods now on the market. 

Top dental tips for cats

You can imagine a cat’s mouth can be a hotbed for bacteria when you think about what they can get up to each day. This means it’s important to stay on top of your cat’s dental health to avoid any diseases which can impact its health and even lead to tooth loss. 

• Don’t underestimate the power of a good old brush. You can use your finger or a suitable brush or cloth to gently massage cat-friendly toothpaste on to your cat’s teeth. It’ll take time to build their confidence up to a point where they are quite happy to let you brush, but it will be time well spent. If your cat is showing real signs of discomfort or there is any blood or sensitivity around the teeth and gums, don’t brush again until you’ve consulted your vet. 
• As we said above, dry food can help stop and reduce the build-up of plaque so try and feed your cat on that as much as you can. 
• Give your cat the odd treat which is designed to help teeth their clean. Whilst this alone won’t be enough to maintain good dental health, infrequent snacks can be handy. 

Like humans, cats benefit from health checks. Make sure your cat gets their teeth and gums checked over at least once a year by the vet. Contact the vet quickly if your cat has sore or bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, drooling or swelling around the mouth or any loose teeth.