Can I clean my cat's teeth at home, or is professional vet care best?

Question

Does my cat need to have her teeth cleaned by a vet or can I take care of this by myself?

Dr. Strydom, DVM · Accepted Answer

You can certainly brush the teeth. That would be the most helpful. When the tartar is yellow like that it is still soft enough that you may be able to brush it off. Remember you must use toothpaste made for animals (no fluoride). It is recommended you brush the teeth once a day but most owners do it 2-3 times per week. Any less than that is likely not going to help much. I absolutely DO NOT recommend you try to scrape the tartar off with anything sharp. You may injure the gums and the teeth and your cat most likely will never let you near it's mouth again. If the cat needs a professional teeth cleaning in the future it needs to be done under anesthesia with the proper equipment by a licensed veterinarian. I hope this helps. Best wishes!

Can I clean my cat's teeth at home, or is professional vet care best?

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