Choosing a Cat Toothbrush
With so many different models available, it can be tricky to work out what each type of cat toothbrush does and why they might suit your kitty. Consult our buying guide to help provide your cat with top dental care.
Types of Cat Toothbrush
Regular Brush
A standard cat toothbrush. The only thing that makes these types of brush different from human ones is that the handle will usually be thinner, longer and more angled, allowing you to reach far back into a cat’s mouth. Cat toothbrushes also have far softer bristles to prevent them from injuring a cat’s gums.
Finger Brush
Coming in the form of a kind of bristled finger glove, a finger brush allows you to easily clean a cat’s teeth by simply placing your hand inside their mouth while wearing one. This is often easier to use than a brush and is particularly useful when it comes to control, as you can get to hard to reach places more efficiently without risking missing your mark! They are usually made from soft rubber or silicone materials meaning it gives a smooth and soft brushing action.
Double-ended
Similar to a regular brush, double-ended models simply feature a brush head at each end, and are usually slightly longer in overall length. The point of these brushes is usually that the heads come in differing large and small sizes. This makes them not a particularly great pick for cats as the large head will often be too large for their oral cavity, however the small end will likely still be usable. Double-ended brushes are usually a product for dogs, but as most companies release their items as being pet toothbrushes, you will often see them advertised as being suitable for cats too.
Size Suitability
Make sure you are aware of the size of your brush head when purchasing a toothbrush as many products advertised as ‘pet toothbrushes’ may be too big for cats. Cat’s have a very small oral cavity and so need a small brush to accommodate for that. Therefore you should always make sure that whatever brush you buy is advertised as being specifically suitable for cats and that it’s brush head is visibly small.
Handle Shape and Length
If you’re not comfortable with putting your hand in your cat’s mouth, you’ll want to make sure the handle of your brush is suitably long so you can reach their back teeth without issue. It also helps to choose a brush with a featured shape, such as a curve or angling which makes it easier to get at difficult areas such as the backs of the molars.
Bristle Softness
Cats have sensitive gums and so don’t particularly want a super-abrasive toilet brush-esque product. However you also don’t want the bristles to be so soft that they don’t effectively scale the teeth. Again, super soft brushes are something a dog requires, not a cat, and so if a brush describes itself as being suitable for dogs and extra extra soft, it perhaps won’t do as great a job for your cat!