Orange cats and gingivitis?

catheetiem

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Good morning everyone, hope you're all well! Something had just popped into my head and I was looking to get you guys' opinions!

I had always heard that orange cats were more likely to have dental issues, even heard the term "ginger-vitis" thrown around a few times šŸ˜. It has rang true with my parent's orange cat, who has significant dental issues. I adopted an orange kitten a little while ago, so I was curious what I could do for him to help him prevent issues int he future (I already have a toothbrush and toothpaste to get him started young), so I looked it up online and actually didn't find anything about orange kittens being predisposed to dental problems. It was something I've heard about for years, so I was surprised to not have anything come up in my search. Is this something you guys have heard of?
 

The Goodbye Bird

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I've heard something similar: That orange males are predisposed to urinary issues.

I've always written it off as a rumour with little to no basis in reality even though I did have an orange male that died from urinary issues.

It's not out of the realm of possibility for the lighter orange pigment to be affecting the cat's tissues somehow and the darker pigment to be a benefit. There would have to be statistical evidence and preferably a study before you could really say, though.

Although if you had a couple torties or chimeras with a face split by colour who had gingivitis on specifically the side they were orange on, it would be pretty damning.

My experience with cats and gingivitis is that they get it easily in captivity, especially big cats. Some sources say that most cats in captivity have it. I can see how this could lead to people thinking orange cats are predisposed, since anyone who had a pile of orange cats would naturally think it was because they were orange.
 

artiemom

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I always thought that orange kitties were prone to IBD. Just goes to show that there are so many ā€œtalesā€ out there.
 
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catheetiem

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I've heard something similar: That orange males are predisposed to urinary issues.

I've always written it off as a rumour with little to no basis in reality even though I did have an orange male that died from urinary issues.

It's not out of the realm of possibility for the lighter orange pigment to be affecting the cat's tissues somehow and the darker pigment to be a benefit. There would have to be statistical evidence and preferably a study before you could really say, though.

Although if you had a couple torties or chimeras with a face split by colour who had gingivitis on specifically the side they were orange on, it would be pretty damning.

My experience with cats and gingivitis is that they get it easily in captivity, especially big cats. Some sources say that most cats in captivity have it. I can see how this could lead to people thinking orange cats are predisposed, since anyone who had a pile of orange cats would naturally think it was because they were orange.
Hahaha I'll add that one to the list too then! Sorry for your loss though. And yeah, I had thought that maybe orange coat genes also somehow influence maybe like acidity level in the saliva, weaker teeth, sensitive gums, something like that. But now that I see people have heard orange cats get urinary issues and orange cats get ibd, seems like it's all just rumor!
 
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catheetiem

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I always thought that orange kitties were prone to IBD. Just goes to show that there are so many ā€œtalesā€ out there.
haha I guess I've got a lot to look out for lol! I've always heard that orange cats are "special" too, but always figured people just like the color and pay more attention to them, and as a result get a friendlier cat. Funny that orange cats get all these rumors, they're the only coat color I've heard so many tales about!!
 

The Goodbye Bird

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haha I guess I've got a lot to look out for lol! I've always heard that orange cats are "special" too,
Actually if you mean special with the quotes in a way that a lot of people would mean it with the quotes, this one might be true. I have known a few very derpy orange cats that had that sort of friendly, trusting, if a little less intelligent personality.
 
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catheetiem

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Actually if you mean special with the quotes in a way that a lot of people would mean it with the quotes, this one might be true. I have known a few very derpy orange cats that had that sort of friendly, trusting, if a little less intelligent personality.
Hahaha I actually meant it in the unusually good, friendly, heart-cat kind of way, but really, a "special" in the less intelligent way might be the same thing!
 

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I think diet and genetics are what cause gingitivis. People still think that dry food cleans teeth.. lol. I have 2 brothers, one had a dental cleaning at 10 months old, the other will need one soon. They do get their teeth brushed every few days (they hate it so it's not easy) but giving chicken necks twice a week and feeding raw chunks with tc feline seems to help. They are grey/white and tabby/white. I have a 9 month old torbie kitten who has perfect teeth, its cause she's been predominately on raw since itty bitty, and loves her teeth brushed lol.
 

The Goodbye Bird

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I have 2 brothers, one had a dental cleaning at 10 months old, the other will need one soon. They do get their teeth brushed every few days (they hate it so it's not easy) but giving chicken necks twice a week and feeding raw chunks with tc feline seems to help.
O_O

I have 2 brothers
I have 2 brothers
O_O

They are grey/white and tabby/white.
See, I read this entire post wrong up to this point, mainly because whilst I was reading it I was not particularly paying attention to where I was.

My IQ legit drops by 30 points when it's this hot.
 

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I think orange cats are 'special' also.

I am on my 3rd orange cat.. They all had 'issues' of one another. First one was an orange female who ended up with Diabetes.. second one was Artie, my heart-kitty, who had so many issues: dental, IBD, Megacolon, etc; and now Geoffrey, who has FORLS, and possible IBD... so.. it goes on a and on..

But, I think, Orange cats are special in different ways.. Orange Males.. I am a bit prejudiced, but I think they are so lovable. Once they find their "person" they are very bonded.. so bonded. Of course, that could be with any cat, but......... My orange female, bonded with my mom. She was special to her. My mom was hard of hearing, Pumpkin would always tell her when the phone rang, or someone rang the door bell. She had her own way of alerting my mom.. And she would follow her into bed, every night. I lived there with my parents, so Pumpkin had others to choose from.

I guess you could say that about any color, breed, of cat... but......

Oranges can be large, cuddly, goofy, so loving, as a whole... They photograph so well...

anyway, I am hijacking the thread..

So yes, all three oranges have had dental issues...
 

rubysmama

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I had always heard that orange cats were more likely to have dental issues, even heard the term "ginger-vitis" thrown around a few times šŸ˜.
My Ruby girl has some inflammation of her gums, and my vet mentioned that ginger cats are more prone to the issues.

She also suggested giving Ruby one particular dry kibble as treats, as because of its larger size forces the cat to actually bite into each piece, thus pressing on their gums, and helping with the gingivitis. Unfortunately the main ingredient in chicken, which Ruby has a sensitivity to, so we weren't able to continue giving them to her.

Here's the food my vet recommended: Hill'sĀ® Prescription DietĀ® t/d Dental Care Cat Food - Chicken | cat Veterinary Diets | PetSmart

I always thought that orange kitties were prone to IBD.
Ruby is prone to that too. :sigh:
 
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catheetiem

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I think orange cats are 'special' also.

I am on my 3rd orange cat.. They all had 'issues' of one another. First one was an orange female who ended up with Diabetes.. second one was Artie, my heart-kitty, who had so many issues: dental, IBD, Megacolon, etc; and now Geoffrey, who has FORLS, and possible IBD... so.. it goes on a and on..

But, I think, Orange cats are special in different ways.. Orange Males.. I am a bit prejudiced, but I think they are so lovable. Once they find their "person" they are very bonded.. so bonded. Of course, that could be with any cat, but......... My orange female, bonded with my mom. She was special to her. My mom was hard of hearing, Pumpkin would always tell her when the phone rang, or someone rang the door bell. She had her own way of alerting my mom.. And she would follow her into bed, every night. I lived there with my parents, so Pumpkin had others to choose from.

I guess you could say that about any color, breed, of cat... but......

Oranges can be large, cuddly, goofy, so loving, as a whole... They photograph so well...

anyway, I am hijacking the thread..

So yes, all three oranges have had dental issues...
OH jeez you've dealt with quite a lot!! My vet was so excited when I brought my orange male kitten in, he was raving about orange males and their wonderful personalities! He said prettymuch exactly what you did!! My mom also thinks orange cats are special, one of our family cats (now living with my parents in FL) is an orange female that my mom is absolutely in love with. Pumpkin sounds so sweet, taking care of your mom like that!!

I am a little biased towards black cats, my two favorite cats, including my last cat who was my heart-cat, were both black. I'll never have a black cat again after her, I don't think I could handle it, but they'll always be special to me. Hopefully this new orange kitten will make me biased toward orange guys too! :p

And hahaha okay tooth-brushing is definitely moving up the priority list lol
 
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catheetiem

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My Ruby girl has some inflammation of her gums, and my vet mentioned that ginger cats are more prone to the issues.

She also suggested giving Ruby one particular dry kibble as treats, as because of its larger size forces the cat to actually bite into each piece, thus pressing on their gums, and helping with the gingivitis. Unfortunately the main ingredient in chicken, which Ruby has a sensitivity to, so we weren't able to continue giving them to her.

Here's the food my vet recommended: Hill'sĀ® Prescription DietĀ® t/d Dental Care Cat Food - Chicken | cat Veterinary Diets | PetSmart



Ruby is prone to that too. :sigh:
Okay glad I'm not the only one whose heard it! Sorry about Ruby's gums though!!

Ah damn, I'm thinking my kitten has an issue with chicken too. He has huuuuge, light colored, soft poops when he eats chicken, and normal poops when he doesn't.
 

The Goodbye Bird

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I will never understand this. My response when I hear that idiotic nonsense is, "Do you eat granola to clean your teeth?"
They say the same thing for humans and apples.

Humans' teeth get dirty mostly in the crevices because they have molars. It's not out of the realm of possibility for me that a species without crevices would have their teeth at least scraped off a little by hard food.

I actually don't think it's true. I'm just saying it's one of those things that could be true.
 

aurorabee

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Interesting, I'd never heard of that but my gingembre angel cat had to have all her teeth removed at age 3. The vet at the time (to this day the best vet I've ever had) said that it was genetic. Sadly, I think my cat also had some issues with IBD. I had always assumed it was related to her not having teeth in terms of digestion.
 

rubysmama

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Ah damn, I'm thinking my kitten has an issue with chicken too. He has huuuuge, light colored, soft poops when he eats chicken, and normal poops when he doesn't.
Yeah, that sounds like he could have some sensitivity. And it can be hard to find cat food that does not have any chicken listed as an ingredient. :sigh:
 
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catheetiem

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Yeah, that sounds like he could have some sensitivity. And it can be hard to find cat food that does not have any chicken listed as an ingredient. :sigh:
Oh, tell me about it! It's been an ordeal trying to find kitten food without it, almost every single one has it! I've settled on fancy feast kitten in turkey for wet and wholehearted salmon recipe kitten for dry. I think there is some chicken in the fancy feast, but it's a small enough amount that he's been doing much better. Of course he is also a picky eater (the first one I've had!) so I've been buying toppers to mix into his boring turkey haha.
 
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