Just wondered if it really seems to help clean cats' teeth? And does anyone brush their cats' teeth? I'm wondering how you got your cat to get used to it?
Are these those long skinny stick things flavored with chicken? I bought dental chew sticks for my cats and they chew them for a day before they get dried out and they don't touch them. I won't re-buy them because it's a waste if they don't use them.
I don't think they hurt teeth but I don't know if they help. Even if they do, brushing them yourself is probably best.
I think the long skinny sticks that Sakura mentioned are called N-Bones. The CET treats are more like a slightly crumbly biscuit--they resemble a piece of gauze. I've used them with one of my cats, Odo, but I'm not consistent about giving them daily. My other cat, Zek, won't touch them but likes toothpaste. Zekkie will hop up on the bathroom counter at night to have his teeth brushed. I started by finding a toothpaste he likes (CET makes some good ones in several flavors) and offering him a little on my finger. Then I started offering it on the brush. I would then touch his cheeks before or while offering him the toothpaste on the brush. Now, I let him lick the toothpaste off the brush and then I use the brush to actually brush his teeth. Sometimes I give him a little more toothpaste when we're done since he likes it and it serves as a treat.
I have bought the CET chews in the past, but not for awhile now. For years I did brush all my cat's teeth with cat toothpaste, but have switched to the Oxyfresh water additive and also use their pet oral hygiene gel every other day. IMO is works better than the toothbrushing regimen and is much easier to massage it into their gums with just my finger.
With the exception of my oldest cat, they've all had their teeth/gums "brushed" from kittenhood. They're not crazy about it, but accept it as something Mom needs to do.
I bought the chicken flavor and the cat with the gum problem did not wanted them more than once, the other cat ate them... so they were not a waste, now I wait for a friend to bring me some fish flavored maybe it will be more appealing..
I will also try the N-bones... who knows, maybe he likes them better, I tried other treatsn like greenies but he is a little piggy and rarely bites his food, he prefers to swalow it all so is a waste anyway......