I don't brush my cat's teeth - any of them - but the two girls both adore whole raw chicken wings and have beautiful clean teeth. If your cat or cats will eat one 2-3 times a week it will keep their teeth lovely and clean.
It can be hard to see teeth well enough to judge if there might be a problem or not, so ask the vet to check them next time you are there. There shouldn't be bad breath or redness along the gum line or any visible tartar on them.
May I also say...ask a vet who has your trust. And/or get another opinion, and another.
This is, of course, if you know the diet you feed (raw chunks/frankenprey) should most certainly be keeping their teeth clean. Too often I believe vets just say the teeth need cleaning as a revenue raiser. In my situation, I didn't believe two vets (also both anti-raw) who said that there was tartar on Kato's teeth. The third vet, a feline specialist whom we had sought out on an unrelated matter, examined and commented unasked on Kato's teeth, saying 'Gee, his teeth are good'!! (I KNEW IT!)
Cats don't have little frying pans in their paws. Raw meat (or rather whole raw prey) is their natural diet. What is dangerous is cooked bones as they produce sharp splinters.
My husband and I watch what we give Bella & Thunder to eat. I just have never gave them raw food before expect a small amount of hamburger. Then sometimes they won't eat that.
Could be good reason why they don't eat 'hamburger':
- if it is hamburger grade meat ...it will be minced and have a high surface area and high bacterial load - I think my cat senses this and simply won't eat ground/minced meat.
-or if it is actual pre-made hamburger...this will have fillers like breadcrumbs which aren't nutritious for cats, but worse, onion which can kill them. I'd say they would sense the onion and stay clear.