Question:
Are dried cat foods really bad for kitty's lil' kidneys?
How do we freshen up kitty's fishy breath? ;-) Our cats won't let us
open her mouth and I guess a brush and toothpaste won't appeal to her
either? Does anyone have any suggestions/ ideas please?
Answer:
No. In fact, some dry foods are especially formulated for cats with
urinary system problems.
Don't feed fish? There actually are cat toothbrushes and cat
toothpastes. If the bad breath means tooth decay or gum disease then
consult the vet. If the cat eats stinky food, and sometimes to a cat
the stinkier the better, feed the cat less smelly dry food.
Believe it or not, the *do* make a toothpaste (malt or fish
flavored) for cats! There are also toothbrushes and small rubber devices
that slip over a finger and are used to scrape tartar off the outside of
a cat's teeth.
Ask your vet to check the cat's teeth to be sure the smell isn't from a
decayed tooth or some other health problem and while you're there have
the vet show you how to clean kitty's teeth. It takes alot of patience,
I must admit, but if it works, you can save your cat lots of trouble and
yourself lots of vet bills later on.
(I've gotten to the point where my cat likes the flavor of the toothpaste
but is still uncomfortable with the brush in his mouth..sigh!)
