Your Ragdoll Cat’s Teeth
Jan 9th, 2006 by Rob
By the ripe age of six weeks your Ragdoll cat will have developed all 26 teeth. As a kitten, their teeth are clean and white. If you want to keep your cat’s teeth white and clean you need to get them accustomed to brushing. To do this, rub your cat’s teeth with your fingers. Once your cat is used to you fiddling with their teeth, use a child’s toothbrush and toothpaste from your pet supply store to brush your cat’s teeth. Never use toothpaste for humans.
You’ll need to inspect your Ragdoll cat’s mouth on a weekly basis. Look for tarter buildup and any inflammation of the gums. If the gums are red and swollen or your cat has really bad breath you could have a problem and should consult your veterinarian. Feeding your cat crunchy dry cat food can help; however, you will still need to brush and possibly have your cat’s teeth cleaned by your veterinarian.
If your cat develops build up of plaque over a period of time, this can lead to inflammation of the gums, or gingivitis. When the inflammation spreads to the tooth socket, this is called periodontitis. These conditions can spread infection to the kidneys, liver, and heart.
When inspecting and brushing your cat’s teeth, be on the look for the following symptoms.
Foul-smelling breath
Excessive saliva or drooling
Swollen or bleeding gums
Lack of appetite
Spots on your cat’s molars
Sores in the mouth