Anyone able to brush their cat's teeth? (dogs, house, tooth)

[BijouBaby]

I have never had any luck to effectively or regularly brush a cat's teeth. Dogs? Yes. Cats? No way, Jose! My attempts are met with extreme resistance, and living alone, there is no one to secure the cat while I attempt to brush. It's a disaster!

I just watched a YouTube video of this procedure, and the kitty was very calm and submissive, allowing the vet to do a quick, 1-minute brushing. Mine are neither calm nor submissive and put up a substantial fight when anyone tries to mess with their mouths for any reason. I can understand this, since it's not a natural thing for them, and resist what they perceive as an unnatural and invasive act.

So I'm wondering if any of you cat parents are able to successfully brush your cat's teeth single-handedly, on a regular basis (weekly)? If so, I'd love to hear your technique?

[Rene S]

I've had mixed results over the years, with some being tolerant of it and others not at all. A couple of things--make sure to get a "tasty" cat toothpaste like chicken/beef/etc. they can't use human toothpaste because they're unable to spit it out. Plus most cats dislike minty flavors.

The type of brush can also make a big difference. I like the C.E.T. cat toothbrushes (they are smaller and curved). You can buy finger brushes, rubbery that you slip over a finger to use. Some people use pieces of gauze. You may need to experiment.

Honestly, with three cats and two of them not being cooperative, it just doesn't happen regularly at our house.