25 Nov Veterinary Approved Cat Dental Treats
Dental treats aren’t just your fluffy companion’s favorite snack, they’re also a valuable part of your cat’s daily oral home care routine. That’s because plaque accumulation occurs rapidly after a professional cleaning. If you don’t keep up your cat’s oral hygiene, they will likely develop periodontal disease. As a veterinary dental practice in Colorado Springs, we highly recommend that your cat’s oral home care routine include daily tooth brushing with adjunctive oral rinses and vet-recommended cat dental treats.
How Do Cat Dental Treats Improve Oral Health?
The mechanical chewing action of food items with a firm texture provides partial removal of daily plaque accumulation. Cats start with a total of 30 adult teeth. Their teeth are pointed and lack the flat occlusal surface that our teeth have.
Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they survive on a mostly protein diet. In the wild, they may not chew much. Their sharp, pointed teeth are primarily for killing and helping propel the prey to the back of the mouth along with the tongue’s assistance. In the wild, the natural toothbrush for a cat is feathers and fur from ingested prey.
However, a household companion cat’s diet is comprised mostly of small kibble, which can be easily swallowed whole. Dental treats tend to be larger than kibble providing more surface area for abrasive cleaning action on the tooth surface. It is important to understand that dental diets and treats will not be beneficial for the incisor (front teeth) or canine teeth. Incisor teeth are for prehension and canine teeth are for capturing prey. The cheek teeth, or premolar and molars, are utilized more for the ‘chewing’ or ‘grinding’ actions.
Vet-Recommended Cat Dental Treats
When one walks into a pet store, it can be daunting to know what is the right treat to ‘chewz’ (pun intended) for your sweet kitty. Luckily, the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) also provides a list of recommended cat dental products. The VOHC seal helps to guide astute pet owners in choosing the best products to promote optimal oral health.
The top vet recommended cat dental treats listed from the above link include:
- Greenies Cat Dental Treats
- Whiskas Dentabites in Chicken and Salmon flavors
- Purina Dentalife Daily Oral Care Cat Treats
Though not on the VOHC list, CET Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews are highly recommended by the veterinary dentistry community as well as our board-certified veterinary dentists at Animal Dental Care and Oral Surgery.
Questions About Your Cat’s Dental Health? Consult a Cat Dentist in Colorado Springs
Whether you want to know more about selecting the right cat treats or are concerned for your pet’s oral health, don’t hesitate to contact a professional. The compassionate team at Animal Dental Care and Oral Surgery is here to help you maintain your cat’s oral health. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with a board-certified vet dentist in Colorado Springs.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (4/25/2025).Photo by freestocks on Unsplash
