Hello gang, we all know that dental hygiene for cats can vary in importance, depending on how much dry food the cat eats, and the age of the cat.

We were talking on a list recently about the various methods of holding your cat if you are trying to clean their teeth. Some cats are resigned to this dastardly deed, some struggle but the job gets done, and others are... well... "wildcats" transforming themselves into whirling furry blurs with deadly 50 mile-an-hour claws, and human slaves just seem to bleed so easily.

Cleopatra is a "CATegory 3" type of kitty when it comes to matters of the mouth.

1. She will eat only moist food (the occasional bird would be nice!).
2. She is seven years old, so her teeth aren't exactly new anymore... and
3. She has a genetic inclination to build tartar. (She has already had to go "under the polisher" once.)

So it seems that I should be undertaking the dubious task of a routine dental cleaning program with her. Ha! I'm not sticking MY fingers in there! Might as well call the ambulance and chop them off first. She would be in the "wildcat" mode! As I have said, some cats accept brushing, some cats "wildcat". However Cleo IS different. You see, she brushes them herself.

Lately, I've been wondering why my toothbrush has changed direction in the holder. Lately, I've been wondering why it tastes a bit odd at first. Lately, I've been wondering why Cleo's teeth are remaining shiny and bright. Yesterday, I was walking past the privy and did a double take. There she was sitting on the sink, happily chewing away. I was dumbstruck, and it struck me that maybe she's not so dumb. She prefurrs the peppermint-flavored toothpaste most, because that's the top of the tube she likes to lick when finished brushing. What she's really doing is chewing on the bristles, but nonetheless it seems to have the same result.

After wrestling my somewhat mangled toothbrush away from a swearing cat, and putting it out of reach, I got Cleo her *own* toothbrush, (black and white, like her) put her toothpaste on it, rinsed it and presented it with a flourish. *sigh*.... She just meowed until I gave her mine.

Well at least I'm the proud owner of a new black and white toothbrush now, and Cleo is smart enough to duck going to the Vet and getting knocked out and tortured. She just better not start using my razor!

Copyright © Bill Mason
July 6, 2001