The right treats can help keep your cat’s teeth and gums clean and healthy, but the wrong ones can worsen dental health. Here’s how to know the difference.
Dental problems are common in cats. But the good news is that prevention is easy. In fact, keeping her teeth and gums healthy is as simple as feeding her a high-quality diet, taking her to the dentist regularly, and giving her a few healthy treats!
Sweets ? Really? Eating treats is a big no-no when it comes to our own teeth and gums. But high-quality cat treats are formulated with healthy ingredients that break down plaque and fight tartar. Quality is key, however, use these guidelines to know what to look for and what to avoid.
AVOID chemical fillers and additives.
Fillers – grains, corn, wheat, rice and potatoes, for example – are inexpensive ingredients added to pet foods and treats to increase their bulk and calorie content without adding to their nutritional value. Chemical additives like artificial flavors and colors improve taste and visual appearance, but that means the treats are loaded with chemicals. In short, fillers and additives benefit manufacturers, not animals.
So how does this affect your cat’s dental health? Grains, starches, and sugars stick to cats’ teeth and lead to the buildup of bacteria and plaque. These poor quality ingredients also harm your feline’s mouth by upsetting the pH balance in its stomach. This internal disturbance presents itself in the form of bad breath and eventually tooth decay.
LOOK for protein as the first ingredient.
Cats are obligate carnivores, which means meat-based protein is an essential part of their diet. Products that contain high-quality protein as the first ingredient provide more bioavailable nutrients that boost your feline’s immunity and help protect their pearly whites. Raw treats are even better.
Northwest Naturals, a high-quality raw pet food company, offers freeze-dried raw cat treats that contain meat as the only ingredient. “Freeze-dried treats are the same as eating a raw protein, without the moisture,” says Patti Salladay, sales clerk and marketer. “Active enzymes and bioavailable nutrition are intact, which keeps the natural pH and enzymes in the mouth in harmony.” In other words, raw treats help keep plaque and bacteria away. Patti recommends proteins and organ meats that have been approved by the USDA for human consumption.
AVOID artificial preservatives.
Artificial preservatives pose a huge health risk to our pets. Compounds like BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin prevent products from going rancid, but there are more natural ways to achieve this. Look for treats containing antioxidants such as vitamins E and C and rosemary, which act as natural preservatives. Although they do not extend the shelf life of the product as much, they are not carcinogenic like the chemical alternatives.
LOOK for limited ingredients.
You’ve all heard the advice: if you can’t pronounce half the ingredients in a product, don’t buy it. Generally, these long chemical names are a good indication that the product contains unhealthy additives. To make sure a treat is good for your cat, do your research to make sure you understand every ingredient they eat. In the meantime, look for treats with a short list of ingredients you recognize.
SwedenCare USA offers dental treats for cats that contain only 11 natural ingredients, all with a specific purpose. The first ingredient, sea kelp, prevents plaque and softens tartar deposits to reduce bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease and premature tooth loss. “What goes into the mouth also goes into the gut,” says Scott Reinhardt, vice president of sales and marketing. “By providing cats with an effective and tasty dental treat with limited ingredients and no additives or preservatives, we strive to ensure that cats maintain quality dental health, digestion and overall health.”
LOOK FOR products enriched with natural supplements.
Ideally, the treats you give your cat should include vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that fight dental issues from the inside out. Look for products that contain probiotics, antioxidants, enzymes, and omega-3 fatty acids. These supplements will help boost your cat’s immune system, reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in their mouth, and reduce their risk of periodontal disease.
For cats that don’t like treats
Some cats don’t like snacking between meals – and that’s fine. There are other ways to keep your mouth healthy. Start with a high quality diet. Low-end pet foods that contain the wrong ingredients will contribute to dental problems, not prevent them. Other options include brushing her teeth, using an oral spray, gel, or serum, or fortifying her water with a supplement designed for feline dental health. Kane Biotech, for example, offers a water additive made with food-grade ingredients that break down bacteria in your pet’s mouth.
If you could help avoid extra trips to the vet by giving your cat high-quality treats, wouldn’t you try? Your cat will appreciate it and her teeth and gums will thrive.
Shopping list
Kane Biotech, kanebiotech.com
Northwest Naturals, nw-naturels.net
only natural animal, onlynaturalpet.com
Sweden Care, swedencareusa.com
myDog Dental, monchiendentaire.com
