From Jason J. in Groton, CT

"We've jokingly referred to our cat, Sammie, as 'tuna breath' for most of the time that we've had him. However, lately it's become a self-fulfilling prophecy. His breath has been getting worse, and then I noticed that he was actually losing weight. I watched him as he ate and he was chewing as if something was stuck in his teeth.

"Do cats have problems with their teeth? I thought that it was mostly in older cats? I suppose that he is a little bit old, as we've had him for six years and he was pretty much full-grown when we acquired him. Does he need to go in for his annual kitty dental appointment?"

If Sammie's problem was simply "tuna breath" I might suggest simply changing his food. There are several canned or prescription foods which can make kitty's breath particularly fragrant and unpleasant. However, the weight loss and chewing problems point in a different direction.

Cats can have tooth problems just like people and in much the same way. Indeed, when a cat has a cavity or an abcess, it's just as painful as when a person has the same problem, and it will very much affect their eating habits. As you've noticed, a key indicator is often weight loss or difficulty in chewing. Noticing both of these can be a sure sign that your cat is overdue for their annual dental appointment.

Just like with you and I, cats start out with baby teeth that make way for their adult teeth. Specifically, they have 26 "milk" teeth that they'll lose between the age of 11 and 30 weeks before their 30 adult teeth come in. It's not unheard of for one or more of these milk teeth to not fall out, and this can lead to problems with symptoms as you described. However, as Sammie is older, this is most likely not what's going with him.

Bad breath (or "tuna breath" as you describe it) is one of the top reasons that that people bring their cat to the vet. Cats should have their teeth inspected twice a year as well as brushed daily, but I know quite a few otherwise responsible cat owners who only get theirs to the vet's every few years. Indeed, I suspect some of my friends don't brush their own teeth every day, so scrubbing the kitty's canines on a regular basis is probably not something that's getting done either. But ignoring your cat's dental health can result in a variety of problems.

One of the most common is tartar, or plaque, buildup, a whitish-yellow deposit seen primarily on the exterior face of their upper teeth. An accumulation of plaque can lead to serious gum problems and the eventual loss of teeth. Aside from the colored deposits, look for reddened gum lines whcih can indicate irritation from the plaque.

Of course, some cats are more prone to plaque buildup than others. I've had cats who've never needed to have their teeth cleaned and have gone their entire lives without a single problem and gone to the rainbow bridge with all thirty of their adult teeth. I've had other cats who seemed to have nothing but problems, including one who lost all but one of his canines before he was five-years-old (he was a tough ol' moggie in spite of his having to gum all his food).

A professional cleaning by your vet will take care of the plaque problem and likely leave Sammie feeling much better. However, this is generally done under a general anesthetic, which can be both dangerous and expensive. While you probably won't be able to remove a plaque buildup yourself, you can do something to prevent it from recurring (or happening in the first place).

Brushing your cat's teeth daily, weekly, or even monthly, can make a world of difference to their periodontal health. However, this can be a difficult habit to get kitty into and can take a great deal of work, especially if you're attempting to start when they're adults. Ideally, it's best to start when they're between 3 and 4 months old, but it's my experience that any cat can get used to it, provided that you're ready to be consistent, patient, firm, and persistent.

Start with a small toothbrush. Most pet stores will have one designed to be used on small animals, even ones that fit on the tip of your finger. Use a speciality toothpaste that is safe for animals. Never, ever use human toothpaste, as it's not good for cats! You'll want to start slowly, moving very gently in a circular motion, brushing the outsides of one or two teeth at a time, then stopping and giving your cat a treat as a reward for tolerating this alien procedure. You want to make it as positive an experience as possible (remember, cats don't respond to negative conditioning). If kitty gets too squirmy or restless, give it up and try again later, possibly the next day.

Over time, gradually increase the number of teeth that you scrub between rewards. With a little luck, patience, and persistence, you'll be able to brush all of your cat's teeth, top to bottom, front to back, within a few minutes. Of course, if you can't get all of their teeth, don't despair -- remember that brushing any part of kitty's teeth is better than not brushing them at all.

One other dental problem that your cat could have is a cavity or abcess beneath the gum. These problems are both painful and difficult to deal with and will require anesthetized dental care by a veterinary professional.

I'd recommend that you get Sammie to the vet as soon as possible and get his dental problem diagonosed and dealt with as soon as possible. Then, get him on a regular regimen of dental care and brushing. You'll boh be glad that you did!