If you have noticed your Maine Coon’s breath is worse than usual, then you are probably searching for the best dental treats for cats.
Taking care of your cat’s teeth is just as important as caring for your own, so here are some products that will keep your cat’s mouth fresh!
You can supplement your cat’s diet with dental treats such as Greenies dental treats or Purina DentaLife treats. While it is a good idea to brush your cat’s teeth regularly, dental treats are a great way to prevent gum disease and tooth decay while keeping your pet’s breath fresh.
Gum disease and tooth decay can become serious and even life-threatening problems if you neglect your pet’s dental care for too long.
Although dental treats are not a replacement for brushing your cat’s teeth, it is a much easier alternative to use every so often, and they will help prevent plaque buildup and bad breath!
Read on to find out which dental treats you should give your Maine Coon cat.
Best Dental Treats For Cats
The Maine Coon is a hardy, loving cat breed that makes a wonderful family pet.
These cats have an average lifespan between 12 and 15 years, but providing adequate dental care is an important step when it comes to making sure your Maine Coon lives the longest, healthiest possible life.
If your Maine Coon has bad breath, or if you have recently started wondering how to best care for your cat’s teeth, a great first step is providing dental treats.
Dental treats are specially formulated by veterinarians to reduce the buildup of plaque, which prevents tooth decay or gum diseases like gingivitis.
Here are the veterinary approved top dental treats you can find for cats:
- Greenies Dental Treats (Best All-Rounder) – Shop on Amazon
- Purina Dentalife Treats (Top Cat Dental Treat) – Shop On Amazon
- Hills Pet Oral Care Cat Food (View on Amazon)
- Royal Canin Dental Cat Food (View on Amazon)
Keep reading to learn what makes each of these best cat dental treats AMAZING (source 1):
1. Greenies Dental Treats
While searching for vet recommended dental treats, you will likely encounter a lot of cat dental products making claims that do not make a difference in terms of a cats oral health.
If you are looking for a trustworthy option, the Greenies are some of the best dental care treats for cats.
Out of all the vets in the US that recommend providing dental treats, Greenies is the most popular brand!
If you’re looking for vet recommended dental treats for cat owners, look no further than Greenies.
The hard and crunchy texture of Greenies is proven to reduce tartar buildup, which will prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Learn more about this issue, here.
Furthermore, if you are looking for cat dental treats for bad breath, Greenies has also got you covered there!
Greenies treats come in a variety of flavors, so even the pickiest of cats are sure to find something they like.
You can find Greenies in the following flavors:
- Tempting Tuna
- Roasted Chicken
- Savory Salmon
- Catnip Flavor
Our Maine Coon cats love the tempting tuna dental treats, which we have linked to above.
You can give your cat eight Greenies treats twice a day.
Each Greenies treat contains less than two calories, but you should still take this into account when portioning your cat’s dry and wet food across the day.
Whilst researching cat dental treats for our own Maine Coon brothers, we were surprised to discover that there are few vet recommended dental treats for cat owners.
However, Greenies passes clinical assessments with flying colors!
Even though these are healthy treats, they are also a favorite among cats.
According to the customer reviews (and our own personal experience), simply shaking the box is enough to bring most cats running in excitement!
2. Purina DentaLife Treats
Purina DentaLife cat dental treats are one of the few cat treats to make it onto the approved list of dental treats curated by the Veterinary Oral Health Council.
If you are searching for dental chews for cats, then this is one of the best options!
While many brands claim to provide dental chews for cats, only a few have been proven to reduce the buildup of tartar.
Purina DentaLife treats are made with all-natural ingredients and do not include any artificial colors or flavors.
The crunchy, porous texture of each treat makes it easy for your cat to bite down, and as the treat scrapes against your cat’s teeth, it also scrapes off tartar.
Cat owners who have used this product are incredibly satisfied with these treats’ ability to fight off bad breath.
Purina DentaLife treats also come in both salmon and chicken flavors.
Our tabby Maine Coon enjoys the chicken flavor the most. These cat oral chews are particularly great for him, since he had 8 teeth removed before we adopted him, due to Maine Coon teeth issues.
Furthermore, these treats also include taurine and calcium, two ingredients that are essential to a cat’s diet.
3. Hill’s Pet Oral Care Cat Food
Hill’s Pet Science Diet is already one of the most popular cat food brands, but Hill’s Pet oral care dry food is even healthier for your cat!
Not only does it reduce the buildup of tartar, but it is also clinically proven to remove plaque, as well!
This chicken-flavored dry food is made with high-quality protein and includes essential omega-6 fatty acids as well as Vitamin E, both of which promote soft, healthy fur.
When it comes to dry food, Hill’s Pet Science Diet is the number one recommended brand among veterinarians.
Since their oral care cat food is also officially approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council, you can rest assured knowing your cat has been provided with the best possible dry food.
4. Royal Canin Dental Cat Food
Royal Canin dental cat food is one of the few dry foods proven by the Veterinary Oral Health Council to reduce the buildup of plaque.
In fact, after just seven days of using this dry food, there is a 41% reduction in plaque buildup.
The size and texture of the kibble is big and crunchy enough that your cat will have to chew rather than swallow, which helps scrape off plaque.
This dry food is made with high-quality protein, primarily chicken.
This diet is not just for helping your cat’s teeth, though. It also contains nutrients to aid in digestion and sensitive skin, and it can transform a dull coat into a soft, shiny, and healthy one!
How Often Should I Give My Cat Dental Treats?
How often you give your cat dental treats depends on the brand you purchase.
For example, Greenies dental treats should be given to a cat twice daily once the cat is at least a year old.
Since dental treats are typically bigger than most treats and dry food, they can be a choking hazard to young cats.
By comparison, Purina recommends you feed your cat Purina DentaLife treats once a day.
It is okay to miss a day or two every once in a while, but it is a good idea to provide dental treats as regularly as you can.
Make sure you do not provide too many treats, though, and take these treats into account when deciding how much dry and wet food to give your cat.
Do Cat Dental Treats Work?
If you have been searching for cat dental treats, you might be wondering, do dental treats help cats at all?
While there are a lot of sketchy brands out there that falsely claim to reduce the buildup of plaque and tartar, there are a few brands that have been clinically proven to improve your cat’s oral health.
The Veterinary Oral Health Council is an organization dedicated to finding and approving products that actually have an impact on oral health in cats and dogs.
All dental treats, diets, and products with the VOHC seal of approval have passed their rigorous standards and are certain to reduce plaque or tartar.
So, how do cat dental treats work?
In the wild, cats do not chew that much while they are eating, but the fur and feathers from prey act like toothbrush bristles that scrape away buildup on their teeth.
Indoor cats, however, do not have this same opportunity.
While eating both dry and wet food, domesticated cats are more likely to swallow pieces whole rather than chew them.
Dental treats and foods, however, are created with a large size and shape that will make your cat chew rather than swallow.
These treats are also made with a porous texture, which scrapes against the tooth like a toothbrush to remove any film or buildup (source 1).
Are Dental Treats Enough For Cats?
Dental treats are a great start when it comes to keeping your cat’s teeth and gums healthy. However, dental treats are not a substitute for brushing your cat’s teeth.
Tooth problems are one of the most common reasons for vet visits.
If left unchecked for too long, periodontal diseases can become dangerous and even deadly.
Even if you manage to get your cat’s teeth removed before the infection spreads, this is a painful and stressful process for cats, and tooth removal is also very expensive!
If your cat absolutely refuses to let you brush its teeth, that is okay. Many cats do not tolerate teeth brushing if they are not introduced to it at a young age.
Thankfully, your vet will be able to recommend alternative solutions, as well.
Many pet owners choose to use a dental gel, which can be applied quickly to your cat’s gums and is less stressful than teeth brushing.
If possible, though, it is best to brush your cat’s teeth once a day in tandem with providing dental treats.
Conclusion
While there are many brands that falsely claim to provide treats that improve oral health, the best dental treats for cats are approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council.
Dental treats from Purina and Greenies, or dental diets from Royal Canin and Hill’s Pet Science Diet are all clinically proven to reduce plaque or tartar.