How To Choose The Best Cat Dental Treat For Your Cat – CatTime
Taking good care of your cat also includes caring about their dental hygiene. Cat dental treats can be an essential part of your pet’s health. These products eliminate food residue from their mouth and prevent plaque build-up.
In the review section below, we singled out five best cat dental treats available on the market. Our experts analyzed their advantages and drawbacks to make their choice easier. If you want to learn more about cat dental chews, we recommend browsing our shopping advisor!
Best Choice
Made using select freeze-dried fish
Pros:
A single pack of Virbac could last you for an entire month or longer. The manufacturer made high-quality treats in two different flavors. Depending on your cat’s preference, you can choose between fish and poultry. It is worth noting that both treats contain freeze-dried fish to ensure the cat dental treat also has decent nutrient value. That should ensure that your cat accepts the treat easily. Each chew will reduce calculus and plaque and improve the oral hygiene of your pet. The formula has antiseptic properties and removes bacteria that cause plaque.
Cons:
It is a large bag, which might drive you away if you are a first-time buyer. The treat is quite big, and you might have problems with putting it in the cat’s mouth. You can cut them with a knife, but that is a time-consuming hassle. The fish flavor has a strong smell that might repel some cats, and the odor quickly spreads throughout the room.
Best Price
Provides complete oral care
Pros:
These dental cat treats are a part of an entire series of Hartz products focused on cat’s oral hygiene. The manufacturer claims that these chews can reduce tartar by 83%. While your cat is chewing the treats, they massage gums and help to eliminate any food residue between their teeth. Your pet’s breath will be fresh after consuming these treats. The chicken flavor and carefully chosen ingredients ensure a high protein value (25%), and other nutrients like vitamin A, zinc, and selenium. The formula has a low caloric value, which means it is not a threat to your pet’s weight.
Cons:
If your cat is picky, it might be hard to get them used to these dental treats. That is especially true if they don’t like chicken flavor, which is the only one available. The cat treats are small, and large cats might swallow them immediately. That limits the product’s effectiveness on oral hygiene. The treats are hard, and it might be tricky for cats with teeth in poor condition to chew them.
With Taurine
Savory salmon and tasty chicken
Pros:
Oral hygiene is essential, but it is even more vital to secure sufficient nutrients for your cat. That is why this formula features 32% protein, as well as added taurine and calcium. These nutrients are crucial for supporting your cat’s oral and overall health. The product comes in two flavors so that you can mix and match. That also increases the chances of your cat accepting at least one treat flavor available. The treats can reduce tartar build-up, and their crunchy texture takes care of food remains that get stuck.
Cons:
The feeding instructions indicate that you should feed an adult average cat 17 treats per day. Be ready to spend some time counting the treats, and calculating they fit your pet’s recommended daily caloric intake. The effect the feline dental treats have on your cat’s breath is mild and won’t be noticeable for long after consuming the treats.
Best Natural
Natural & unprocessed
Pros:
A silvervine stick is a product entirely made from natural ingredients. As your pet plays with the item, it will do its magic for cleaning its teeth. The sticks have an effect similar to toothpaste. They can remove food residue and exfoliate plaque. Your pet will be happy playing with it, and you can expect the famous catnip effect afterward. That means your feline might be more active than usual for up to 30 minutes after using these items. If you are having problems attracting your cat with the normal shape of the stick, try the one that reminds you of a mouse.
Cons:
If your cat isn’t a fan of catnip, it might be hard to get them interested in this product. Your pet needs to chew on these for a while to secure maximum effectiveness. The cat losing interest after a minute or two could also limit the product’s benefits. Some felines might find the taste to be too strong, and it might make them nervous.
Best Taste
Great tasting
Pros:
The manufacturer went with the fish flavor since it is widely known that cats love fish. That helps with getting the pet used to the product. While they are chewing, the product will get between their teeth to eliminate food residue. It will also remove the plaque and prevent any build-up, while antiseptic characteristics fight off any bacteria in the pet’s mouth. All that helps to maintain oral hygiene and fresh breath is only a bonus. C.E.T. Chews come in a large 96-unit pack, but a single bag will last for a couple of months.
Cons:
It is crucial to store the product in an airtight bag to preserve the treats’ freshness. If your cat’s mouth is small, they might have problems fitting the entire treat inside. The product’s smell is distinctive, and you might need to ventilate the room after feeding the cat. No small packs are available for testing the product.
What Really Matters
It is time to consider the most important factors when choosing cat dental treats. Here are the characteristics to consider when picking a suitable food for your pet!
Size
Let’s start by talking about the size of the treat. Cat dental chews are bigger than usual feline treats. That is because the idea is to promote chewing as that maximizes the product’s effectiveness.
Despite that, it is critical to ensure that the dental treat is not too big for your cat’s mouth. If that is the case, the product becomes a choking hazard. The feline dental treat shouldn’t be too small either because your feline will swallow it right away, which makes the product ineffective. It might take a bit of trial and error, but the idea is for the size to be right for your cat to enjoy the food, but also ensure the product has to chew it before swallowing.
Consider the size of the box, too. Some dental treats come in small packs, while others come in big bags with enough pieces for months to come. Pick the desired quantity based on your budget and preference.
Shape and Texture
Cat dental treats have a crunchy texture as it is required for their effectiveness. The crunchiness ensures the product can get between the teeth, and clean food remains. If your cat’s teeth are in poor condition, look for treats that are not that crunchy. But if your feline has strong teeth, you can go with harder pieces, too.
As for the shape, most of these treats are round. However, you will encounter several shaped like a stick. Some manufacturers get so creative that they design their treats in the shape of a mouse to attract the cats. These unique forms can make it easier to get your cat used to the product.
Nutritional Value
What ingredients are included in your preferred dental treats? You can find these by checking out the label. You want to consider both the caloric and nutritional value.
The caloric value should be as low as possible. That way, you prevent your cat’s potential weight issues. Consider the caloric intake per piece, and make sure to fit it within the recommended daily caloric intake for your pet.
As for the nutrients, the manufacturers specify the percentage of protein, fat, fiber, minerals, and vitamins. Protein is critical to your pet’s nutrition, so go with formulas that consist of 10-50% of protein. For cats, taurine is an essential amino acid. That is why some manufacturers add it to their recipes. Calcium can promote teeth and bone health, and vitamins are necessary to support immunity and optimal health.
You can also insist on natural ingredients to be used in the formula. These products could be a bit more expensive, but a natural formula means no synthetic ingredients were used in the production process.
What’s in Right Now?
Cat owners want only the best for their pets, and that includes matching their taste in treats. That is why the latest trend in the cat dental chews industry is a wide variety of flavors available.
The most common options remain fish and poultry. These have proved as a safe bet, especially the former because we still need to meet a feline that doesn’t like fish.
Apart from the high-quality ingredients that will deliver the desired effects, a cat dental treat should have a great taste. That way, it will attract even the pickiest kitties. It will reduce the effort the owner needs to put in convincing their cat to consume these treats.
Prices
The cost of cat dental treats varies widely, and there are many factors to consider when discussing the price. The market offers bags with different treat counts and various sizes of the cat dental treat itself. Additionally, a single unit of a product can deliver the same effects as multiple pieces of another formula.
With that in mind, check out the following pricing ranges of cat dental treats:
Cheap – you don’t have to pay more than $5 for dental treats. However, you will probably get a small pack for the price, so don’t expect the chews to last for a long time.
Mid-range – the average cost of cat dental treats could be anywhere from $5 to $15. You can purchase packs of various flavors, sizes, and ingredients. That is why you should pick the one you find the most suitable for your feline.
Expensive –premium cat treats cost over $20, and their price can even go over $50. For the price, you can expect carefully chosen ingredients with a high nutrient and low caloric value. You can also look for natural products in this price range.
FAQs
Q: Do cats need dental treats?
A: Dental treats can be an essential part of your cat’s hygiene. Eliminating plaque, bacteria, and food residue are important to protect the teeth and promote oral health. Additionally, your cat’s breath will be fresh after consuming the product.
Q: Do cat dental treats work?
A: Yes, dental treats work, and they can promote your cat’s oral hygiene! As long as they are correctly used, and your cat chews them instead of swallowing immediately, these treats can help to remove plaque and food residue.
Q: Are cat dental treats safe?
A: Yes, cat’s dental treats are safe as long as you use them per the specified instructions. Make sure the treat size fits your cat’s mouth to avoid them being a choking hazard. Additionally, consider the caloric value, and don’t go above the recommended daily treat quantity.
Q: How often should you give your cat a dental treat?
A: The frequency of giving your pet a healthy treat depends on the product. For some chews, a single piece daily will be enough. Others require you to provide them with a dozen or more for the desired effect. Read the product manual and follow it to ensure optimal benefits from the item.
Why Trust Us
Since 2008, CatTime has provided millions of cat owners with all the information they need to keep their pets happy and healthy. Our experts know exactly what it takes to raise our furry friends and our goal is to help all owners, new or experienced, care for their cats with all the right food, toys, equipment, and accessories.