Dental hygiene is important for our pets, including cats, and regular brushing will help keep your cat’s teeth and gums healthy and free from tartar build-up. This can be a challenging task with felines because most will not enjoy the process, so it’s important to begin when they’re still a kitten to get them properly accustomed to it. Of course, the right tool for the job will make the process easier, and this is where toothbrushes made especially for cats come in.
Just like human toothbrushes, toothbrushes for cats come in various shapes and sizes, with some that look like regular toothbrushes and others cleverly made to look like toys. Which brush is best for you depends on your cat’s age, size, and temperament. Luckily, there are many to choose from.
But how do you choose the best toothbrush for your cat? We’re here to help! In this article, we created in-depth reviews for 10 of our favorite cat toothbrushes, to help narrow the options and make choosing the right one for your kitty easier. Let’s dive in!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
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Best Overall
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Jasper Finger Toothbrush |
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Best Value
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H&H Pets Bamboo Dog & Cat Toothbrush |
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Premium Choice
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RYERCAT Dual Sided Cat Toothbrush |
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Arm & Hammer Tartar Control Small Toothbrush |
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Kittyteeth Cat Toothbrush |
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The 10 Best Toothbrushes for Cats
1. Jasper Finger Toothbrush – Best Overall
| Lifestage: | Adult |
| Featured: | N/A |
| Quantity: | 2 or 4 |
This Jasper finger toothbrush may be simple, but it has plenty of excellent reviews! With a 360° design that allows you to clean your kitty’s teeth with just a few quick swipes (necessary when sticking one’s fingers in a cat’s mouth), this toothbrush couldn’t be simpler to use. And though it’s made of soft silicone, the bristles are still sturdy enough to remove any plaque they come across. Plus, because it’s made of silicone, this toothbrush will fit any size finger—you only need to add a bit of water to make it larger.
Most cat parents commented that their cats tolerated having this toothbrush in their mouth, even cats that had always hated having their teeth brushed, so it definitely seems to work! However, one cat owner’s pet managed to bite through the silicone to the finger, so if your pet is a biter, be careful. This toothbrush is also a little pricey for what it is.
2. H&H Pets Bamboo Dog & Cat Toothbrush – Best Value
| Lifestage: | Adult |
| Featured: | Tartar and Plaque Removal |
| Quantity: | 1 or 3 |
When you just need a basic toothbrush that provides the best value, you’ll want to check out H&H Pets Bamboo toothbrush. Made from eco-friendly bamboo, the H&H toothbrush contains soft, delicate bristles that gently clean your cat’s teeth but still take care of removing tartar and plaque to prevent gum disease. And because this brush has a longer handle, you run less risk of being bitten if your cat gets upset over having their teeth brushed!
Cat parents were primarily pleased with this toothbrush, saying the bristles truly were extra soft and gentle on their pet’s gums. One cat owner found the toothbrush head too large for their cat, though, saying they couldn’t reach the back teeth.
3. RYERCAT Dual Sided Cat Toothbrush – Premium Option
| Lifestage: | Kitten, adult |
| Featured: | Dual sided |
| Quantity: | 1 |
Looking for a toothbrush that’s a bit more of a premium option? Look no further than the RYERCAT Dual Sided Cat Toothbrush! This brush offers your kitty a deeper clean with plush bristles that gently massage gums while you brush and fight tartar and plaque. Because of the brush’s circular-shaped head, it’s less likely to poke your pet in the side of the mouth or gums, which should help the toothbrushing process go more smoothly. Plus, the BPA-free handle is also non-slip, so don’t risk dropping the brush while cleaning kitty’s teeth.
The majority of pet parents were fans of this brush, saying it held up well and was able to reach back teeth easily. One downside is that it is designed for kittens and small-breed adult cats. If you have a larger feline, it might take longer to brush the mouth because of the brush size.
4. Arm & Hammer Tartar Control Small Toothbrush
| Lifestage: | Kitten, adult |
| Featured: | Tartar Removal |
| Quantity: | 1 |
Though this Arm & Hammer Tartar Control Toothbrush is meant for a small breed dog, its smaller bristles and head work equally well for felines, especially kittens. The bristles on this toothbrush are incredibly soft, but they’re still able to remove the plaque and tartar that builds up and results in gum disease in our pets. And because the toothbrush is made by Arm & Hammer, it contains baking soda to make cleaning your cat’s teeth gentler and more effective.
Pet parents said the toothbrush was easy to hold onto during use, which should make brushing kitty’s teeth simpler, and said it fit into even tiny puppy mouths, so the size should be good. One pet owner mentioned, though, that some of the bristles came out while they were using it, which might cause the brush to be a bit rougher on your cat’s mouth.
5. Kittyteeth Cat Toothbrush
| Lifestage: | Kitten, adult |
| Featured: | Plaque Removal |
| Quantity: | 1 |
As the name implies, this toothbrush is made specifically for felines, so it’s small enough to fit in a kitty’s mouth and reach all your pet’s teeth. The Kittyteeth toothbrush is also designed with super soft and shorter bristles made for sensitive gums, though the bristles are still enough to do the work of removing plaque from your cat’s teeth. Plus, it’s super affordable!
The Kittyteeth toothbrush got plenty of great reviews from cat owners who said it was the perfect size for brushing their pets’ teeth and simplified the process. However, some people didn’t like that the handle was on the short side; they said it made grasping it more difficult. A few people also claimed the toothbrush wore down relatively quickly, so you might replace it more often than other toothbrushes.
6. Petsmile Professional Pet Toothbrush
| Life stage: | Adult |
| Featured: | Dual-ended |
| Quantity: | 1 |
The Petsmile Professional Pet Toothbrush is designed for use with professional pet groomers but is great for regular home use too. The dual-headed design is a great feature, enabling you to clean both the fronts and backs of your cat’s teeth with ease, and the 45-degree angled heads promote accuracy. The brush has a comfortable, ergonomic grip made from textured rubber that makes it easy to grip even when it gets wet, and it has pet-safe, BPA-free nylon bristles, which is great peace of mind considering that you’ll be putting the brush inside your cat’s mouth regularly.
This toothbrush is expensive because it’s made for professional use, and it’s not ideal for kittens or small cats.
7. Virbac C.E.T. Dual-Ended Dog & Cat Toothbrush
| Life stage: | Adult |
| Featured: | Dual heads |
| Quantity: | 1 |
The Virbac C.E.T Dual-Ended Cat Toothbrush has two heads, one large and one small, with tapered ends to easily get to hard-to-reach areas. The long, contoured handle has reverse angles to make reaching gums and back teeth a breeze, and it’s easier to hold and use the brush overall. The brush has soft yet effective bristles that are gentle on your cat but work well to remove tartar and plaque build-up.
This brush is not suitable for kittens and small cats, and the large head is not ideal for even large cats. Also, while the heads are angled, we feel that a sharper angle would make cleaning far easier.
8. Petsmile Professional Pet Toothpaste Applicator Swabs
| Life stage: | Adult, kitten |
| Featured: | Swabs |
| Quantity: | 50 |
If a standard toothbrush is not suitable for your cat for whatever reason, these Professional Applicator Swabs from Petsmile may just do the trick. No matter how soft some brush bristles are, certain cats are highly sensitive to them, and this can cause an understandable resistance to brushing. Applicator swabs can solve this issue because they are far more gentle, and the long wand design still enables you to reach the back of your cat’s mouth, where most food tends to hide. The wands are made from BPA-free plastic, and there are 50 wands included in the pack.
While these will be gentler on your cat, they won’t do as good of a job as regular brushing will, and the straight design of the wands can make it difficult to brush accurately.
9. Sentry Petrodex Deluxe Finger Toothbrush for Dogs & Cats
| Life stage: | Adult |
| Featured: | Finger brush |
| Quantity: | 2 |
The Sentry Petrodex Deluxe Finger Toothbrush for Dogs & Cats is a simple but effective toothbrush design, ideal for cats that don’t enjoy the bristles of regular toothbrushes. The soft, rubber bristles effectively remove plaque and tartar while gently massaging your cat’s gums, and they have a slightly longer length than other finger toothbrushes — they fit over your finger’s knuckles for better grip. The brush also has a convenient ring for safety while using, and it is completely dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
As with most finger brushes, this is not ideal for kittens or small cats, and many customers reported that the finger hole is fairly tight, making it difficult to use if you have large fingers.
10. Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Cat Dental Kit
| Life stage: | Adult |
| Featured: | Fingerbrush and toothbrush |
| Quantity: | 2 |
The Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Dental Kit is a complete kit for ultimate dental care for your feline. It’s great because it has both a finger brush and a regular toothbrush, giving you the option to choose and see what your cat prefers. It also contains a tube of Denta-C pet toothpaste, which is scientifically proven to reduce plaque and tartar, all at a highly affordable price.
While it’s great to have the options of a finger brush or toothbrush, both are far too large for kittens and small cats. Also, many customers reported that the toothpaste has a pungent odor that their cats did not enjoy.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Toothbrush for Your Cat
Dental hygiene is vital for cats because they can suffer from the same dental problems as humans. Without regular brushing, this can cause tons of pain and discomfort for your feline. It can even cause extreme discomfort while your cat is eating, leading to a reduction in appetite and a decline in nutrition and overall health. Cats cannot brush their own teeth, and while kibble may help reduce plaque, you are solely responsible for your cat’s dental health, making choosing the right toothbrush all the more important.
Toothbrushes are not complicated items, but you do want a cat toothbrush that works effectively, is easy to use, and is gentle on your cat’s gums. Let’s take a look at a few factors to consider when choosing a toothbrush for your cat.
The Types of Cat Toothbrushes
Handled toothbrushes
Handled toothbrushes for cats are similar to human toothbrushes and the go-to choice for most cat owners. They typically have a single or double head with soft, nylon bristles and varying head sizes. You’ll want the head to be small enough to fit inside the mouth of small cats or kittens and to reach difficult areas. It should also be angled to make brushing easier. Some handled toothbrushes have two heads, either a large and small head on either side or a double head on one side, to clean both sides of your cat’s teeth at once and make the process far quicker. Double-sided heads are great, but the large head is often only usable for the largest cat breeds.
Finger brushes
Finger brushes are simple brushes that may be great alternatives to regular brushes for some owners. They are finger-shaped sleeves, usually made from rubber, that simply slide over your fingers. Some cats prefer these brushes over handled brushes, and it may make the process easier. Of course, there are a few flaws with this design: Your finger may be too small or too large for the brush, and it cannot reach tight, difficult areas. Also, these brushes are far too big for kittens or small cats.
Applicator swabs
If your cat has sensitive gums or is already suffering from gingivitis, toothpaste applicator swabs may be your best bet. They are usually made with cotton attached to a long plastic wand, and you simply place the toothpaste on it and rub it onto your cat’s teeth. While these are great for sensitive cats, they are not as effective as regular toothbrushes because they don’t have bristles, so they don’t clean that well overall.
How often should you brush your cat’s teeth?
Most experts recommend brushing your cat’s teeth at least two or three times a week to prevent dental disease, but daily brushing will give the best results. It will rid your cat’s teeth of the daily build-up of food and thus prevent any build-up or debris from getting stuck in your cat’s teeth. It can be a challenge to brush your cat’s teeth every day, though, so aim for at least twice a week.
You’ll need to get your cat used to the taste of toothpaste (one designed for cats only) and to having a foreign object in their mouth, so it’s best to start as young as possible. This will make the process easier for both you and your cat, and it will be easier to keep their teeth healthy and disease-free as adults.
Conclusion
If you’re seeking the best overall cat toothbrush for your favorite feline, take a look at the Jasper Finger toothbrush, as it has a 360° design that makes brushing kitty’s teeth a breeze. For the best cat toothbrush for the money, check out H&H Pets Bamboo Toothbrush because of its extreme affordability and eco-friendliness. When you want a cat toothbrush that’s a bit more of a premium option, consider the RYERCAT Dual Sided Cat Toothbrush with its smaller brush head that makes cleaning smaller cats’ mouths easier. Finally, if you have a kitten, we recommend the Arm & Hammer Tartar Control Toothbrush.
Good luck, and happy brushing!
Featured Image Credit: Natallia Boroda, Shutterstock
