Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I made an appointment two weeks from now for Quentin to have his teeth cleaned. He's had them cleaned about three times already, so I'm not real concerned about the process. My vet also is very good with the cats. However, Star has only needed her teeth cleaned once since I've adopted her. I feed both cats the same type of food (Purina Vitality dry food) and don't brush their teeth at home since neither cat would allow it. I wonder why Quentin's teeth seem to need cleaning more often than Star's. Could it have something to do with genetics? The cats are from different litters and I'm not sure of their backgrounds. I just thought it was strange that Quentin's teeth seem to attract tartar more than Star's. Does anyone else notice things like that in their pets?

Ellen

Ellen, how old are your cats?

It's my opinion that genetics plays a big part in it.
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Ruby and the Kitties
Simba, Samantha, Katrina & KatyKatt
Meow!! Meow!! Meow!! Meow!!

How wonderful to do nothing and then rest afterwards. Meow!

>>Ellen, how old are your cats?
>>>

Quentin is 10 years old and Star is about 9 years old. I adopted both cats in September of '99. According to the papers I have Quentin was born in May of '97, but no exact date for Star. I know that Star was at least a year old or a little younger when I adopted her because she had a litter of kittens at the shelter in the spring of '99. (she was spayed soon after & homes were found for her kittens.)
I was mistaken in my earlier post that Quentin had his teeth cleaned three times: it was only twice. The next time will be the third.
I had not heard the latest about dry food maybe causing more tarter than canned. My vet didn't know why Quentin has more trouble than Star. I take my cats every year for their exam and rabies shots, so at the same time the vet checks their teeth.
It's Indiana law that cats have to have annual rabies shots, in case anyone wonders about that.

Ellen

Stanley and Pookey are from the same litter (16 next month). Eat the same foods, nap the same 20 hours a day...

Stanley's teeth have always been worse than Pookey's. He had a cleaning at age 8-ish. Pookey didn't need it. Stanley's teeth are worse looking than Pookey's for tartar, but they are getting too old for a cleaning...

I can't explain it as Pookey's teeth are in far better condition.

Maybe... Just maybe... Stanley does love toes. He chews on my toes if I don't have socks on... That could be the root of his problem...
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Tammy
Stanley and Pookey

Hi Ellen,

I have noticed the same kind of thing in my cats, and I believe that genetics is often the cause. I found this especially true in two cats I had at one time that were together from kittenhood until one passed away at 18.

Esther and Sheba always ate the exact same diet, whether it was dry, canned, a combination of the two, or some kind of special diet. They lived their entire lives together in the same enviornment. But when it came to their dental health that was another story. Sheba died almost toothless at 18, and Esther died with all of her teeth at 19. And Esther's teeth were in good shape at that age! It was very interesting to see that kind of thing happen.

It is no longer believed by most vets that dry food helps to keep a cat's teeth clean. Back when Esther and Sheba were young, though, most people believed that the opposite was true. Besides, it has been found that the carbs in dry food can really do a number on feline teeth. I think if it's possible, brushing a cat's teeth might be helpful but mine won't go for it. I doubt that many cats would!

Take Care,
PHKitkat

ditto on the genetics - my brother had a Manx many years ago, a former show cat, that had to have a couple kitty root canals shortly after my brother got him. He was only two. The dental problems continued all his short life.