Cats are beautiful, cuddly, and fun to hang with. Pet owners cannot get enough of the cuddles, purrs, and head rubs.
However, nothing turns you off than catching a whiff of your kitty’s bad breath. If you’ve ever been near a yawning cat in the middle of the night and woke up from clumber, you can attest to this.
Bad breath in cats can be caused by several things. One of the common ones is the buildup of tartar. This is the accumulation of dirt that forms a yellow coating at the bottom of your cat’s teeth.
Cats don’t enjoy having their little teeth brushed. As a result, many of them have tartar.
If you are one of the cat owners with this problem, we are here to help. Here are 10 home remedies for cat tartar:
1. Baking Soda and Salt
Baking soda is a powerful ingredient when it comes to dental health. It is a salty alkaline product with abrasive properties.
Toothpaste with baking soda as one of the ingredients has been shown to have antibacterial properties.
When you brush your cat’s teeth occasionally with a baking soda and salt paste, it will reduce bacteria buildup on your kitty’s teeth, thus getting rid of tartar in the process.
Baking soda is also a natural teeth whitener and a mild abrasive and will remove stains on a cat’s teeth. The good thing is that it is safe for your fur baby.
Salt is a great antiseptic and antibacterial and thus great for inhibiting the growth of bacteria in the teeth.
To make the paste, simply mix a teaspoon of baking soda, a dash of salt, and some water.
Rub it over your pets’ teeth once a week until the buildup is gone.
2. Guava
Both the guava fruit and its leaves are strong anti-tartar agents. This is according to a 2014 review published in Pharmacognosy Review.
Guava leaves have anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antiplaque, and antioxidant properties.
They can reduce the bacterial biofilm that causes the accumulation of tartar in your cat’s gums.
One way of consuming guava is chewing the leaves. However, cats are less likely to chomp on them.
The most effective way is to grind the leaves into a paste and use it as toothpaste.
3. White Vinegar
Your favorite kitchen acid can also act as a remedy for cat tartar.
White vinegar contains acetic acid which not only cuts through tartar but promotes enamel demineralization as well.
The acid will break down tartar and plaque stuck on your cat’s beautiful teeth. It is not toxic to your pet as long as he doesn’t ingest a lot of it.
To make a white vinegar paste, mix equal parts of it and water.
Dip your kitty’s toothpaste in the solution and brush your pet’s teeth.
Repeat the process a few times a week until the problem is completely resolved.
4. Orange Peel
Orange peels are also among the home remedies used against tartar and plaque buildup in humans and animals.
These seemingly useless by-products pack a punch in terms of nutrients, acids, and minerals.
They have soluble fiber, mild acid, vitamin C, and limonene—all of which boost dental health in one way or another.
Oranges are slightly acidic, meaning they will deal with bacteria without overwhelming your cat’s gums and enamel.
To use this remedy, rub the white side of an orange peel over your cat’s teeth for a few minutes then rinse the mouth with water.
You can also crush the peels and blend them into a paste and rub some on the cat.
Note: Citrus fruits are not recommended for felines. However, orange, unlike lemon is mild and safer as a paste. With that said, only apply the paste once a week for the pet’s safety.
5. Sesame Seeds
Another awesome abrasive, sesame seeds can remove tartar from your kitty’s teeth.
It is Mother Nature’s scrub that does well to clean and polish teeth.
Sesame seeds are also rich in calcium thus great for preserving bones around the gums and teeth.
Along with scrubbing tartar and plaque from your cat’s teeth, the seeds will help strengthen the enamel.
You can make sesame seeds paste by crushing the seeds and adding some oil to make a paste.
Use it as toothpaste until the buildup is gone.
6. Strawberries
Strawberries are a juicy and delicious snack for humans and pets alike.
Sure, many kitties cannot be bothered about them but they make for occasional treats.
These tasty fruits are also great for oral health. They contain malic acid – an effective tooth whitening enzyme.
When it comes in contact with your cat’s teeth, it will cause tartar to break away leaving them cleaner than before.
Strawberries also contain citric acid which gives teeth a whiter appearance.
Prepare a pup of strawberries and rub them on your cat’s teeth.
If possible, leave it on for five minutes before rinsing it with plenty of water.
7. Tomatoes
Just like strawberries, tomatoes are acidic and can help get rid of tartar buildup in cats.
These fruits are rich in vitamin C and will give similar effects as lemons and orange peels.
Make a tomato pulp, rub it on your cat’s teeth and leave for five minutes then rinse.
As you use tomatoes, be careful around pets. Both unripe fruits and the tomato plant can be toxic to cats.
You want to keep those away from your pet.
8. Aloe vera
Pure Aloe Vera is known for its wide range of uses around the home.
Perhaps the least common use is the removal of tartar in pets.
According to Healthline, aloe vera has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
From treating gingivitis to periodontal disease to tartar and plaque, Aloe Vera gel can make your pet’s oral health better.
It will remove bacteria while keeping the teeth strong and clean.
For effective results, use Aloe Vera along with other ingredients such as strawberries, glycerin, and baking soda.
Make a paste and utilize it as toothpaste on your kitty’s teeth.
Apply the paste once or twice a week until the cat’s teeth are clean and white again.
9. Cloves
Brushing your pet’s teeth with a paste made from clove powder and olive oil can also get rid of tartar.
Cloves have been shown to possess strong antimicrobial properties.
As a result, they can inhibit the growth of bacteria in your pet’s mouth.
Cloves also remove stains from teeth giving them a whiter appearance. Olive oil, on the other hand, reduces the risk of gum disease and fights bad breath
Mix clove powder and some olive oil to make a paste. Apply it to the stained area, leave it for a few minutes and rinse with warm water.
10. Chew Toys
Chew toys not only kill boredom and lower stress but can also promote oral health.
As your kitty runs her little teeth on the toy, it will come in contact with tartar chipping it away.
Over time, the little bits of removed tartar will make a significant difference.
The good thing about chew toys is that they are made from soft materials making them safer around your pet.
Parting Thoughts
See, you don’t have to introduce harmful substances into your cat in the name of clearing tartar.
Not with all these options of home remedies. If one doesn’t work for your cat, try the next.
You can combine two or more remedies for better results as long as it is safe for the pet.
Check these posts for other home remedies that may benefit your kitty:
Hi! I am Eleanor Price. I started this website after my cat, Louie, almost died from a case of botulism (a type of food poisoning often caused by bacteria that grow on food items). Turned out that my cat’s diet was the problem. I have made it my duty to provide the best information and recommendations about everything cat lovers need to know about their felines’ health and wellbeing. My goal is to find the most informative content on anything feline-related and share it with fellow hardworking kitty lovers.