Tartar in catswhy it forms, why it matters and how it is removed

What tartar in cats is and why it forms

Plaque forms on the teeth all the time — a soft film of bacteria, salivary proteins and food debris. While it is soft, a toothbrush removes it. If it is left, minerals from saliva are deposited in it, and within a few days it starts to harden. That is how tartar (dental calculus) forms.

Tartar itself does not hurt. The problem is that it is rough and firmly bonded to the tooth: new plaque sticks to it even more easily, so bacteria stay at the gum margin all the time. Tartar forms not only on the visible crown but also below the gum line, where you cannot see it.

Why some cats build up a lot of tartar and others very little:

• home care — without regular brushing, plaque mineralises unchecked;
• individual differences — even with the same care, tartar builds up at different rates in different cats;
• age — deposits usually increase over the years;
• jaw shape — in flat-faced cats such as Persians, the teeth are more crowded and harder to keep clean;
• diet — ordinary dry food does not clean the teeth at the gum line and does not replace brushing.

What tartar on a cat's teeth looks like

Tartar is easiest to spot if you gently lift the lip at the side rather than opening your cat's mouth. This is what owners usually see:

• yellowish, brown or greyish-brown hard deposits at the gum margin;
• most tartar on the canines and upper back teeth (premolars and molars);
• a red line along the gums above the teeth — a sign of gingivitis;
• bad breath;
• swollen gums that bleed when touched.

Telling plaque from tartar is simple: plaque is soft and comes off with a brush or gauze, tartar is hard and does not. But what is happening underneath cannot be judged from the outside: the amount of tartar does not show how diseased the teeth are.

Why tartar matters in cats

Tartar is not a cosmetic problem. It keeps chronic inflammation going, and cats are good at hiding pain, so disease can progress unnoticed for a long time.

• Gingivitis. Plaque bacteria irritate the gums: a red margin, swelling and bleeding appear. At this stage the changes are still reversible if plaque and tartar are removed and home care is set up.
• Periodontitis. If inflammation continues, it spreads deeper — to the ligament that holds the tooth and the bone around the root. Periodontal pockets form, the tooth loses support, and this loss does not recover on its own. More in the article on periodontitis in cats.
• Hidden tooth resorption (TR). Resorption often starts right at the gum margin — exactly where tartar builds up. Tartar or swollen gum can cover the defect, and it is found only after the deposits are removed, during probing and on dental radiographs. More on tooth resorption in cats.
• Pain your cat hides. Diseased teeth hurt, but cats usually keep eating. Pain shows in small details: your cat eats on one side, drops bits of food, prefers soft food, grooms less, chatters its teeth or its jaw trembles.

Can you remove tartar from a cat's teeth at home?

No — tartar that has already formed cannot be removed safely at home. And it is not a question of the owner's skill:

• tartar is hard and firmly attached to the tooth — a brush, gauze or treats remove only soft plaque;
• the main deposits are below the gum line, which is where inflammation continues; they cannot be reached at home;
• a cat does not lie still — one sudden movement and the instrument injures the gum, lip or tongue, and you risk being bitten;
• scratches are left on the enamel, and new plaque clings to them even faster; after professional scaling the teeth are polished;
• a tooth with resorption hurts when touched — trying to scrape tartar off that tooth causes your cat severe pain.

Human products are not suitable either. Human toothpaste is not meant to be swallowed, and cats swallow toothpaste. Baking soda, hydrogen peroxide or vinegar irritate the lining of the mouth and do not dissolve tartar. Gels and sprays can complement home care but do not remove tartar that has already formed.

Popular home remedies are covered in detail in the article on removing dog tartar at home. It is about dogs, but most of the arguments apply to cats too.

What about cleaning a cat's teeth without anaesthesia?

Anaesthesia-free cleaning is sometimes offered by groomers or salons. The AVDC (American Veterinary Dental College) does not consider it acceptable: it removes only visible tartar, does not allow the teeth to be assessed or treated below the gum line, and creates a false sense that the problem is solved. For a cat it is also stressful.

Why tartar in cats is removed under anaesthesia

Professional tartar removal is more than cleaning the crowns. To remove deposits from below the gum line, examine and probe every tooth and take intraoral radiographs, the cat must be still and pain-free. An ultrasonic scaler produces water and aerosol in the mouth, so the airway is protected by an endotracheal tube.

Anaesthesia is given and monitored by a separate veterinary anaesthetist while I work in the mouth. No anaesthesia is entirely risk-free, but the risk is assessed in advance: at the consultation I examine your cat and ask about its health, and pre-anaesthetic tests are chosen individually, depending on age and health.

Full-mouth dental radiography is especially important: in cats some lesions — resorption, retained roots, bone loss — are visible only on radiographs. That is why tartar removal is one stage of a COHAT, a comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment:

1. 01

   Consultation

   I assess the gums, tartar, bite and eating behaviour and plan the pre-anaesthetic tests.

2. 02

   Examination and probing under anaesthesia

   Every tooth is examined and probed: periodontal pocket depth, mobility, defects at the gum line.

3. 03

   Dental radiography

   Radiographs of all teeth show the roots, bone and resorption that cannot be seen in the mouth.

4. 04

   Scaling and polishing

   Deposits are removed above and below the gum line, then the teeth are polished so the surface stays smooth for longer.

5. 05

   Diagnosis and treatment

   Problems found are treated when clinically indicated — after agreeing it with you.

6. 06

   Home-care plan

   I explain how to care for the teeth at home and when to come back for a check-up.

What happens after tartar removal: when the plan changes

Before the procedure only a provisional plan is possible: much of each tooth is hidden below the gum line. The full picture emerges after scaling, probing and radiographs — and it may differ from what could be seen at the consultation. Possible outcomes:

• only tartar and gingivitis — after the cleaning the gum inflammation settles, and home care becomes the main task;
• periodontal pockets — periodontal treatment is needed when clinically indicated;
• teeth that have lost bone support — they are extracted to remove the source of pain and inflammation;
• tooth resorption (TR) — the affected tooth is extracted; in some forms of resorption, where the radiograph shows the root already being replaced by bone and there is no inflammation around it, crown amputation may be possible — only when clinically indicated.

I show you the radiographs, explain the options and agree the scope of treatment with you. How to feed your cat after the procedure and whether pain relief is needed at home I explain individually — it depends on what was done.

How to prevent tartar in cats

The most effective prevention is regular toothbrushing with a veterinary toothpaste: the brush removes soft plaque before it hardens. Daily brushing is best, but even a few times a week is better than nothing.

Cats are trained gradually: first touching the face and lips, then toothpaste on a finger, and only later a toothbrush. The steps are described in how to brush a cat's teeth. The easiest time to start is after a professional clean, when nothing in the mouth hurts.

• A toothbrush and veterinary toothpaste — the basis of home care.
• VOHC-accepted products — treats, diets or additives shown in studies to slow the build-up of plaque or tartar. They supplement brushing rather than replace it; more in the article on dental treats and VOHC.
• Regular check-ups — I set the interval individually: it depends on your cat's age, gum health, how quickly tartar forms and whether there has been resorption.

How much does tartar removal for a cat cost?

There is no separate price for “tartar removal”, because it is one stage of a COHAT. The cost is made up of several parts:

• an in-clinic consultation, or an online consultation if you are not in Kyiv;
• the basic COHAT protocol — for a cat, the rate for pets up to 20 kg applies;
• inhalational anaesthesia with monitoring — billed separately;
• pre-anaesthetic tests — the extent depends on your cat's age and health;
• treatment of any problems found (extractions, crown amputation, periodontal treatment) — assessed after radiographs and carried out only with your agreement.

Frequently asked questions