Australia sees feline dental crisis: how special food helps

Think standard dry food is cleaning your cat's teeth? The common dental myth most pet owners believe

This is sponsored content for Fussy Cat.. Every morning, cat owners across Australia pour a bowl of standard dry kibble, reassured by the satisfying crunch that they are helping clean their cat's teeth.. While ordinary dry food is not necessarily designed to provide a dental-cleaning benefit, some specially formulated diets are designed to help support dental health..

The dental benefits of dry food depend on its design and formulation.. Kibble specifically developed for dental care may be designed to provide tooth contact during chewing.. This common misconception helps explain why four in five cats develop some form of dental disease by just three years of age, a figure that climbs to nearly 90 per cent by age four..

Although research shows that 65 per cent of Australian cat owners are actively concerned about their pets' dental health, proactive feline dental care still lags significantly behind canine care.. To genuinely support dental health, dry food must be engineered specifically for the job.. For kibble to deliver a real cleaning benefit, its shape, size, texture, and formulation must work together to create physical contact down the length of the tooth before shattering..

"Fussy Cat Dental Defence combines a specially designed kibble shape with an active dental ingredient to support everyday dental health," Fussy Cat brand manager Grace Davey said.. "Fussy Cat Dental Defence features a specially designed kibble intended to support dental hygiene during chewing.. "At the same time, the active dental ingredient helps with tartar control..

"Together, these features allow owners to provide everyday dental support through a complete and balanced meal their cat already enjoys." One senior cat named Persia became a fan of the Fussy Cat Dental Defence Ocean Fish after turning her nose up at several other types of dental biscuits.. Her owners were thrilled to see her tuck in straightaway from the first time it was offered to her.. "She loved it, and Fussy Cat Dental Defence has since become part of her regular mealtime and overall care routine..

For her owners, that was the real breakthrough," Grace said.. "Supporting Persia's dental health no longer meant trying to convince her to accept something unfamiliar.. It became part of a meal she already looked forward to every day." Part of the challenge with feline dental health is that cats are master concealers of pain..

A cat with a fractured tooth or inflamed gums will often suffer quietly while continuing its daily routine.. Rather than waiting for obvious distress, owners should watch for subtle shifts in behaviour that indicate a need for dental intervention:. "Do not wait until your cat stops eating or shows obvious discomfort," Grace said..

"Cats can conceal pain extremely well, so small changes in their breath, eating habits or behaviour should not be dismissed.. "Dental health should become an ordinary part of caring for a cat throughout its life.. "That means paying attention to changes at home, including dental support in the cat's everyday routine and maintaining regular veterinary checks." A diet designed to support dental hygiene can form part of your cat's dental care routine..

Regular veterinary checks remain important for assessing your cat's oral health and identifying problems that may need treatment.. Fussy Cat Dental Defence Ocean Fish is available nationally at Woolworths, with both Ocean Fish and Chicken available nationally at Coles from October 26.. Both varieties are Australian-made and come in 2.2-kilogram bags with an RRP of $26.50..

For more information, visit the Fussy Cat website or follow @fussycat.au on Instagram..