"Nature breaks through the eyes of the cat."
~Irish Proverb
Let's talk about Maine Coon dental and oral care
Cat dental and oral health is easy to forget! Cats are great at hiding discomfort, and they dislike anyone prying their mouth open, so this is an easy cat care area to let slide. Let's go over the basics of Maine Coon cat oral care.
There are common cat dental care issues, and some unusual ones. For example, our little girl Alice had an unusual condition where she was allergic to her own saliva.
She had to have a couple of teeth removed at a young age, just a few years old, before most of us start thinking about brushing our cat's teeth, gingivitis, inflamed gums, or dental cleanings.
On our visitor Q & A page about teeth and gums, readers share experiences with rodent ulcers, luekoplakia, stomatitis, and kitten teething issues.
But the vast majority of the cat oral health issues we might encounter are similar to human dental care issues - gingivitis, tartar and cavities in cats. And these can be avoided in the same way we humans try to avoid them - by regularly brushing teeth.
Cat Oral Health Problems and What to Look For:
Try getting a peek inside their mouth when you can. When cuddling and sleepy, lift their lips for a moment. Or, take a look when he or she has a big yawn, if possible.
Our beloved house cats come from ancestors who evolved to hide their pain, injury or discomfort from potential predators in the wild. So it's up to us to notice the subtler signs that something is amiss:
- Gums should be pink and healthy-looking, not bright red or inflamed. Also, yellow tinged gums can signal liver problems - although that can be hard for the average cat owner to see.
- Teeth should be nice and white. You don't want to see the tell-tale yellow or brown of tartar buildup.
- Difficulty eating, especially kibble, or crunchy food or treats. Loss of appetite.
- Pawing at the mouth and drooling. Our Maine Coon girl did both of these things when she developed a mouth abscess.
...Continue reading
For Folks without clickable links in email:
https://www.maine-coon-cat-nation.com/cat-oral-health.html
Our feature for this Flashback Friday is...
Gryphon and Taun Taun!
DeanAnn and Dave in NY share:
Gryphon is a 24 pound, 1.5 year old Silver Classic male tabby with white and Taun Taun is a 16 pound, 1 year old male Classic Red Tabby.
They act like brothers but are actually from different breeders. However, we found out they are cousins, as Taun Taun's grandfather is Gryphon's great-grandfather (a confusing surprise when we compared their pedigree!).
Gryphon "talks" all the time and doesn't like to be very far away from myself or my husband. As he gets older he is becoming more and more of a lap cat (or actually tries to sit as close to our face as
possible).
He loves carrots, and can open door knobs with his paws. Taun Taun is "the teenager" of the house. He's always getting into things he shouldn't and often plays "tricks" on his brother (luring him into a pretend attack situation!).
He can catch toys with his paws and play fetch! They sometimes play the game "Who's That Cat", where they briefly have amnesia and freak out at the sight of one another.
Then just as quickly they realize,"Oh yeah, I know you...I see you everyday, all day long".
We love our Coonies and feel so blessed to have them in our lives. They have enriched our lives and provide daily laughter and joy.
Visit Griffin and Taun Taun and take a stroll down memory lane in the Spring 2016 Album
Inspiration, Featuring Coonies:
Feel free to save this photo and use as you wish!
It's from our Pinterest page- another place where we can connect!
New in Our Maybe-Maine Section:
10-13-21:
Maine Coon/Siamese Rescue:
Cassie shares: "I stopped by our local rescue last weekend just to visit the lonely cats.
In the corner “fancy” and spacious pen was a very young GORGEOUS Siamese mama cat and her 5 babies.
They were strikingly beautiful and only one slightly resembled mama, his black and gray long hair and blue eyes gave away that these cats were also Maine Coon (I think).
I absolutely fell in love with Sissy and adopted her at 7 weeks old. Now that she’s home, she’s unlike any cat I’ve ever owned...."
Read more (and comment to let Cassie know what you think about Sissy!)
The leaves are falling, the kids are excited, so why leave out the pets? Pet cat costumes are a fun way to get into the spirit!
Cat Halloween costumes have come a long way in the last few years! The new ones are not only adorable, they're safer too. Look for easy velcro straps, no strings, and simplicity.
After all, cats don't really love dressing up. The least we can do is pick something simple and comfy!
Are you interested in getting automated updates right to your email, much like a Daily Digest, when we post new content?
Simply enter your email to get the Maine Coon Blog! (it's not a whole newsletter like this, just a short blurb when something new is posted)
PS: For folks who reply to these emails, I do love to hear from you! I enjoy your greetings, and hearing about your cats and their quirks. Thank you for these nice
messages!Please Read Before Emailing a Question: For those who ask cat care questions or "Is my cat a Coon?" questions, please know that I may not be able to answer every cat care/behavior question. Look for Q & A's in future PAWSitive Passages. And please check out our Cat Care Questions page; you may find your exact problem has already been discussed there! And this page shares some common
visitor questions and answers, and guidelines. Thanks! |
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