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Marthe48

(23,350 posts)
Thu May 7, 2026, 12:39 PM 15 hrs ago

Grooming tip

When my kitty got old, she was pretty bad at grooming herself. I'd wipe her down with a damp, warm washcloth, and she liked that. I got the idea of brushing her face and head with a dry toothbrush, and she really liked that.

The pets I stayed with last week are elderly. I bought a toothbrush and tried it with the old kitty. He really liked it, and would sit by me after he ate for a little brushing. I told one of my friend's friends about it. She tried it on her kitty and he liked it so much, he was bringing toothbrushes to her. She said she has them all around the house for cleaning. I mentioned that they shouldn't have cleaning products on them, but she said they are all clean.

I tried it with the old dog, too. He liked it, but he's pretty big to be brushed with a toothbrush

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Grooming tip (Original Post) Marthe48 15 hrs ago OP
Thank you. We'll try it on our senior cats. They all need help with grooming. AnotherMother4Peace 15 hrs ago #1
I'm going to get a couple of senior cats in July Marthe48 15 hrs ago #2
Toothbrush, a very good idea. cksmithy 14 hrs ago #3
Great idea! Ty! SheltieLover 14 hrs ago #4
My friend's kitty started batting the toothbrush Marthe48 8 hrs ago #6
Awwww... SheltieLover 7 hrs ago #9
Muffin is afraid of the brush I bought for her too. crosinski 4 hrs ago #10
My guy is small, too. SheltieLover 3 hrs ago #11
I'll have to try the toothbrush on my husband's elderly slightlv 8 hrs ago #5
My kitty didn't like the cutting I did Marthe48 8 hrs ago #8
Bookmarking!! NEOH 8 hrs ago #7

AnotherMother4Peace

(5,177 posts)
1. Thank you. We'll try it on our senior cats. They all need help with grooming.
Thu May 7, 2026, 01:06 PM
15 hrs ago

One of our senior cats was supposed to just stay the weekend, until the shelter opened. Well, that was about 17 years ago - a verrrrry long weekend. He's such a funny cat, and our alert system. Whenever anything is out of sorts in the household, he starts meowing and alerting.

Marthe48

(23,350 posts)
2. I'm going to get a couple of senior cats in July
Thu May 7, 2026, 01:13 PM
15 hrs ago

I've been without kitties for a year. I was going to travel, but I'm stuck because of other things. I'd like short-haired light colored cats. My last kitty was a long-haired Manx. She relied on my boy cat to groom her, at least her head and face. When he died, she didn't take up the slack. I did a lot to keep her clean and healthy, hoping to avoid that part of loving pet ownership :/

You were so kind to keep the kitty. All cats do cat things, but each one has its quirks. That makes them so much fun. My boy cat was the best non-verbal creature I've ever had. He was sure to notice something out of order and let us know. I miss him more than most of the kitties I've had.



cksmithy

(511 posts)
3. Toothbrush, a very good idea.
Thu May 7, 2026, 01:17 PM
14 hrs ago

We are in our mid 70's, I wish I would of thought of that. We've had several senior cats, 15 to 18 years of age, they would have enjoyed a muzzle brush. I would just try to keep their faces clean for them just by wiping/picking food off their whiskers. We always did brush their bodies, especially when they could no longer clean themselves properly.

Toothbrush a very great idea!

SheltieLover

(81,527 posts)
4. Great idea! Ty!
Thu May 7, 2026, 01:37 PM
14 hrs ago

My kitty is terrified of the fancy brush I bought for him, but I'll bet he will tolerate a toothbrush.

Marthe48

(23,350 posts)
6. My friend's kitty started batting the toothbrush
Thu May 7, 2026, 08:03 PM
8 hrs ago

I let him take it, and he played with it for awhile. So cute.

crosinski

(746 posts)
10. Muffin is afraid of the brush I bought for her too.
Thu May 7, 2026, 11:23 PM
4 hrs ago

Part of the problem is that she’s a small cat, and the brush is really large. I bet a toothbrush would be perfect.

SheltieLover

(81,527 posts)
11. My guy is small, too.
Fri May 8, 2026, 12:28 AM
3 hrs ago

The brush is about the size of his body. Poor little guy.

I love this toothbrush idea!

slightlv

(7,906 posts)
5. I'll have to try the toothbrush on my husband's elderly
Thu May 7, 2026, 08:00 PM
8 hrs ago

long-haired Calico. She never "took" to me... always my husband's baby. But he doesn't groom her. She's been letting me cut "gobbies" out of her fur, which I consider a great sign of trust now. Maybe the toothbrush will be an asset... it's worth any amount of trial and error at her age. She's over 20 years old now. A real Queen.

Marthe48

(23,350 posts)
8. My kitty didn't like the cutting I did
Thu May 7, 2026, 08:07 PM
8 hrs ago

I never snipped her skin, but she fought me every time. She was like Star Trek, had Klingons pretty regularly :/

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