Gum redness/inflammation !

I give my cat Plaque Off daily and the vet says her teeth are good.

Sorry, I clicked send insted of preview by mistake.

Plaque varies greatly in cats as in humans. If it gets too bad it will cause health problem for an elderly cat. So really only a vet can advise.

Some cats clean their won teeth - my pair of (young adult) cats have such beautiful teeth that the vet commented on it. I told him that the one cleans her teeth by biting off bits of cardboard boxes and spitting them out again on the kitchen floor, and that I have previously had a cat or two who did the same. Others don't but you could try offering yours a cardboard box to lie in and see if the edges are bitten.

The other cat apparently brushes his teeth on mouse-skins while devouring his prey - which of couse requites frequent de worming.

In your case, I suggest you ask a couple of other vets what their charges for cleaning cats' teeth are.

I'm very hands - on with cats and dogs and I persevere with routines such as teeth brushing.
They get used to it .
Dogs are easier than cats though.
When your cat is calm and has just eaten try again after stroking and petting .
Good luck .

When our cats were kittens, our Vet suggested giving them Hills Dental Bites every day to keep their teeth clean. We give them each six + four Dreamies at 12.30pm every day. They are now 10yo. They saw the Vet last week who pronounced their teeth as perfect.

Just liked there on net there a number of makes. Worth a try. Not particularly cheap but nothing like the vet bill you are talking about

I use plaque for dogs. Wondering if there is a cat version. Just sprinkle on food. Both got lovely teeth. Including the 11 year old whom at one time her teeth looked decidedly grubby before I started. Used to get Plaque off don’t know if it’s same product. Vet very positive about condition of teeth. Surely there must be a cat version in in bio

Thanks everyone.

I'm really going to have to try to stick a finger in there and have a go. Terrifying!
lovethepuppies I'll look into it , thank you

There is something you can put in their water that helps with their teeth. If your cat's teeth have progressed to this place though, the dental is really important as a first step. My dogs have them as needed, rather than yearly.

If dental hygiene is neglected your cat will suffer discomfort and loss of teeth.

Vet fees are ridiculous, and need looking into, but in the meantime we have to pay😡😡

Abt 20 years ago our very old cat (c 18) had this problem and I recall that it cost a few hundred to have his teeth cleaned, so I'm afraid £700 sounds about right. Unfortunately he died a years later so no idea if he would have needed to have the treatment repeated.