Teeth! $$$$$$$!!!!

[TopCat3]

Raw chicken wings to chew on are supposed to prevent tartar in cats. However as most cats are used to cooked (canned or pouch) food or dry food there is that look they give you that goes something like...and whaddamisposedtado with THIS may I ask?
Then it gets dragged all round the carpet leaving greasy smells
There are also some things that look like little sushi rolls, come in a foil pouch and are expensive and don't know what they contain but mine found them rather exciting and palatable, but I don't give them now. They just have dental cleaning every 2-3 years and I just grit MY teeth and pay it (and postpone my own dentistry ) I have read on CRF sites that not getting rid of the tartar can help lead to kidney failure and other diseases from the toxins that are released by the gums when there is gingivitis setting in from the tartar. Whiskas also make some little biscuit things that come in a drum called Dentabits, my girls didn't like them much and they are full of additives etc so I didn't encourage them.
Over here you can get little rubber things with soft spikes on to fit on the end of your finger. Then you can spend quality bonding time with your furbaby while they are on your lap, by trying to get their head to stop swinging from side to side and the teeth puncturing the rubber thing and your finger, saliva all over your sleeves...

[Scooby4]

There are another option called "Dental Wipes" . They are disposable clothes soaked in toothpaste/cleaner. They come in a plastic container and come out like kleenex. One wipe is way more than enough to do.
The best way to do this is to have the animal on your lap or next to you. Have the head AWAY from your body!!! Do NOT have them facing you when doing this. It may not work and you could get bitten! You place the wrap around your finger like your cleaning a spot out. Then gently place it in their mouths gently rubbing the gums. You may want to just rub the gums for the first few tries if too much of a struggle. You can then move to the teeth with small circular motions. With cats, they tend to think your "nursing" them if you rub near their mouths. So it may be easier to just learn to rub them gently by their mouths a few times to get things "started".
I've used this method and thought the instructions on the box was crazy . I was like NO WAY!!! However, after cleaning the teeth of an old dog not familiar with me and never had dental care before, the method did work! It's kind of "gross" until you get used to it. Expect the results to take some time and the tarter not to come off immediately. Just work on the plaque buildup first.
I've tried the "toothbrush" and the "Finger brush" method all with limited success. One dog responds well with the toothbrush but the other doesn't. The cat forget about it! I use the wipes on her when she's "tolerable". I don't feed her any treats and only give her hard food so her teeth stay pretty healthy. Softer foods tend to cause more buildup and decay.

[steph]

'Logic oral gel' (toothpaste) for cats and dogs.. it works wonders, you just put it on their paw.. and they lick it off..
also there is 'maxi guard' for cats and dogs.. just apply a few drops either side of the mouth, and they love it!
try also royal canin dental or hills t/d... they both work a treat to clean the teeth and prevent build up!

[RobLynn]

After shelling out 100$ for a cleaning, I'd have no problem just holding him/her down and force brushing the teeth every once in awhile. They make a special paste for it.

[weekendrescuer]

I give my cat a raw chicken wing every week or so for her teeth. She loves them, they work like a charm, and I don't have to bother with brushing. At $1.25 for a 4-pack, they cost less than a toothbrush and toothpaste and are more effective.

[RobLynn]

I was told that chicken bones can splinter in the throat of the cat, and it's not to give them to the animal, so I don't.

Tangerine had her teeth cleaned after like 6 years of life.

I guess the reason our cats need their teeth taken care of by us, is the amount of canned/bagged food they eat. It doesn't clean the teeth as well as say a mole or a mouse with bones would. Also, since feral cats don't exactly have the longest life expectancy, they don't live long enough to develop the tooth decay and such that would happen/will happen to our indoor pets.

Some pets have trouble with it, others don't. I guess it's just like people, you hear about those people who never brush or floss, and have no cavities, but then when you don't brush for like a day, your face rots off.