You must care for your cat or him brushing teeth and you wonder how to open a cat's mouth? Yes, but opening a cat's mouth is not that easy! Indeed, when the cat is afraid or feels threatened, he will be on the defensive and may even be aggressive.
That's why I'm sharing with you below my little tips that help calm a cat so that it can safely hold it down and force it to open its mouth.
Train your cat to open its mouth
It is important to do this from an early age. Indeed, if your cat is used to it, he will let it go more easily when you want to open his mouth.
To get used to it, you have to handle it from time to time, place it on a towel and play with it by rolling it up in it, being held on your knees, turning it over on its back, opening its mouth ... This learning is essential from 2 months but even in adulthood, you can gradually teach him to be manipulated (see How to train a cat in 15 minutes a day?).
Prepare everything before opening his mouth
Before handling your cat, you will need to prepare everything you will need in advance:
- Provide long gloves to protect yourself when you go to catch your cat;
- Connect in advance in the room where you are going to take care of your cat, a pheromone diffuser so that it is calmer.
- Equip yourself with a large bath towel or a holding bag;
- Take the tablets or syringe out of their packaging ahead of time;
- Plan some treats to reward him at the end.
How to calm a cat before opening its mouth?
For this manipulation, choose a time when your cat is calm. Don't catch him when he's excited, wants to play, or wants to go out. Choose a time when your cat is cool and wants to be cuddled.
Then, here are some tips to let it go smoothly:
- Close the doors and windows of the room where you have previously connected a pheromone diffuser;
- Approach your cat slowly, cautiously, without sudden movement and whispering his name to call him towards you;
- To attract him to you, hand him some treats;
- In order not to feel dominated, you will have to sit on the floor and wait for your cat to come towards you;
- As soon as he approaches you, take him calmly while reassuring him.
How to hold a cat to open its mouth?
When your cat is calm, once caught, it must now be kept blocked either with a restraint bag or with a large towel.
Maintain a cat with a restraint bag
- Sit on the floor (see above) with your cat against you;
- Block your cat between your legs so that he cannot move;
- Then put it in the bag and close it;
- Just let his head hang out of the top of the bag.
Hold a cat with a towel
- Spread the towel across its width;
- Lay your cat on one side of the towel;
- Fold down the towel and roll your cat up tight like a mummy;
- And there you have it, your cat is supported and his movements are limited.
How to force a cat to open its mouth?
Now that your cat is well maintained, you will be able to:
- Put his mouth between your thumb and your index finger at the level of his jaw;
- Squeeze and insert your fingers and keep the pressure on the jaw until he opens his mouth. Indeed, the pressure will force the cat to open its mouth;
- While keeping your fingers on his jaw, you can give him medicine or put a syringe in his mouth to give him fluid.
- When it's over, release your cat and consider rewarding him with a treat.
