Should I pay for my cat to have his teeth cleaned?

I just adopted an 8 year old male cat to be a friend to my 9 year old female cat. She has always had another cat around (a roommates) but recently doesn't anymore and is very lonely. So, enter Vincent. The only problem is that the vet sys he needs his teeth cleaned (they are yellow and his gums are slightly red). This will cost $225. I have already paid an $80 adoption fee, $60 for extra fluids during the (free) neutor due to his age, and $100 for bloodwork to ensure he doesnt have cancer or something life threatening. My wuestion is...should I pay for the teeth or just try to keep them from getting worse by brushing them myself? I am kind of running low on funds after all of this!

Should I pay for my cat to have his teeth cleaned?
Aside from gum disease, the plaque that builds up on a cat's teeth can break loose and sometimes enter the blood stream. This can cause severe cardiac problems for the cat resulting in an early death.
Reply:The cat usually has to be tranquilized and that costs money. However, if you check around, you should be able to find a good sympathetic and qualified vet to do it for less. Report It

Reply:absolutely....if you love your catyou need to take care of it. Cleaning their teetch will save you money down the line.
Reply:low funds...ouch!! I'd say get them cleaned, but till you can afford it, try cleaning them yourself. hopefully your cat doesnt have teeth issues like water issues and freaks out. This is cool you really care about your pets like this.
Reply:brush them yourself. use a soft bristle brush.
Reply:YES, NOT CLEANING THEM CAN LEAD TO HEARTDISEASE, KIDNEY DISEASE, AND GENERAL MALEASE. IT WIIL SAVE YOU MONEY IN THE LONG RUN. BUT CHECK AND SEE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BLOODWORK AGAIN IF YOU HAVE DONE IT RECENTLY.
Reply:I would pay for it....at some point. Save up for it and in the meantime, brush them yourself. Then when you have the money, take him in. Gum disease can cause many other problems in pets, so you will want to get this taken care of.
Reply:absolutely. you don't want your cat to loose all her teeth. it's worth it even if it's expensive. most vets offer payment plans and you can shop around to see if there's less expensive rates.
Reply:Yes
Reply:I would go to the local pet store and see if they have a special brush, or paste and buy those for a do at home fix. If you have came out of pocket for all that already I would try the home remedy before spending all that money again. I love animals, but they can get pricy at times.
Reply:YeS you should if you want him to be around...
Reply:Definitely! The redness you are seeing may be caused by the tartar buildup - which can lead to infection and death.


The vet will probably give you a tooth brush and tooth paste for your cats. It's really easy to do for them and saves them a whole lot of pain.
Reply:I think you can find a cheaper vet. Are you in Beverly Hills or something? I'm in a suburb of a major city, and my vet only charges $60. But yes, I had a cat that had some kind of absess tooth from gum disease, so do it now as a preventative measure.