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Post Dental Op Dry Food Recommendations
Hi there. My cat had its teeth removed with exception to the canines and incisors. Two weeks after surgery, I tried reintroducing his favorite dry food (Tiki Cat Borne Carnivore Chicken & Egg) and although he attempts to eat it, he can’t keep it in his mouth and won’t swallow it. He loves to chase after his dry food when I flick it but he won’t eat it…and he especially won’t eat it after it’s been soaked in water. Are there any recommendations for similar nutritious dry foods that have a softer texture or smaller kibble size? My cat is eating wet food just fine, but I’d like to continue feeding him a combo of wet and dry food if possible.
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4 Replies
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Hi A,
You may still find given some time that your cat will come around to eat dry food normally. Cats are capable of swallowing food morsels whole and can adjust well to having no teeth and still eating dry food. My own 17 year old cat with only his little incisors, still eats dry food very well, as does his sister with only her incisors and bottom canines.
However, one suggestion I have seen some success with is to moisten the kibble with low sodium chicken broth (or beef broth is another option) instead of water. This can add some additional flavor.
It’s not the worst thing though if wet food is the main option. Cats do get a lot more water content from wet food which can be helpful as cats age. Personally, I do feel that predominantly wet food diets can contribute to more build up on the teeth for cats, but if a majority of teeth have been removed, this can be less of a concern.
And in the event that weight is an issue, wet food exclusive diets allow for meal feeding vs. free feeding (since you can’t leave it out) and better portion control. The main disadvantage of course is meal feeding isn’t practical for everyone’s schedule.
Dehydrated or freeze-dried diets may be another option to look into. While they can be fed as is, adding warm water as directed causes significantly more moistening of the food compared to regular kibble. Here is an article with some more information and diet reveiws: https://cats.com/best-freeze-dried-cat-food
cats.com
10 Best Freeze Dried Cat Foods: Unbiased Review - Cats.com
Looking for the best freeze dried cat food on the market? After extensive research and testing, we've chosen these recipes as the best you can buy.
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Thank you for taking the time to provide such fulsome advice, Chris. This is really helpful information. I’ve heard about softening kibble with water (which did not work with my cat) but never anything about using chicken broth – such a brilliant idea. I’ll look into your other suggestions as well.
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I went through something really similar with my senior cat after most of her molars were removed, so I totally understand how frustrating this stage can be. Even if they want to eat dry food, the mechanics just don’t work the same anymore.
A few things that helped us:
1. Look for “air-dried” or “semi-soft” kibble
These are much softer than traditional baked kibble. The two my cat tolerated best were:-
Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Chicken — breaks apart easily and smells appetizing, so it encourages eating.
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Smalls Freeze-Dried Raw (rehydrates softer than regular soaked kibble).
Both are nutrient-dense but far less abrasive.
2. Switch to “dental-friendly soft kibble”
A lot of brands advertise dental support, but only a few have a texture soft enough for post-op mouths. Hill’s Science Diet Oral Care is surprisingly gentler than regular kibble and crumbles when licked.3. Break the pieces before offering
If he loves the “chasing” part, try breaking the pieces in half or crushing them lightly. My cat ate way more once the pieces were small enough to push around with her tongue.4. Transition to a hybrid diet
Many cats post-dental end up on combos like:-
Soft kibble for texture enrichment
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A high-protein wet food for the calories
This keeps them mentally stimulated without forcing them to struggle with hard bites.
If he still can’t manage regular dry food even after trying the softer varieties, that’s normal — some cats with only canines/incisors end up permanently preferring soft diets. But offering softer, air-dried pieces usually bridges the gap.
Hope your little guy heals smoothly — the first few weeks after dental extractions are always trial and error.
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Hi, Our cat Remus had to have all his teeth removed at 8yrs old, due to resorption lesions. It was a terrible ordeal, but he’s now 18yrs and perfectly healthy! While we feed him good quality pate and kibble, he can honestly eat anything he could when he had teeth. He did drop food at first (post surgery) but once healed, he figured out how to eat without teeth. I would guess your cat is probably still healing. Give him some time and offer softer foods in the meantime. Our vet told us that cats don’t really chew their food anyhow. FYI, having our Remus’s teeth removed was the best decision we ever made. He is still like a kitten at 18, his breath smells sweet, and I believe his great health is at least in part due to not having any dental issues. He had a heart murmur before his teeth were removed, but that also disappeared! It’s also nice knowing he won’t ever have dental pain without us knowing. Rest assured that your kitty will figure out the food situation before long. >^..^<
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