If your cat won't let you near their mouth with a toothbrush, a dental powder can sound like the answer. Reviews are a good place to start: they tell you whether other cats ate it happily and whether the routine was easy to keep up. Here's what to look for, and how to tell a helpful review from a big promise.
Australian vets find some level of dental disease in 80% of cats and dogs over the age of three, according to the Australian Veterinary Association. Daily care at home matters.
What makes Purrlys® different
Most dental care removes plaque after it has formed. Brushing scrubs it off, and a professional clean under anaesthetic removes what has hardened into tartar. Purrlys works at the root cause: the plaque-causing bacteria themselves. Its beneficial bacteria form a protective biofilm over teeth and gums that crowds out plaque-causing bacteria and encourages the growth of beneficial oral bacteria, helping to reduce the growth of plaque every day.
Key takeaways
- The most useful reviews tell you whether the cat actually eats it, and what the cat parent noticed, like fresher breath.
- Check the ingredients, the directions and whether it suits your cat.
- How the powder works matters. Look for one that explains it.
- Dental care isn't a one-off. Whatever you choose, it has to be easy enough to do every day.
What to look for in reviews
The first question is simple: will your cat actually eat it? Plenty of cats turn their nose up at anything new in their bowl, and a dental powder only helps if it goes in every day. Look for reviews that say:
- their cat eats it without noticing, including fussy or older cats
- they've noticed a change, like fresher breath
- they're happy with the results and keep using it
- their vet has been happy with the results
"I have tried multiple dental supplements. Either they didn't work or my cats simply refused to eat them. Both my cats don't even notice this in their food, and my oldest cat finally doesn't have stinky breath."
Andrina v. A., verified Purrlys® review
"For the last six months Misha is been taking her daily dose of the powder and her teeth and gums are in great health. The vet was very happy in the last check."
Maria C., verified Purrlys® review
Be wary of reviews or labels that promise to melt tartar, cure disease or work the same for every cat. Every cat is different.
Check the ingredients and how it works
Read the label and the directions. A good product will tell you what's in it, how to introduce it and what it actually does in your cat's mouth. If it can't explain how it works, keep looking.
How Purrlys® works
Purrlys® Premium Dental Probiotics for Cats is an odourless and tasteless daily powder, developed by Australian microbiome scientists to support your cat's oral health.
It introduces beneficial bacteria that form a protective biofilm over teeth and gums. That biofilm crowds out plaque-causing bacteria and creates an environment where they struggle to grow. With daily use, it helps to reduce plaque and tartar build-up, supports fresher breath, supports healthy gums and supports gut health.
No brushing, no stress. Just a simple daily routine that fits into mealtime.
What to expect: Fresher breath comes first, within two to four weeks of being on the full dose. Helping to reduce plaque and tartar build-up, and supporting healthy gums, can take up to 12 weeks, and every cat is different.
Why every day matters: Dental care isn't a one-off. Just like brushing our own teeth, it's every day, for life. Daily use is what keeps the protective biofilm strong.
How it compares with other dental care
Brushing with a cat-safe toothpaste removes soft plaque by rubbing it off, and plaque starts building up again soon afterwards. That's if your cat will let you brush at all, and many won't. Purrlys works differently: the protective biofilm crowds out plaque-causing bacteria and helps reduce plaque build-up at the source, every day, without the struggle. Hardened tartar that's already there needs your vet. Purrlys supports daily oral care between vet visits.
Getting started
Mix it well into wet food and introduce it gradually, over 6 to 8 days for most healthy cats and up to two weeks for sensitive or senior cats. The directions for adult cats and kittens are on the How Purrlys® Works page.
If your cat has a pre-existing health condition, such as kidney or thyroid disease, or eats a therapeutic diet, check with your vet before starting.
Frequently asked questions
Is a dental powder the same as brushing?
No, they work in quite different ways. Brushing removes soft plaque by abrasion, physically scrubbing it off the tooth surface. It works well when it's done thoroughly, but plaque starts to form again soon afterwards, because the bacteria that produce it are still there.
Purrlys works by building a protective biofilm that crowds out plaque-causing bacteria and encourages the growth of beneficial oral bacteria. Rather than removing plaque once it has formed, it helps reduce the growth of plaque at the source. With daily use, it helps to reduce plaque and tartar build-up, without the brushing battles.
What makes a review useful?
Whether the cat actually eats it every day, and what the cat parent noticed, like fresher breath.
When will I notice a change with Purrlys®?
Fresher breath comes first, within two to four weeks of being on the full dose. Helping to reduce plaque and tartar build-up, and supporting healthy gums, can take up to 12 weeks, and every cat is different.
My cat is fussy. Will they eat it?
Purrlys is odourless and tasteless, so most cats don't notice it. Mix it well into wet food and build up gradually.
Can a dental powder fix advanced dental disease?
No. A sore mouth can have several causes. Once dental disease is advanced, with bone loss around the teeth, loose teeth or tooth resorption (where the tooth structure breaks down), no supplement can repair the damage. That needs your vet, and often treatment under anaesthetic. If your cat has red or bleeding gums, drooling, or is avoiding food, please see your vet.
Where does Purrlys® fit after vet treatment?
Once your vet has treated the problem and your cat has had a professional clean, the mouth is a fresh start. Purrlys® is the daily step that helps keep it that way. Because it works at the root cause, the plaque-causing bacteria, it helps reduce the growth of plaque from day one of the full dose, as part of daily preventative care at home. Many cat parents start Purrlys straight after a vet clean for exactly this reason.
Purrlys® supports daily oral care between vet visits. It isn't a replacement for veterinary care. If you notice red or bleeding gums, drooling, or your cat avoiding food, please see your vet.