Dental disease is the most common health problem in adult cats, and brushing is the thing that genuinely prevents it, which most cats will not allow anybody to do. A spray is the compromise. It goes into the mouth in a second or two with no brush, no restraint and none of the daily argument that makes owners give up on cat dental care within a fortnight of starting.

Applied directly into the mouth, or added to drinking water where the instructions allow it, the spray works on the bacteria in the mouth that cause bad breath, and fresher breath is usually the first thing owners notice. What we will not claim is that it removes plaque that has already hardened into tartar. Nothing sprayed into a mouth does that, and once tartar is on the tooth it takes a vet and a scale under anaesthetic.

• Oral freshening spray formulated for cats
• Applied straight into the mouth, no brushing needed
• Can be added to drinking water as directed
• Supports a daily oral hygiene routine
• Sold as a single option with no variants

Where a spray sits in the order of things. This is maintenance between check-ups rather than a treatment. If your cat has visibly brown teeth, red gums, is drooling, pawing at the mouth or eating on one side only, that is a vet appointment and not a spray. Breath that turns bad suddenly can also point to kidney or gum disease rather than plaque, and is worth a phone call.

Who it's for: Owners of cats who will not accept a toothbrush, looking for something realistic to do daily between veterinary dental checks.