How Lilo the microwave-opening cat inspired a feline toothbrush

Not many people brush their cat’s teeth and live to tell the tale. At best, most of us end up with scratched, bloody hands and an angry mini-panther who wants you dead.

It was skirmishes like these that inspired Victor Carpio, founder of UK-based Inventor Smart Care, to find a better solution for his cat, Lilo. 

“When Lilo was about three or four years old, I saw a leaflet at the vet’s office that asked, ‘Have you ever tried to brush your cat’s teeth?’ I felt awful because I never had,” he said. 

Feeling remiss, he bought a cat toothbrush and toothpaste and tried to brush Lilo’s teeth.

“It was horrendous. He was fighting to escape, and I was just pleading, ‘Please, let me do this for your own good!’ But no cleaning got done that day.”

Victor persisted. But the more he tried brushing Lilo’s teeth, the more fractious things became.

“I felt stuck between choosing my cat’s health and maintaining our bond, and that was a horrible position to be in,” he said.

Victor began researching alternative dental care for cats, such as dental treats and food additives. None, however, could replace actual brushing. 

One day, inspiration struck. It was a normal day, and Lilo was attacking Victor’s hand (playfully…probably).

“I was lying on the sofa using my hands to play with [Lilo], and he was biting my fingers. I thought, ‘What if I had bristles on my hand?’”

Victor realised that Lilo’s playful hunting-chewing behaviour could be used to rub bristles across his teeth.

The idea grabbed Victor, who threw all his energy behind it. The key was to harness a cat’s natural instincts, rather than force the cat into doing something unnatural.

“Cats aren’t like dogs; they won’t just sit still while you brush their teeth,” he said.

“But they do have strong hunting instincts. If we can incorporate that into the experience, we can turn brushing into something they actually want to do.”

The resulting invention, the Dental Wand, was carefully designed to mimic prey movements, engaging a cat’s natural hunting drive. It looks more like a bouncy yellow sea cucumber than your typical toothbrush.

Even better, it can be dangled enticingly in front of the cat on a string. This provides enrichment as well as dental care.

“It bounces across the floor, releases toothpaste when bitten, and provides the mental stimulation cats need. By aligning with their instincts, we’re not only improving their dental health but also reducing stress-related behaviours, aiding weight management, and strengthening the bond between cat and owner.”

The 3.5-year journey from concept to market was far from easy. Victor immersed himself in feline dentistry - a far cry from his background in business innovation. 

“I studied advanced feline dentistry for veterinary nurses through International Cat Care. At first, I’d read a sentence and not understand half the words. But I was determined.”

Victor also consulted with International Cat Care and the British Veterinary Dental Association to refine the idea, mainly bootstrapping development of the product.

In that time, Victor’s Dental Wand has appeared on Dragon’s Den, where entrepreneurs, inventors and small businesses pitch their ideas to potential investors.

Since launching in October 2024, the Dental Wand has been a finalist for several awards, and won Best Pet Grooming Product of 2024 at the UK Animal Awards. 

However, the biggest challenge remains educating cat owners. “Long-time cat owners often thought brushing was unnecessary, until their cat developed dental disease. By then, it’s too late. Prevention is key,” Victor said.

Despite the challenges, Victor’s commitment to his invention never wavered, driven in large part by his love for Lilo.

It’s just as well. Turns out, Lilo is an evil genius who loves food.

“Sorry, excuse me for a second - Lilo has just managed to open the microwave. I’ve hidden my lunch in there,” Victor says hurriedly, getting up to rescue it.

The Dental Wand is now available at Pets At Home. “Touch wood, by the end of the year we’ll be in more large retailers in the UK, Europe, and the US,” said Victor.

As with many health-related products, there exists a gap in the cat dental care market. While dogs dominate the pet dental care space, the cat segment makes up around 20-30% of the market.

According to Market Research Intellect, the cat dental care market is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.5% from 2025 to 2032. Estimates vary, but the global pet dental care market is worth approximately US$1.5 billion to US$2.2 billion.

The cat dental space remains largely overlooked, leaving room for innovators like Inventor Smart Care. A rare exception is Canadian startup RYERCAT, which created its flagship toothbrush after a first-hand struggle with feline dental disease.

For the most part, however, dental products are still bundled for “dogs and cats” rather than designed specifically for felines.

Examples include:

“My vet told me to brush my cat's teeth, but I'm pretty sure she'll kill me if I try to do that. Does anyone have any creative solutions?“

For the record, here are International Cat Care’s guidelines on brushing your cat’s teeth. They make sure to add:

“Don’t worry if you have an adult cat that’s never had their teeth brushed - this can be introduced to your cat at any age, as long as it’s done gradually, and carefully.”

 In real life, however, things don’t always go so smoothly.

We turned to Reddit for an informal survey of the average cat parent’s reaction to brushing their cat’s teeth:

“I turn mine into a burrito.” (see photo above).

“You gotta straddle the cat. Like down on your knees and put the cat between your thighs, head facing out.”

“Start slow and small. First I just got them used to the toothbrush. I got their favorite high value treats and started just by teaching them to touch the brush with their nose. I would also put my fingers in their mouth very briefly, give more treats, then immediately dinner.”

Some are not so confident:

“I think my cat would quite literally murder me if I tried that with her.”

“My [cat] has figured out the subtle art of retribution. I prefer a peaceful home life.”

“I can't afford the blood loss that would result from such an endeavour.”

“I like being alive so I don’t brush the teefs.”

From the sounds of it, there’s definitely a market for more user-friendly feline dental care!