Dental disease affects over 70% of cats over 3 years, causing chronic pain that significantly reduces quality of life yet remains undertreated in most pets.
Feline dental disease represents one of the largest and most preventable welfare problems in companion animals. The pain from periodontal disease and tooth resorption is continuous but suppressed, meaning most cats live for years with chronic oral pain that their owners do not recognise. The welfare improvement following dental treatment, often observed as increased activity, improved appetite, and more social behaviour, demonstrates how significant the pre-treatment suffering was. The expense and anaesthetic requirement of dental procedures creates a barrier to treatment, but the welfare case for addressing dental disease is compelling. Prevention through early dental care and appropriate diet substantially reduces the lifetime burden.