Dental Disease in Cats: The Silent Welfare Problem

Dental disease is the most common health problem in domestic cats, affecting over 70% of animals over three years old, causing significant chronic pain that often goes unrecognised.

Key Facts

Over 70% of cats show clinical signs of dental disease by age 3 according to WSAVA data
Tooth resorption — painful erosion of tooth structure — affects 20-60% of domestic cats
Cats rarely show obvious pain from dental disease; most continue eating until disease is severe
Dental radiographs are essential for accurate diagnosis — clinical examination alone misses 40% of lesions
Regular professional dental scaling under anaesthesia and home dental care dramatically reduce disease progression

Welfare Considerations

Dental pain in cats is one of the most widespread and chronically unrecognised welfare problems in companion animals. A cat with multiple resorptive lesions — essentially cavities that erode the tooth to the pulp — may be in constant pain but shows no outward signs beyond subtle behaviour changes that owners attribute to personality or ageing. Post-dental-surgery behaviour changes are often dramatic: cats that seemed fine become playful and engaging again, confirming the pre-surgical pain level. Routine dental examination and radiography would identify and treat this suffering at scale.

What You Can Do

Have your cat's teeth examined by a vet at every annual health check from year two onwards
Request dental radiographs — not just clinical examination — to detect hidden lesions
Begin home dental care early: daily tooth brushing with feline toothpaste is the gold standard
Advocate for WSAVA dental health standards to be adopted across veterinary practices globally
Ask your vet about pain management options while awaiting dental surgery for affected cats