Dental disease is the most common condition found in cats at veterinary examination, yet remains chronically underdiagnosed and undertreated, causing persistent and unnecessary suffering.
Feline dental disease is one of the clearest examples of a major welfare problem hiding in plain sight. Because cats are stoic about pain — a survival strategy that in the wild prevents appearing vulnerable — owners and even veterinarians can underestimate the degree of suffering associated with dental disease. Research on feline behaviour before and after dental treatment consistently shows improved appetite, activity, and interaction, suggesting that many cats are living with significant chronic oral pain that their owners are unaware of. Routine dental examination at every veterinary visit, owner education about dental disease signs, and early intervention before disease becomes severe are the key welfare interventions. Prevention through daily brushing, when trained from kittenhood, can dramatically reduce the lifetime burden of dental disease.