Dental disease affects the majority of adult cats but is frequently undetected and undertreated, causing chronic pain that significantly diminishes quality of life and is often only identified when already severe.
Dental disease represents one of the most widespread and underappreciated sources of chronic pain in companion cats. Because cats rarely stop eating even with painful mouths, owners and sometimes vets may underestimate the degree of suffering present. Cats with severe periodontal disease or tooth resorption may be in constant low-grade pain for months or years before receiving treatment. Post-extraction, the welfare improvement is often dramatic — cats frequently become more active, playful, and affectionate, revealing how much they had been suppressing symptoms. The requirement for general anaesthesia for dental procedures means that cost and perceived anaesthetic risk can be barriers to treatment, particularly in older cats, further extending preventable suffering.