Dental disease is the most common condition affecting adult cats, causing significant chronic oral pain that affects eating, behaviour, and quality of life — yet it remains one of the most under-treated feline health problems.
Dental pain in cats is chronic, insidious, and underestimated by owners who see a cat still eating and assume it cannot be in significant pain. The reality is that cats are highly motivated to eat despite oral pain because the alternative is starvation. The transformation in cats following comprehensive dental treatment — including extractions where necessary — is often dramatic, with owners describing their pets as becoming younger, more playful, and more affectionate. This transformation reveals the extent of suffering that was present but masked.