Dental disease affects over 70% of cats by age 3, causing chronic pain that most owners never recognize — making it arguably the most widespread and underaddressed welfare problem in companion animals.
Cat dental disease is the defining example of a welfare problem hidden by stoic animal behavior and owner unawareness. Because cats continue to eat and appear externally normal despite severe dental pain, owners do not recognize the problem and veterinarians face the challenge of persuading clients to address something that seems invisible. The behavior change after dental treatment — the renewed playfulness, increased grooming, and apparent contentment — is often the first signal owners receive that their cat had been in pain. The welfare implication is significant: if 70-85% of adult cats have dental disease, and dental disease causes chronic pain, then a substantial majority of companion cats are living with ongoing pain that their owners are unaware of. Regular dental assessment is the most impactful single welfare intervention available to most cat owners.