Dental disease is the most common health problem in adult cats, yet it is frequently unrecognised and undertreated, causing chronic pain that significantly reduces quality of life.
Feline dental disease causes sustained, often severe chronic pain in a species that is highly skilled at concealing discomfort. A cat with advanced periodontal disease or tooth resorption may experience constant pain at the gumline, yet eat, groom, and interact apparently normally — making it easy for owners and even veterinarians to miss. The welfare impact is profound: chronic pain triggers stress, suppresses immune function, disrupts sleep, and reduces engagement in play and social behaviour. Systemic consequences including bacteraemia may contribute to organ damage. The primary welfare challenge is early detection: regular oral examinations under sedation or anaesthesia reveal the true extent of disease that surface examination misses. Treatment — scaling, polishing, and extraction of resorbing or severely diseased teeth — typically results in dramatic behavioural improvements that owners describe as their cat "becoming young again." Prevention through habituating kittens to toothbrushing and regular veterinary dental checks is the most effective long-term welfare strategy.