Dental disease is the most common health condition in cats, yet its pain is often invisible to owners — making regular dental care a critical welfare issue.
Dental disease is one of the most prevalent sources of chronic, hidden suffering in companion cats. Cats with painful mouths continue eating because the alternative — starvation — is worse. This evolutionary pain-masking behavior means owners often have no idea their cat is suffering. Tooth resorption — where the body's cells attack and destroy tooth roots — causes severe pain that cannot be addressed without extraction. Cats with stomatitis may have their entire tooth complement extracted to eliminate the immune trigger causing widespread oral inflammation. Between dental cleanings, owners can help with tooth brushing and dental treats, but professional assessment is irreplaceable. The welfare cost of untreated dental disease — years of chronic oral pain — makes preventive dental care one of the highest-impact welfare interventions for companion cats.