Dental disease affects approximately 70% of cats over age 3 and causes significant chronic pain that substantially impairs quality of life when unmanaged.
Feline dental disease is a pervasive, underdiagnosed welfare problem. Cats rarely refuse to eat from dental pain alone — their survival drive overrides the discomfort, meaning owners observe no obvious signs while significant disease develops. The revelation of how severely a cat was affected by dental disease often comes only when owners observe the dramatic behavior change after dental treatment: increased playfulness, improved appetite, visible comfort that was invisible before treatment. The difference tells owners how much chronic pain the cat was experiencing without communicating it. Annual veterinary dental assessment, home toothbrushing where achievable, and appropriate dental diets can slow progression and enable earlier treatment before severe disease develops.