Companion Animals

Cat Dental Disease and Oral Welfare

Dental disease is the most common health problem in cats, causing chronic pain that often goes unrecognized and untreated.

Key Facts

Over 70% of cats over age 3 have some degree of dental disease requiring veterinary attention
Cats rarely display obvious pain from dental disease due to their instinct to mask vulnerability
Untreated dental disease causes chronic oral pain, difficulty eating, and systemic health consequences
Feline tooth resorption affects approximately 30-60% of adult cats and is extremely painful
Regular dental exams and appropriate homecare or professional cleaning prevents significant suffering

Welfare Considerations

Dental disease represents one of the most common yet underrecognized sources of chronic pain in companion cats. Because cats continue eating and behaving normally despite significant oral pain, owners and even veterinarians may overlook serious dental pathology. Addressing dental disease through regular veterinary assessment, professional cleaning, and appropriate homecare eliminates a silent source of suffering for millions of cats.

What You Can Do

Schedule annual dental examinations for your cat, more frequently for cats over age 5
Learn to perform gentle mouth examinations to identify obvious dental problems between vet visits
Introduce dental homecare — specially formulated dental chews, water additives, or tooth brushing
Watch for subtle signs of dental pain: reluctance to eat hard food, pawing at the face, reduced grooming
Never assume your cat is fine because they are still eating — cats eat despite significant pain