Dental disease is one of the most common and underdiagnosed sources of chronic pain in cats. Because cats hide pain instinctively, dental suffering often goes undetected until severe damage has occurred.
The stoicism of cats around dental pain represents a significant welfare challenge. Unlike humans or dogs, cats rarely vocalize about oral pain, and many owners interpret reduced grooming or pickiness as behavioral rather than medical issues. Chronic dental pain affects overall quality of life, causing stress, disrupted sleep, and reduced social interaction. Veterinary dental care, including professional cleaning and extraction of diseased teeth, dramatically improves welfare outcomes. Cats who have painful teeth extracted often show remarkable behavioral improvements — becoming more playful, affectionate, and engaged — revealing how long they had been suffering.