Dental disease affects the majority of adult cats and causes significant chronic pain. Prevention and early treatment are essential components of good feline welfare.
Feline dental disease is a major contributor to chronic pain in the companion cat population, yet it is frequently undetected and untreated. Cats are stoic pain hiders, and dental pain is no exception: many cats with significant periodontal disease or tooth resorption continue eating (perhaps preferring soft food) without displaying behavior that owners recognize as pain. Veterinary dental examination under anesthesia is the only reliable way to identify dental disease extent. Prevention through regular brushing and appropriate diet from a young age significantly reduces disease burden. When disease is detected, prompt treatment — including extraction of resorbing or severely affected teeth — provides significant pain relief and welfare improvement.