Dental disease is the most common health condition in adult cats, causing chronic pain that frequently goes unrecognized. Prevention and early treatment are among the most impactful welfare interventions available to cat owners.
Feline dental disease represents one of the most widespread and underaddressed welfare problems in companion animal medicine. Cats in pain from dental disease often continue eating — the drive to eat overrides pain signaling — so owners mistake continued food intake for dental health. The progressive nature of periodontal disease means that by the time clinical signs are visible, significant tissue destruction has already occurred. Tooth resorption is particularly insidious: the tooth root is gradually destroyed from within, causing pain that many cats mask until advanced stages. Veterinary dental examinations under anaesthesia with dental radiography are essential for accurate diagnosis. Treatment, though expensive, provides immediate welfare improvements — owners frequently report significant behavioral changes after dental treatment, often only then recognizing how long their cat had been in pain. Prevention through brushing, dental diets, and enzymatic products reduces disease burden.