Dental disease affects over 70% of cats over age 3, causing chronic pain that significantly compromises welfare. Yet dental disease in cats receives far less attention and treatment than its prevalence warrants.
Feline dental disease is a silent welfare epidemic. Because cats continue eating despite significant oral pain, owners rarely recognize dental disease until it is severe, and even veterinarians may miss early signs without dental radiographs. The welfare implications of untreated dental disease are substantial: chronic pain from periodontal infection, tooth resorption, or stomatitis affects eating, grooming, social behavior, and overall quality of life over months to years. The most important welfare intervention is early detection through regular professional dental examinations including radiographs — most dental disease is not visible on surface examination. Extraction of painful teeth, far from being a last resort, is often the most welfare-positive treatment: cats recover remarkably well from extraction and show behavioral improvements including improved appetite, increased grooming, and more social engagement as pain resolves.