Dental disease affects the majority of cats over 3 years old, causing chronic pain that significantly impacts quality of life. Yet it remains one of the most underdiagnosed conditions in companion animal practice.
Dental disease in cats represents a chronic, hidden welfare burden affecting the majority of the pet cat population. Because cats stoically mask pain and dental examination requires anesthesia, the condition is systematically underdiagnosed. Many cats have lived for years with tooth root abscesses, painful resorptive lesions, or severe periodontal inflammation before diagnosis. Owners frequently report that their cat became more playful, affectionate, and active after dental treatment — suggesting the pre-treatment pain was significantly suppressing quality of life. Annual dental assessments should be considered a welfare minimum, not a luxury.