Dental disease is nearly universal in older cats, causing chronic pain that profoundly affects quality of life, yet it is frequently underrecognised because cats typically hide pain and continue to eat despite discomfort.
Chronic dental pain in cats is a significant welfare issue that may persist undetected for months or years. Cats with severe dental disease often experience behavioural changes — becoming less playful, more withdrawn, or irritable — that owners may attribute to normal ageing. Post-extraction improvement in demeanour is frequently dramatic, confirming the level of prior suffering. Veterinary dental assessment should be a routine part of senior cat healthcare from around age 7. Owners should be aware that reluctance to chew hard food, drooling, pawing at the mouth, or bad breath are indications of dental pain requiring veterinary assessment.