Dental disease affects over 70% of cats by age 3, causing chronic oral pain that is almost universally underrecognized and undertreated, making it one of the most common preventable welfare problems in companion animals.
Cats with dental disease suffer chronic oral pain that is profoundly underappreciated by owners. Unlike humans who stop eating when teeth hurt, cats continue to eat from hunger drive, concealing their pain. Research comparing cats before and after dental treatment shows dramatically improved playfulness, grooming, and interaction - behaviors suppressed by chronic pain that owners attributed to 'just getting older.' Tooth resorption, where the tooth structure is progressively destroyed, causes pain analogous to exposed nerve endings in humans. The near-universal prevalence of dental disease combined with near-universal owner underawareness makes this the most common hidden welfare problem in companion cats.