Feline tooth resorption affects over half of adult cats, causing severe dental pain that is often completely hidden until the lesions are discovered during examination.
Feline tooth resorption represents a significant hidden welfare problem because affected cats often show no obvious signs of pain despite severe dental lesions. Cats' evolutionary tendency to mask pain means they continue eating and behaving relatively normally while experiencing constant dental discomfort that humans would find intolerable. Dental radiography reveals the true prevalence of this condition - lesions are common in adult cats but consistently under-diagnosed due to their subtle surface appearance. Extraction of affected teeth provides immediate relief, and owners frequently report dramatic behavioral improvements post-extraction - cats becoming more playful, affectionate, and active - confirming that chronic pain was significantly compromising quality of life before diagnosis.