Dental disease is the most common health problem in cats, affecting the vast majority by middle age but remaining significantly undertreated due to low owner awareness.
Dental disease in cats causes chronic oral pain that owners consistently underestimate because affected cats maintain eating behavior as a survival drive even in significant pain. The behavioral manifestations of chronic dental pain - reduced grooming, facial rubbing, altered food preferences, and reduced social interaction - are subtle and easily attributed to personality or aging. Systemic effects of periodontal bacteria causing heart valve disease, kidney infection, and hepatitis add to the welfare burden beyond oral discomfort. Regular dental examination, professional cleaning under anesthesia, and tooth extraction when indicated represent one of the most impactful welfare interventions available to cat owners.