Dental disease is the most prevalent health condition in cats, yet it remains significantly undertreated due to owner unawareness and veterinary communication gaps.
The scale of dental disease in cats represents one of the largest sources of preventable chronic pain in companion animal medicine. Most cats over 7 years have some degree of periodontal disease causing gum inflammation, exposed roots, or tooth resorption - all painful conditions that cats stoically mask. The welfare opportunity is enormous: daily home care plus regular professional examinations catches disease before it causes significant pain and reduces treatment complexity. Veterinary communication that actively asks owners to feel their cat's jaw for swelling or react to touch is more effective than passive examination.