Senior cats have dramatically higher rates of dental disease than younger cats, with professional dental care under anesthesia being essential to prevent chronic oral pain in their later years.
Dental disease in senior cats causes chronic pain that compounds other age-related welfare challenges. The combination of tooth resorption, periodontal disease, and oral inflammation creates constant discomfort that affects eating, socializing, and general quality of life. The behavioral changes seen after dental treatment - cats becoming more active, affectionate, and playful - demonstrate the profound welfare improvement when pain is addressed. Withholding dental treatment due to anesthesia concerns in otherwise healthy senior cats is a welfare decision that condemns the cat to ongoing pain. Modern anesthetic protocols make dental procedures safe for the vast majority of senior cats with appropriate pre-operative assessment.