Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Dental Disease Prevention and Welfare

Dental disease affects the vast majority of adult cats causing pain that is chronically undertreated.

Key Facts

An estimated 70-80% of cats over 3 years have some degree of dental disease
Tooth resorption affects approximately 28-67% of cats and causes severe pain
Cats rarely show obvious signs of dental pain, making detection challenging
Daily tooth brushing is the most effective prevention but compliance is low
Dental diets and water additives provide some benefit with higher owner compliance

Welfare Considerations

Dental disease causes chronic pain in millions of cats that owners typically fail to recognise. The welfare improvement from regular dental assessment and treatment, including extraction of diseased teeth, is substantial and immediate.

What You Can Do

Include dental assessment in your cat's regular vet health checks
Attempt daily tooth brushing or use dental diets and additives if brushing is not possible
Seek dental treatment including extractions for diseased teeth to alleviate chronic pain