Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Welfare and Periodontal Disease Prevention

Periodontal disease affects the majority of adult cats and causes chronic pain. Prevention through home care and professional treatment is highly effective.

Key Facts

Over 70% of cats over 3 years have some degree of periodontal disease
Periodontal disease causes chronic pain that cats typically mask effectively
Daily tooth brushing is the most effective home prevention measure
Dental diets and chews have moderate evidence for plaque reduction
Annual professional dental assessment and cleaning prevents disease progression

Welfare Considerations

Periodontal disease causes chronic, hidden suffering in the majority of adult cats. Prevention through regular brushing and professional dental care prevents this welfare burden from accumulating.

What You Can Do

Establish daily tooth brushing from kitten hood
Schedule annual veterinary dental assessments
Discuss dental diets or chews with your vet as adjunctive prevention
Seek prompt treatment if dental disease is diagnosed