Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Welfare and Dental Disease in Senior Cats

Dental disease is extremely common in senior cats and causes significant chronic pain. Proactive management in older cats prevents this welfare burden from accumulating silently.

Key Facts

Over 80% of cats over 10 years have significant dental disease
Many senior cats with dental pain reduce food intake without showing obvious discomfort
Anaesthetic risk in senior cats can be managed with modern protocols
Dental disease in senior cats is associated with systemic disease including CKD
Regular professional dental assessment from middle age prevents advanced disease

Welfare Considerations

Dental disease in senior cats causes significant chronic pain that is often silent. Proactive professional dental care prevents this welfare burden and maintains quality of life into old age.

What You Can Do

Schedule annual professional dental assessments for cats over 7 years
Discuss anaesthetic risk management for dental procedures in senior cats
Establish tooth brushing before senior years to maintain dental health
Seek treatment for identified dental disease rather than deferring due to age