Companion Animals

Cat Feline Gingivostomatitis Welfare

Feline gingivostomatitis is a severely painful oral inflammatory condition causing profound welfare compromise in affected cats.

Key Facts

Gingivostomatitis causes intense inflammation of the gums, tongue, and throat
Affected cats experience severe pain when eating, often dropping food or drooling
The cause is likely an immune-mediated reaction to oral bacteria including feline calicivirus
Full-mouth dental extraction is curative in approximately 60 percent of cases
Remaining cats require long-term immunomodulatory treatment and pain management

Welfare Considerations

Cats with gingivostomatitis experience some of the most severe oral pain of any feline disease. Reluctance to eat despite hunger compounds suffering. Early, aggressive treatment including extraction is the most effective welfare intervention.

What You Can Do

Seek specialist dental assessment if your cat shows signs of severe oral pain
Do not delay full-mouth extraction if recommended for gingivostomatitis
Ensure adequate pain management is provided before and after any dental procedures