Dental disease accumulates throughout a cat's life and reaches significant severity in older cats. Senior cats often need professional dental treatment to maintain comfort and quality of life.
Senior cats frequently live with significant oral pain from periodontal disease and tooth resorption that is never detected because cats hide pain and continue to eat. The behavioural improvement seen after dental treatment - increased playfulness, better appetite, more social behaviour - retrospectively demonstrates the welfare deficit these cats were experiencing. Regular dental assessment as part of senior wellness checks enables timely treatment before disease reaches a severe stage.