Dental Disease in Cats: Prevention, Welfare and Treatment
Feline Dental Disease: A Major But Often Silent Welfare Problem
Dental disease affects an estimated 70–85% of cats over 3 years of age, making it one of the most prevalent health conditions in companion cats. Despite this extraordinary prevalence, dental disease is chronically underrecognised by owners — cats rarely show obvious pain signs even with severe oral pathology. The welfare implications are profound: chronic dental pain affects eating, behaviour, sleep, and overall quality of life, often for months or years before detection.
Common Dental Conditions in Cats
- Periodontal disease: Inflammation and destruction of gum and supporting bone around teeth. Grades 1–4; grade 3–4 causes significant pain and tooth loss
- Tooth resorption (FORL/TR): Idiopathic progressive destruction of tooth structure from root outward; extremely painful when dentin is exposed. Affects 20–60% of adult cats
- Feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS): Severe, immune-mediated oral inflammation; causes intense pain, hypersalivation, difficulty eating
- Tooth fractures: From chewing hard objects; expose pulp causing acute and chronic pain
Recognition of Dental Pain in Cats
- Reduced food intake or preference for wet food
- Dropping food while eating
- Pawing at mouth or face
- Hypersalivation or blood-tinged saliva
- Halitosis (bad breath)
- Reduced grooming (pain when jaw moves)
- Personality changes — withdrawal, irritability when handled around face
Prevention
- Daily toothbrushing with pet-safe toothpaste: Most effective prevention; requires patience and training
- Dental diets (Hills t/d, Royal Canin Dental): Larger kibble with specific texture reduces plaque
- Water additives, dental gels: Adjuncts to brushing; lesser evidence base
- Annual professional dental examination under general anaesthesia
Treatment
Professional dental treatment requires general anaesthesia. Full mouth radiographs are essential — tooth resorption and periapical disease is invisible without X-ray. Extraction is often the most welfare-positive option for severely affected teeth — cats adapt remarkably well after even full mouth extractions.
Further Resources