A cat’s teeth aren’t just tools for grabbing and chewing food: they’re a predator’s weapons, used for hunting and self-defense. Your cat’s teeth are also an indicator of its health and can help estimate its age. Nature has given cats everything they need, but it’s up to owners to look after their pets’ teeth and mouths. How many teeth do cats and kittens have? When do kittens lose their baby teeth? What dental problems are common in cats, and how can you keep your cat’s teeth healthy? You’ll find the answers in this article.
When Do Kittens Get Their Teeth?
Kittens are born without teeth. Their baby (deciduous or “milk”) teeth start coming in at about 2 weeks of age, and all of them are usually in place by 6 to 8 weeks. Kittens keep these baby teeth until they’re about 3 to 6 months old. Every kitten develops at its own pace, so some get their teeth a little earlier and others a little later.
When baby teeth come in:
- incisors (front teeth): 2 to 4 weeks;
- canines (fangs): 3 to 4 weeks;
- premolars: 5 to 6 weeks.
Watching how a kitten’s teeth come in is a good way to estimate its age, which is especially useful with a stray or shelter kitten whose birthday is unknown.
Signs Your Kitten Is Teething
It’s easy to tell when your kitten’s teeth are coming in or changing. During this time, kittens feel discomfort and soreness in their gums, so they may behave differently than usual.
Signs of teething:
- Swollen, red gums.
- Chewing more than usual. A teething kitten chews on anything it can get its mouth on: furniture, toys, cables, its owner’s shoes.
- A smaller appetite, because chewing hurts.
- Mild gum inflammation. Some kittens develop “juvenile gingivitis” around the time their adult teeth come in.
- Irritability during play with toys it takes in its mouth.
- Drooling.
- A little bleeding from the gums. You may even find a tiny baby tooth on the floor, though most kittens swallow them, which is harmless.
- Pawing at its mouth, as if trying to get something out.
These signs can also point to other dental problems. If you’re worried, or your kitten stops eating, take it to the vet!
How to Help Your Kitten Through Teething
Helping your kitten has two parts: keeping it safe and easing its discomfort.
Keeping it safe:
- Hide or cover electrical cords, or use cord protectors, to protect your kitten from electric shocks.
- Move houseplants out of reach so your kitten can’t chew on poisonous plants. Lilies are especially dangerous.
- Put away small objects, hair ties, rubber bands and string, which can be swallowed.
Easing discomfort:
- Give your kitten soft rubber teething toys designed for kittens, such as the Petstages kitten teething toys. They cost about $5–10 / £4–8.
- Offer chew toys that you’ve chilled in the fridge (not frozen solid) to soothe sore gums.
- If chewing dry food hurts, offer wet food or soften dry kibble with a little warm water for a few days.
Don’t put human teething gels or oils on your kitten’s gums. Many human products contain ingredients that are toxic to cats.
How Many Teeth Do Cats Have?
Adult cats have 30 permanent teeth. Kittens have 26 baby teeth. That’s fewer than people and dogs: dogs have 42 permanent teeth and 28 baby teeth, and humans have 32 adult teeth and 20 baby teeth.
The Dental Formula of Cats and Kittens
Kittens and adult cats have different sets of teeth. The adult set is complete by about 6 to 7 months of age.
A kitten’s teeth:
- 6 upper and 6 lower incisors;
- 2 upper and 2 lower canines;
- 6 upper and 4 lower premolars.
An adult cat’s teeth:
- 6 upper and 6 lower incisors;
- 2 upper and 2 lower canines;
- 6 upper and 4 lower premolars;
- 2 upper and 2 lower molars.
Kittens have no molars: these come in only with the adult teeth.
The Structure and Function of Cat Teeth
A cat’s tooth has a visible part (the crown) and a hidden part (the root). It’s made of:
- pulp: the soft inner tissue with blood vessels and nerves;
- dentin: the hard tissue surrounding the pulp and forming the root;
- enamel: the hard protective outer layer, which has no nerves.
Each type of tooth has its own shape and job:
- incisors: small front teeth for nibbling, grooming and picking up food;
- canines (fangs): long, sharp teeth for gripping and killing prey and for self-defense;
- premolars: sharp, blade-like teeth for slicing and shearing meat;
- molars: the back teeth, which also help cut food into pieces.
Cats don’t really chew the way we do. Their teeth are designed for cutting and slicing, so they often swallow food in chunks.
When Do Kittens Lose Their Baby Teeth?
Cats, like many other mammals, have two sets of teeth: baby teeth and permanent adult teeth. The change should be complete by about 6 to 7 months of age, when a cat should have all 30 permanent teeth: 12 incisors, 4 canines, 10 premolars and 4 molars.
As the adult teeth grow in the upper and lower jaws, they push on the roots of the baby teeth and push them out. It’s a long, gradual process. Kittens may feel discomfort and irritation during this time and drool more. Their breath may also smell a bit unpleasant, which goes away on its own once all the adult teeth are in.
When Kittens’ Adult Teeth Come In
The change from baby teeth to adult teeth starts at around 11 to 16 weeks of age, with the incisors first. The canines come in at around 12 to 20 weeks and the premolars at 16 to 20 weeks. The molars, which have no baby versions, come in at around 20 to 24 weeks.
What If a Baby Tooth Doesn’t Fall Out?
Sometimes a baby tooth doesn’t fall out when the adult tooth grows in. This is called a retained deciduous tooth, and it’s most common with the canines. If both teeth stay side by side, the vet needs to remove the baby tooth. Otherwise, it can cause a bad bite, crowding and gum disease.
Ask your vet to check your kitten’s mouth at around 6 to 8 months of age (often at the spay or neuter appointment) to make sure all the baby teeth have been replaced.
How to Estimate an Adult Cat’s Age by Its Teeth
When a cat’s date of birth is unknown, its teeth can help estimate its age. Vets and shelter staff use this method with strays and rescues. It’s only a rough guide, though: diet, chewing habits and dental disease affect how quickly teeth wear.
- Under 8 weeks: baby teeth only.
- 4 to 7 months: adult teeth coming in.
- About 1 to 2 years: clean, white adult teeth with little or no tartar.
- About 3 to 5 years: some yellowing and tartar, and the first signs of wear on the incisors.
- About 5 to 10 years: more tartar, worn teeth and often some gum recession.
- Over 10 years: heavy wear, gum disease and often missing teeth.
Dental and Gum Disease
Dental health plays a huge role in a long, healthy life for your cat. Unhealthy teeth and gums don’t just cause bad breath: they cause pain and infections. Because the gums have a rich blood supply, bacteria from a diseased mouth can enter the bloodstream and affect other organs.
Dental disease is very common in cats. Most cats over 3 years of age have some degree of dental disease. Most problems can be treated, and many can be prevented with regular dental care.
Common dental problems in cats:
- Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums).
- Periodontitis (advanced gum disease that damages the tissues holding the tooth in place).
- Plaque and tartar buildup.
- Tooth resorption, a painful condition in which the tooth structure breaks down. It affects a large share of adult cats.
- Stomatitis (severe inflammation of the mouth).
- Broken teeth.
Interestingly, cavities, which are so common in people, are rare in cats.
Symptoms
Watch for these signs of problems with your cat’s teeth and gums:
- swollen, red or inflamed gums;
- bleeding gums along the base of the teeth;
- drooling;
- bad breath;
- eating less, chewing on one side, dropping food or refusing food completely;
- loose teeth;
- exposed tooth roots or receding gums;
- pawing at the mouth or face;
- irritability or hiding;
- missing teeth.
Cats are very good at hiding pain, and many cats keep eating even when they have painful dental problems. Regular checks by your vet are essential.
Diagnosis
Your vet will examine your cat’s mouth, but a full assessment usually requires dental X-rays and a thorough exam under general anesthesia, since much of the problem is often hidden below the gumline. Never try to diagnose or treat your cat yourself. Watch your cat closely so you notice any problem early and can take it to the vet in time.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the diagnosis, your cat’s overall health and how severe the disease is. It usually involves a professional dental cleaning under general anesthesia, with scaling to remove plaque and tartar above and below the gumline, and polishing. Diseased or painful teeth, including teeth affected by resorption, are often removed. Your vet may also prescribe pain relief and antibiotics. Cats cope remarkably well after tooth extractions, and many eat more happily once the painful teeth are gone.
“Anesthesia-free” dental cleanings aren’t recommended by veterinary dental specialists. They only clean the visible surface, miss disease under the gumline and can be stressful for cats.
How to Prevent Dental Disease
The best way to prevent dental disease is to remove plaque regularly by brushing your cat’s teeth, ideally every day, or at least several times a week. Start gradually and make it a positive experience with treats and praise.
- Use a soft pet toothbrush or finger brush and toothpaste made for cats, which comes in flavors cats like, such as poultry or fish. Never use human toothpaste: it can contain fluoride and xylitol, and it’s not meant to be swallowed.
- Dental treats, dental diets and water additives can help. Look for products with the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) seal, which shows they’ve been proven to reduce plaque or tartar.
- Have your vet check your cat’s teeth at least once a year, and arrange professional cleanings when your vet recommends them.
- If needed, your vet may recommend a special dental diet that helps reduce tartar buildup.
Tooth Loss in Adult Cats
Adult cats losing teeth isn’t normal: it’s almost always a sign of dental disease or injury.
Common Causes of Tooth Loss
- Periodontal (gum) disease.
- Tooth resorption.
- Plaque and tartar buildup.
- Injury, such as a fall or a fight.
Even if your cat has lost only one tooth, take it to the vet.
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