“People are fascinated with cat teeth because it’s not normal to see them often,” Molly DeVoss, a certified feline training and behavior specialist who runs Cat Behavior Solutions agency, told Bored Panda. “People smile and take pride in their teeth but cats’ teeth are functional versus ‘ornamental,’” she added.
It turns out that cats are born without their ‘teefies’ and kittens’ teeth start erupting at 2-3 weeks of age. Molly said that they have 26 “baby teeth” (deciduous teeth) and 30 permanent teeth, which come in at about three months of age.
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Molly explained that the teeth we see in cats most are the two canines, which look like vampire fangs to us. “These teeth are for puncturing the skin of prey and ripping meat from the bones. The tiny row of teeth between the canines are incisors. They don’t play much of a role in hunting, but they are good for grooming and picking things out of their coat,” she explained.
Meanwhile, “The molars and premolars are for grinding, but because a cat can’t move its mouth from side to side, they don’t really chew food like we do.” Molly added that cats’ teeth are not flat like ours; they have a “crowned” shape, which is common in carnivores.
However, even if cats have very different-looking teeth than humans, it doesn’t mean they don’t get diseased. Molly explained that “cats don’t get cavities but they do develop gum disease, infections, and cancer. Sometimes you will also see tooth resorption in cats.”
For this reason, feline dental health is vitally important. “Cats hide pain so it’s very difficult to tell when they are having dental issues. Some signs your cat is having dental issues are: suddenly finicky about their food, excessive drooling, redness where the tooth meets the gum, and bad breath.”
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In order to make sure their ‘teefies’ are healthy and camera-ready, annual veterinarian check-ups are very important. “Make sure your vet is examining your cat's teeth during this visit,” Molly said and added that other hygiene maintenance includes “daily brushing, or simply using an enzymatic toothpaste rubbed on your cat’s teeth, will protect your cat’s teeth.”
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Moreover, “If your cat won’t allow you to brush their teeth, there are products available that you can add to their water or food, dental chews, and you can also give them a raw bone to chew on,” she added. And speaking of those cats who have their teeth removed, Molly assured that they will still be able to eat. “You may have to adjust the diet to softer foods,” the feline behaviorist concluded.
