Get Cat Dental Chart

Just like humans, cats have baby teeth that they lose before their permanent teeth erupt. That's sometimes a very good thing, because kitten teeth can be extremely sharp.

Persistent bad breath can indicate severe periodontal disease that will require treatment. It is also important to be alert to any other signs that could indicate dental disease, such as drooling, difficulty swallowing, pawing at the face, or changes to your cat's eating patterns or weight.

Signs that a cat is suffering dental problems, says Dr. Carmichael, include bad breath, red and swollen gums, pawing at the mouth and refusal to eat hard food.

Using definite landmarks we can number animals with less teeth, such as domestic cats, horses and rabbits. The central incisor is always 01 and the following incisors are 02 and 03. The canines are always 04. The premolars are 05 to 08 and the last premolar is always 08.

The permanent dentition consists of 32 teeth in total, with the dental formula 2123 (or 2123/2123), indicating two incisors, one canine, two premolars, and three molars in each quadrant.

The numbers for each quadrant of the lower jaw are the same, and the general formula is written I2/2 C1/1 P2/2 M3/3. To arrive at the total number of teeth in the animal's mouth, sum these numbers (2+2+1+1+2+2+3+3) and multiply by two (=32).

Given that gingivitis leads to periodontitis, most cats with periodontitis will show signs of gingivitis (redness, swelling, bleeding along the gingiva at the base of the teeth), and may also be reluctant or unwilling to eat, drool, turn their heads to the side when chewing, and develop halitosis.

Teething begins in kittens at about 10 weeks to 6 months of age, beginning with the primary incisors being replaced by their permanent counterparts. By the time the average kitten reaches 6-7 months of age, all 30 adult teeth will have erupted.

Kitten Teething: An Age Timeline These baby teeth all fall out by the age of 3 to 4 months, making room for the adult teeth to then pop up. Typically, all adult teeth are in place by the time a kitten is 6 months old. Most adult cats have 26 baby teeth and 30 adult teeth.