Happy Halloween, my peoples!
This round, let's talk cat teeth, those adorable, little murder pins in your feline fam’s mouth. As we’ve mentioned a few times, we live with Robert, and he’s had a full mouth extraction. So, we’ve answered quite a few questions about caring for gummy cats — and it is a great topic to sink our teeth into (ugh, sorry!).
The basics
Like baby humans, kittens are born without teeth. They get 25 - 26 deciduous ("baby") teeth, which then fall out* and are replaced by 28 - 30 adult teeth at approximately 3 to 4 months.
* and, of course, the Tooth Fairy leaves tuna under their pillows, right?
Anatomically, they nearly identical to ours in terms of raw materials and development, and, like us, there are variations in number of teeth, arrangement, and type based on genetics (and in cat, per breed: smoochy faced Persians, for example, frequently get fewer adult teeth than, say, Maine Coons).
Cats are made different
But this is where (most of) the similarities between human and cat teeth end.
Humans rely heavily on our teeth. We need them to eat a varied diet, and they assist with speech. I mean, we can live, sans teeth. But, as anyone missing some or all of their teeth will tell you, it’s hard.
Cats, on the other hand, can do just fine without teeth. It's preferable for them to maintain as many teeth as possible, but they can adapt to missing some — or, in the case of cats who have close human relationships — even all of them. This is because cats use their teeth differently than we do.
Cats primarily use their teeth for two main tasks: hunting and cleaning themselves.
Their canine teeth (fangs!) are designed to grasp prey and to, well, rip that prey open. They're hella pointy so they can pierce the skin of their catch, and then flay all the meat off those victim's bones.
The eency little straight teeth between their canines, the incisors, are used to nibble at things, if they have them, but are mostly used during grooming. They use them as tiny combs and to pull at mats or knots in their fur. They also use these teeth to pick up objects and carry them.
Behind the canines are their premolars and molars, which can be used for grinding food (like how we use our molars), but are more commonly used to help them pull bits of meat off the carcasses of their prey to eat.
You'll notice I did not use the word "chew" when defining the purpose of cat teeth. Sure, cats chew. Any of you who've heard the crunching of dry food or a kitty treat can attest to the fact that they can, and do, chew.
But they do not actually have to chew. As long as food comes to them, cut or torn into a manageable size, they don't have to chew (much or at all) to eat a healthy amount and live a good, long life.
Let me reiterate: cats who get fed by humans do fine without teeth. Feral or wild cats, who receive most of their nutrition through hunting, are at a dangerous disadvantage without teeth. Missing a few? No problem. But without any, they will be unable to hunt effectively. These cats will die without human intervention. If you do any rehab or catch-neuter-release work and find feral or semi-feral cats who are missing a significant number of teeth or who obviously have dental issues, contact a rescue group near you.
Losing teeth
Cats lose their teeth for many reasons. An injury or accident is common, where they will break or crack a tooth. Sometimes, it's superficial, and the tooth will remain -- but other times, the break will kill the nerves and the tooth will fall out on its own.
Age also does a number on kitty teeth (I suppose I should have grouped this as "just like us"). Because cats who live with humans live long lives (way longer than in the wild), their teeth get worn down, the structures weaken, and they can lose teeth just as part and parcel of the natural aging process.
While cats do not get cavities like humans (they don't eat much sugar and the shape of cat teeth doesn't leave a lot of flat horizontal surfaces where bacteria can roost), they are prone to periodontal (gum) disease. Gum disease will weaken the connections that keep their teeth tight in their mouths, and cause tooth loss. This is why vets recommend humans brush their cat's teeth: it's not because vets are sadistic bastards that relish the idea of humans wrestling their small, angry feline friends just for the lolz.
Another reason brushing is recommended is because it will keep you in the loop about other possible issues that could affect your cat -- because as we know, cats keep the whole pain thing close to their wee chests. They won't complain about pain until whatever is causing them pain has careened wildly out of control.
There are some serious issues that can affect the mouth (like stomatitis, which our Robert, pictured above, lives with, and that we will cover more fully in a future issue) as well as other systemic or autoimmune conditions. Most of these do have symptoms that manifest in the mouth, and, with a little diligence, can be spotted early in the disease progression.
Keep an eye out for any of the following:
Redness of the gums or the inside surfaces of the mouth (like red-red redness)
Small-but-distinct red dots on the gums or tongue
Drooling (not when they're getting the perfect pettings, because that drool is normal and awesome)
Pink drool or dribbles
Changes in their eating or grooming habits
Being (more) aggressive (than usual) or batting you away when you touch their cheeks or chin
Swelling of the gums, chin, or cheeks
Lolling tongue (hanging out, not just cute blep)
Bad breath (like beyond the normal fish breath. Think rotten, decay, or overly sweet)
If you notice any of these, consult your vet. They'll do the necessary tests and let you know what is up.
The teefless life
If your vet recommends a full or partial tooth extraction, try not to fret. Like we've said, your cat can and will do fine -- and will be even finer when they are not in pain. After an extraction, they will probably be on some pain meds, and the vet will recommend what to feed them as they recover.
But when they recover, do not be shocked if they go right back to eating, with relish, everything they ate before the extraction.
Cats with missing -- or no! -- teeth can and will eat dry food. They will eat crunchy treats. That is, of course, unless they didn't like those beforehand.
You do not have to damn them to a life of just pate wet food (unless they love pate wet food). The only thing you do have to do is watch that whatever you give them is in small enough chunks that, when they swallow them whole, there is no choking danger (think the size of a pea, or a shred the size of a toothpick broken in half).
Cats can do some food mashing between their bare gums, too. They haven’t lost jaw strength, and when their extractions heal, you’ll be shocked at what they can “gum” up.
However, there are a few useful caveats: they may become (more) messy eaters, because they don't have their front teeth to neatly pick up their food. Cats with missing teeth may also knock food from their bowls onto the floor to more easily access. We use a plastic placemat in front of the food bowls to help with that, here. We also recommend wider food bowls with higher sides to help corral the mess.
If you keep a water dish next to the food bowl, you will have to change it more frequently, as food will get splashed over from the dish, and there may be food on their chin and nose that drops in when they take a drink (and yes, food on their chin and nose is a reality, so non-toxic, unscented baby wipes or some warm damp cloths are handy to have nearby).
Another thing you may have to do more often is brush your cat, especially if they have thick or long fur. Without incisors to comb as they clean themselves, they may have issue getting to their undercoats, so a brush will help remove all those loose hairs and prevent knotting. They’ll stay pretty clean, but they may need extra help during shedding season.
And finally, you may notice your newly de-toothed cat gumming on objects, especially textiles with a slight roughness, for example. For some cats, this kind of stimulation on their gums feels really nice. If you notice this and want to redirect your cat off your heirloom grandmother's quilt, for instance, pet stores carry small toys designed for teething kittens. These toys have a variety of textures on them, and are safe for your cat to gum to their heart's content.
Have more questions on teefies, or on anything else? Remember, you can write in to request a topic, anytime.
Note: I'm not a medical professional. As always, you know your cat best. Follow your common sense and consult with your veterinarian. If you need low-cost veterinary services, the Humane Society has some options, but you can always call 211 for your area (in the US) to find out about clinics near you.
Next issue, we’ll channel the spirit of American Thanksgiving, and look at how much a cat should eat, verses what’s over- and underfeeding.
Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you then!
Kneadingly yours,
Clowder lady and her perfect jerks