Changing teeth in a cat: what the owner needs to know

Your cat experiences a number of changes as it matures, one of which is the change from baby to adult teeth. Teething usually takes place between the ages of three and six months. You can support and ensure your pet’s comfort during this time by being aware of what to expect.

Cats that are teething may find it uncomfortable and may show different signs of discomfort. They may chew on objects more than usual or exhibit irritated behaviors, which you may notice. Knowing these indicators enables you to give them the proper attention and care at this developmental stage.

This post will discuss the common symptoms of cats’ teething, how to support your cat through this time, and when to consult a veterinarian. You and your pet can have an easier time during this time if you have a little knowledge.

Age of Change	What to Expect
3-4 months	Baby teeth start to fall out.
4-6 months	Adult teeth begin to come in.
Common Signs	Increased chewing, drooling, and possible mild discomfort.
Care Tips	Provide soft toys and regular dental checks.

Features of dental development in cats and male cats

The animal’s jaw fully develops by the time it is eight months old. Every adult, regardless of gender, has thirty teeth.

Cat teeth are essentially a tool for cutting food. This is because cats are predatory animals that primarily eat small animals and rodents. This proves that cat teeth are extremely sharp and can "cut" meat with ease.

There are multiple components to a cat tooth:

• Pulp – a centered hollow depression filled with capillaries containing nerve endings. This part is designed to nourish bone tissue.
• Dentine is a highly mineralized substance that fills the maximum space from the pulp to the outer shell. Dentine is essentially the base for the tooth. It is a hard material, but very sensitive. Prone to rapid destruction if the upper protective layer is damaged.
• Enamel is a white shell covering the tooth from the outside. It is not connected to nerves, so it is not sensitive. Enamel is a complete protection against the negative impact of various factors. When this layer is worn out, eating causes pain.

Since cats are predators, having strong teeth is essential.

The state of a cat’s teeth makes it simple to determine its age. When the animal reaches the age of five or six, its incisors are severely worn, and the enamel begins to turn yellow or brown. When the animal reaches 10 or 12 years old, it usually still lacks fangs.

At what age do baby teeth appear

A newborn baby’s mouth is empty. Eating habits have an impact on this fact. A kitten only consumes breast milk. This could cause harm to the cat’s nipples if the babies were born with teeth.

When a kitten’s baby teeth erupt before six weeks of age, it is deemed normal. If there are no abnormal deviations, they emerge in a specific order.

Table: the order of eruption of baby teeth in a kitten

Age	Type of teeth	Number on lower jaw	Number on upper jaw
2–3 weeks	incisors	6	6
3–4 weeks	canines	2	2
3–6 weeks	premolars	6	4

There are 26 baby teeth in all.

Four molars are added to the cat’s dental row following the modification.

In addition to quantity, there is color variation from permanent teeth. The enamel appears to shine because it is so white. The initial teeth are curved and extremely thin. A second tooth can be seen on their inner side, but it will eventually fall out when these teeth are replaced.

Young dogs have extremely sharp teeth.

It should be mentioned that kittens have incredibly sharp teeth.

Loss of baby teeth and the appearance of molars

Molar teeth progressively replace baby teeth:

• Age 3-4 months is the period when teeth begin to change. First, the incisors are subject to replacement. They will become the first permanent teeth.
• 4-5 months is the period when canines are replaced. Immediately after them, premolars are replaced.
• 4-6 months is the period when molars appear. It is noteworthy that they do not have baby predecessors.

You can ascertain the age of the kitten by timing the molars’ replacement of the baby teeth.

Six months is used to replace the entire baby row. There is an occasional delay in the change until the child is nine months old. This is not regarded as unusual.

The moment when baby teeth are replaced by molars is a moment that cannot be missed. It is correlated with certain symptoms:

• saliva is abundantly secreted;
• gums swell;
• the pet tries to chew on everything it comes across;
• rubs its face with its paws;
• an unpleasant and sharp smell comes from the mouth.

It is possible for an infant tooth to fall out without the owner noticing. It can even be eaten with food by a kitten.

I owned multiple cats. When they were kittens, they were all taken from the street. None of them showed any obvious signs that their baby teeth were coming out. But their baby fangs, discovered while cleaning, were saved as a memento from multiple pets. The whereabouts of the remaining baby teeth are unknown to me.

Features of tooth change in cats and cats of different breeds

Kittens from different breeds develop differently from one another. Teeth are included in this as well.

British and Scottish

British and Scottish breed kittens—both folded- and straight-eared—develop in accordance with recognized guidelines. Breeders’ rules state that babies are sold as soon as they turn three months old. After a cat has been in a new owner’s home for approximately 30 days, the teeth start to change.

These breeds are distinguished by the fact that their baby teeth have not yet grown out and are replaced by molars. First the canines and then the incisors are in danger. You should take your kitten to the vet right away if you notice any signs of inflammation in the soft tissues surrounding the periodontal area or if you notice any remnants of the primary teeth while the permanent teeth are forming. The kitten’s oral cavity will be exposed to pathogenic microbes if the primary teeth start to decay. Even as an adult cat, dental and gum disease can still affect them.

An adult cat with a retained baby tooth may develop chronic gum disease.

Siamese and Thai kittens

Because the canines of Siamese and Thai cats differ in length and thickness, they receive extra consideration. As a result, the dogs grow more slowly. Here, it’s crucial to make sure the milk teeth fall out as the permanent teeth erupt. Teething delays are not an issue for Siamese kittens. Both the upper and lower fangs ought to erupt at six weeks of age. If the milk fang has fallen, don’t worry—the constant hasn’t grown yet. It will resound at a regular time.

Bengal cats

The development of a Bengal kitten is directly impacted by inheritance. The baby’s teeth usually start to shift around five months of age. While it is rare, accelerated loss can occur and is explained by genetics. In other words, milk teeth will erupt slightly sooner than permanent teeth. However, molars should cuddle up to six months of age. You can then stop worrying. If this doesn’t occur, the kitten’s body might not contain any trace elements. In this instance, wool-related issues will surface concurrently. A veterinarian should be consulted by the pet’s owner.

Sphinxes

Sphinxes replace teeth at three to six months of age. The breed’s traits determine their own conditions, which impact how long it takes for fangs to grow and fall out. The baby teeth will fall out before the permanent teeth erupt. Veterinarians point out that the puppy canine tooth might not erupt until the dog reaches one year old because of breed-specific traits.

Even as adults, sphinxes frequently experience issues with their jaws. Owners frequently lament their dogs’ diminutive stature.

A Sphinx’s owner needs to keep a close eye on their pet’s tooth-changing procedure.

Changing teeth in a Maine Coon kitten

The Maine Coon is a large cat. This breed has problems with teeth quite often. The period of their change can stretch up to the age of 8 months. Generally accepted norms say that a Maine Coon is considered a kitten up to 15 months. Consequently, the permanent teeth can grow up to a year. The main thing is to pay attention to the fact that the teeth have parallel rows. The correct bite for a Maine Coon has a scissor shape. It is strongly recommended to buy a lot of toys for the kitten so that he scratches his gums. Maine Coons have a dog temperament and often, when playing, chew on wires, shoes and can ruin furniture.

Siberian cats

Siberian kittens have big mouths, but they change their teeth in a predictable way. A delay indicates that more balance is needed when feeding. Males and larger kittens may occasionally postpone the tooth change by four weeks.

Table: what teeth make up the permanent row

Upper jaw	Tooth name	Quantity
	Fang	2
	Incisor	6
	Premolars	6
	Molars	2
Lower jaw	Fang	2
	Incisor	6
	Premolars	4
	Molars	2

Typically, an adult cat has thirty teeth.

Video: baby teeth of a cat

How to care for a pet during the change of teeth

It’s critical to realize that a kitten’s tooth change is not an illness. No special rights are required for him. With the exception of diseases, this process is typically painless. You need to get in touch with a veterinarian in this situation and heed his advice.

Nutritional Features

Regardless of how the baby is getting its teeth changed, feeding should be done according to its age. It is important to keep in mind that calcium and phosphorus are necessary for healthy tooth growth. Vitamins A and D are required for these microelements to be absorbed. In the event that the food is deficient in these nutrients, specific supplements are needed. Other vitamins won’t be unnecessary either, as the kitten’s immunity deteriorates during the teeth-changing phase. The infant needs to be provided with:

• fermented milk products;
• a variety of lean meats;
• rarely lean boiled fish;
• oatmeal, rice;
• carrots, zucchini and pumpkin.

In the event that prepared food is selected for feeding, it is important to consider items that are specifically made for kittens. Good food is balanced to meet the needs of a developing body and has all the vitamins and microelements required for a kitten’s development.

For kittens up to 12 months of age, Royal Canin Kitten food is appropriate.

How to behave with a pet

You cannot let the baby gnaw on anything, even though the gums are itching and causing the animal some stress. In particular, don’t let the kitten play with your hands; otherwise, it may become accustomed to it and become a problem as it gets older. Invest in a variety of toys that allow you to play separate games with your infant as well as cooperative ones.

A cat, no matter how old, needs love. You cannot dismiss the infant or ignore him.

Features of care

Gum inflammation occurs at the same time that teeth start to change. You can use a gel with analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties to help with the condition.

Teething and inflammatory processes are recommended uses for Gel Strong Teeth.

A baby cannot receive vaccinations during tooth extractions because they can weaken their immune systems, which can lead to health issues. It is preferable to defer a scheduled vaccination for a period of 25–30 days.

Possible complications when changing teeth

A kitten’s teething process occurs naturally. Either everything goes well, or things get complicated.

It is normal for the gums to be slightly inflamed or red. It is important to monitor any changes, though, and to get in touch with a veterinarian if you have any suspicions about abnormalities.

Signs that indicate potential issues:

• suppuration forms on the wound from a lost tooth;
• the kitten is in a bad mood, lethargic, restless;
• refusal to eat for more than a day;
• gums are severely inflamed;
• formation of wounds near the grown molars;
• permanent teeth have grown, and baby teeth have not yet fallen out.

If any of these symptoms appear, you should get in touch with a veterinarian.

Other problems

Sometimes the baby teeth have not fallen out, but the entire row of permanent teeth has formed. This leads to crooked bites, jaw injuries, and the onset of periodontal disease. An experienced physician will assist you in resolving this issue.

An extremely common issue during tooth extractions is misaligned denture growth. This pathology has several variations, so each case requires a different solution to address the issue. However, this cannot be disregarded because improper tooth growth impairs the animal’s quality of life and causes digestive issues.

Every instance of a cat’s incorrectly formed fangs is taken into consideration separately.

Comprehending the feline dentition process is imperative for any proprietor. Your cat will eventually grow out of its baby teeth and start to grow into adult teeth, usually around six months of age. Understanding this shift will enable you to recognize appropriate behavior and take care of any potential issues.

Cats typically chew more during this time because they are uncomfortable. Giving them the right chew toys will amuse them and help their gums heal. It’s important to keep an eye on their oral health; routine dental exams will guarantee that any possible problems are detected early.

Through continued education and observation, you can help your cat get through this critical phase of development. Recall that your pet will remain content and healthy during their tooth transition with a little bit of patience and care.

Every owner must be aware of the teeth-changing procedure when it comes to their cat’s dental health. About six months of age is when cats usually start to lose their baby teeth, which may cause discomfort or behavioral changes. Through identification of teething symptoms and understanding cat care during this phase, owners can contribute to the well-being and longevity of their feline companions. Both the cat and the owner can benefit from this natural process going more smoothly if they are aware of what to expect.

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