About the cat's mouth and teeth
Just like humans, cats don't have teeth when they are born; it's only when the cat is about three weeks old that the baby teeth start to emerge. Cats normally have 26 milk teeth which are replaced by a set of 30 permanent teeth when the cat is about 4 and 6 months old.
Good oral health is obviously important for your cat to be as healthy as possible! Two keys to good oral health in cats that are good for you as a cat owner to know are:
Inspect your cat's mouth regularly
Daily tooth brushing with a toothbrush and toothpaste for animals
It's important to get your cat used to this from a young age, if you have the opportunity. Although the baby teeth will be replaced, it is good to practice brushing and handling early, so that it works when the cat is older and the permanent teeth are in place.
Among cats there are two dental diseases that are common, these aretooth resorptionor FORL as it is sometimes called andperiodontitis. By brushing your cat's teeth regularly you can prevent periodontitis, but unfortunately tooth resorption is not preventable. Both tooth resorption and periodontitis can cause pain in your cat's mouth, and if your cat has serious problems with either of these diseases, affected teeth may need to be extracted.
