What do a cat's teeth look like? Cat's teeth: care and prevention of diseases. The permanent dentition consists of

A cat is a predatory animal, and for a predator, healthy teeth are a guarantee that the animal will be well-fed and satisfied. Cats are also characterized by age-related changes in teeth, just like humans. When does it happen, how many teeth do cats and kittens have and what types of teeth they are - this is the topic of our discussion today!

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Kitten teething

Cats have milk teeth, so if you are an inexperienced person in cat matters, do not be alarmed when you find a small cat tooth in your apartment. A kitten has a total of 26 chewing organs and their composition is as follows:

• 2 fangs;
• 6 incisors;
• 3 premolars in the upper jaw;
• 2 premolars in the lower.

Cats do not have primary molars. Kittens begin teething at the age of 12-14 days and this process is not associated with severe pain, as it happens in humans. However, there may still be some external manifestations.

For example, there may be excessive salivation, while the kittens touch their faces with their paws and gnaw on everything that comes to hand. The first teeth to emerge are the incisors at 2-5 weeks, the next canines at 3-8 weeks, and the last to emerge are the premolars at 5 to 12 weeks. By the way, veterinary dentists do not like to call a cat’s first teeth baby teeth; they divide all chewing organs into temporary and permanent ones.

Changing teeth

Kittens begin to change their teeth at approximately 3-5 months of age. The final formation of the cat's jaw occurs by 5-7 months. If kittens do not change their teeth on their own before six months, it is recommended to remove them. The sequence of appearance of permanent organs is as follows:

• The appearance of permanent incisors is expected at 3-5 months;
• Fangs will begin to grow at 4-5 months;
• Lifelong premolars and molars should appear between 4 and 6 months of age.

When kittens change teeth, it is advisable that you monitor the condition of the animal's oral cavity. The cat's gums should be soft pink, without bruising, and there should be no broken or damaged teeth.

You can see how the important chewing organs of a cat named Leo change in the video below.

Jaw of an adult cat

When the change of teeth in cats is completed, there should be exactly 30 of them in the animal’s oral cavity - this is the normal state of the cat’s jaw. The upper jaw has 6 incisors and 2 canines, 3 premolars on each side and 1 molar. Incisors and canines are used to bite and hold food, while premolars and molars are needed to chew rough and hard food. The lower jaw also has 6 incisors and 2 canines, but 2 premolars and 1 molar. Two cat's teeth have a triple root, ten organs have a bifurcated root, all others have one root.

Our pets are lucky; they rarely have caries and have much fewer problems with their teeth than we do. However, a common problem with a cat's jaw is tartar, which is formed due to bacteria, salts and food debris. Tartar is essentially plaque that has hardened over time. The stone problem is especially common among cats that are fed only soft food. After all, when cats in the wild eat a lot of solid food, this automatically cleanses the animal’s enamel of plaque.

Note that age-related loss of chewing organs is not a typical problem for a cat. Most likely, if a cat's teeth fall out, it is due to improper care. But a cat’s teeth will help determine its age, because their surface wears off over time. The incisors on the lower jaw will wear off first; in principle, all chewing organs lose their correct shape over time, and their contours become more oval.

Why might a cat grind its teeth?

If your cat grinds his teeth, there may be several reasons why he does this. Firstly, this may be a consequence of various infections of the oral cavity; grinding may also be associated with the presence of tartar or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The first thing you need to do is examine your pet's mouth. The stone appears as yellowish deposits at the base of the tooth and first affects the molars or premolars.

In addition to grinding, you also need to pay attention to the following symptoms:

• The cat chews on one side or refuses to eat at all;
• The animal has an unpleasant odor from the oral cavity and produces a lot of saliva;
• Upon examination, redness or swelling on the gums and darkening of the enamel are noticeable.

Video “Brushing teeth for dogs and cats”

You can see how important organs in dogs and cats are cleaned in a veterinary clinic in the video below.

To keep cats' teeth strong and healthy, owners will have to monitor their condition. This is very important, because the health of the teeth and the absence of diseases determines how well the kitten will develop, and how well the adult cat will be able to eat a variety of foods. Strong teeth are very important for a predator, and the cat, despite the fact that it has lived next to humans for a long time, has completely retained its “wild” habits.

Kittens' teeth

Cats are mammals, so their offspring are born toothless, because at first they do not need teeth when feeding on their mother's milk. Kittens come into this world blind and unable to eat solid food, and like human children, first have a set of baby canines and incisors.

Milk teeth appear in cats around the end of the first month of life. The kids have an incomplete set - 26 pieces. They begin to change around the fourth month of life.

When babies are teething, their gums become very itchy, and babies may bite and chew on various objects. While the kitten's permanent teeth are growing, they need to be looked after. Usually baby teeth fall out on their own, but sometimes a growing permanent one retains a baby tooth. In this case, new ones are cut at an angle and may grow crooked, defective, or begin to interfere with the cat’s eating.

To ensure that all of your kitten's teeth grow healthy and correctly positioned, it is worth visiting a veterinary dentist.

Until the milk ones are replaced by permanent ones, the baby’s body is considered weakened, so during this period he is not given vaccinations or given.

Adult teeth

A cat's permanent teeth appear after four months of life, finish forming around the eighth month and number 30:

• 4 fangs;
• 12 incisors;
• 14 premolars, of which 6 are on the lower jaw, and 8 on the upper jaw.

Since these animals are predators, the shape and arrangement of the cat's molars are designed to tear off pieces of flesh rather than chew food. The special structure of teeth in a domestic cat almost completely repeats their pattern in large cats.

Causes of diseases

All cat teeth are small in size and very sharp. They can suffer physically from various incidents, for example, it is not uncommon for a cat to have a broken tooth due to eating the wrong food or due to injury. The main causes of damage to teeth are impacts; they are knocked out during falls and accidents with vehicles.

Sometimes the cause of breakage and serious damage is bones that accidentally end up in cat food, or this happens when a cat eats a caught mouse or bird.

Usually, after such incidents with the cat’s teeth, roots are left that are easily inflamed and painful. When asked what to do in such a situation, it can be recommended to contact a veterinarian and remove the remains, since they will most likely bother the animal and will soon cause inflammation of the gums.

In addition to mechanical damage, the following conditions or diseases can cause problems:

1. Genetic predisposition. Most often, structural defects and a tendency to disease are found in cases where the cat belongs to a breed obtained as a result of human selection efforts.
2. Pathologies of location. Some breeds are missing one or two teeth, which negatively affects the operation of the entire apparatus.
3. Improper or insufficient nutrition. This has a particularly negative effect on the condition of the bones and teeth of kittens if their mother was malnourished or starved during pregnancy, or if they received poor nutrition in the first months of life. In the future, disruption of the structure and functions of the oral apparatus can be provoked by monotonous, poor food with insufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals.
4. Bad ecology. A cat, like a person, will suffer from poor quality water, polluted air and artificial chemical food.
5. Infections. They cause inflammation of the gums and tooth tissues, causing it to become loose in the socket, and a swaying tooth can easily break or simply fall out. Sometimes tooth resorption occurs due to infection in domestic cats.
6. Insufficient oral hygiene. Plaque that is not removed in time turns into hard tartar, which injures the gums, causes inflammation and causes putrefactive processes and tooth loss, as well as many diseases of internal organs.

Since there are many reasons for a cat's oral cavity, owners will need to monitor it closely to catch problems early.

Main signs of dental diseases

The symptoms of dental disease in cats are practically no different from those in humans:

1. It is painful for the animal to eat, especially in the area of ​​the affected tooth. If the pain is very severe, the cat may completely refuse to eat. Outwardly, it is noticeable that the cat is trying to eat so as not to hurt the sore side.
2. The gums are red, inflamed and swollen.
3. The tooth is loose or looks displaced in relation to its neighbors.
4. An unpleasant odor appears from the mouth.
5. Teeth wear down unevenly if one of them is damaged or diseased.
6. The cat often rubs its face with its paws or stops washing itself due to pain.
7. An abscess or “bump” appears on the jaw.
8. The animal does not allow you to examine its mouth, and may even try to bite or scratch the owner, which it has never allowed itself to do before.
9. The character and behavior of the cat change - yesterday, a still affectionate and cheerful cat becomes either gloomy and withdrawn, hides from people and does not play, or quickly falls into aggression only when trying to stroke or caress it, or pick it up.

Signs of disease appear gradually, so attentive owners always have time to change the situation for the better.

Common problems

Dental diseases in cats are varied, but the most common problems are:

1. . It is soft, yellowish or grayish, accumulates on the teeth gradually, and is easily removed. If you clean regularly and efficiently, you can avoid many serious health problems.
2. . It consists of fossilized hard plaque, which contains a lot of harmful bacteria that threaten the body with various dangerous diseases.
3. Caries. Although cats do not eat sweets, they are also subject to the scourge of the twentieth century.
4. Osteomyelitis. This is a dangerous disease that threatens the cat with destruction of the jaw bones. Most often it is a complication of caries and can lead not only to complete loss of teeth, but also to the death of the animal.
5. Periodontitis. Inflammation of the gums leads to loosening of the tooth and damage to its root, causing it to bleed and fall out.
6. . Inflammation of the gums is accompanied by bleeding, swelling, pain, and the formation of ulcers and cracks. If treatment is not started immediately, the teeth may become damaged, and the cat risks being left without them.

With these diseases, the teeth wobble and can break; sometimes the owners notice that they are so worn down that only the root remains; due to layers of tartar, they are bent and injure the lips and cheeks of the animal when it chews. All this leads to serious health problems.

To figure out how to treat dental diseases in your pet, you need to contact a veterinary clinic, where there are specialists in this field and specialized equipment.

Treatment options

In a veterinary clinic, a dentist will offer several treatment options for treating cats:

• manual removal of tartar. It can be done for single and small formations, which can be removed quickly and painlessly;
• ultrasonic cleaning. After stone removal procedures, teeth need to be polished. This is a gentle method that is well tolerated by animals;
• . It is practiced when a cat’s teeth hurt and they are so damaged that there is practically nothing to save. Both teeth damaged by infection and broken, severely worn and painful teeth can be removed.

The procedures are performed under anesthesia, after which the doctor prescribes special treatment, often using antibiotics, especially after the removal of rotten teeth, in order to avoid complications.

Preventive measures

Preventative measures will help avoid serious problems or at least delay their occurrence. In this case, the animal’s nutrition and hygienic measures for cleaning the oral cavity play an important role.

As for nutrition, it must be balanced, complete, with a sufficient amount of minerals and vitamins so that the cat’s teeth and bones are strong and strong.

For the same purpose, you can give the animal some kind of treats - special vitamins. This healthy treat for cats is eaten with great pleasure and brings great benefits to the body.

You also need to pay attention to the water that is given to the animal. It must be clean and of high quality, constantly fresh.

In order for a cat to have strong teeth, he must receive not only soft food, but also foods that need to be chewed - meat, fish. His menu should include cottage cheese and other fermented milk products as a source of calcium. You also need to give eggs periodically.

With a healthy diet, general strengthening of the body and regular hygiene procedures with teeth, the animal will be in perfect order.

Caring for a domestic cat is a whole complex of regularly performed actions. Caring for an animal helps it feel comfortable and safe around people. But not all owners know that the semantic content of the concept of “care” includes not only feeding, bathing and vaccinations. The health of the animal directly depends on how attentive its owner is to this issue.

In particular, oral disease is a common pathological phenomenon in cats. To independently determine whether a cat’s teeth are in order, you need to have a clear understanding of some of the features of its physiology. It is also important to know how many teeth a cat has, what structure they have, and how to properly maintain the microflora of the animal’s oral cavity in proper condition.

It’s not without reason that veterinarians advise taking a closer look at this part of the body in cats from early childhood, because they are reliable indicators of the cat’s general well-being. The occurrence of any disorders in the mouth indicates the course of the inflammatory process caused by the entry of pathogenic microorganisms into the body. The disease at the initial stage is quite difficult to determine, but by understanding what the ideal structure of the pet’s dental system should be, you can recognize the problem and immediately begin treatment, thereby preventing the likelihood of negative consequences.

Milk and molars: how many are there?

After reaching 3 years of age, more than 80% of domestic cats suffer from dental ailments. But, as you know, the first incisors appear in newborn babies a couple of weeks after birth. Kittens at 10 weeks of age have a full set of teeth, amounting to 26. After 1.5-2 months, milk teeth begin to be replaced by permanent ones. The process itself is almost painless, although in some cases changing incisors and fangs can cause significant discomfort to the cat.

During this period, the animal’s body produces a special substance in saliva - lysozyme. It helps prevent oral infections by providing an antibacterial effect. Due to poor nutrition and lack of the required amount of useful vitamins and microelements, lysozyme may become insufficient. Then the cat’s bacterial background may fail, which contributes to the formation of tartar. By periodically examining your pet’s oral cavity, you can immediately detect changes in the structure of the teeth.

First of all, you should know that there are 16 bone formations on the upper jaw of an adult cat, and 14 on the lower jaw. They usually erupt in the following sequence:

1. At the age of 3-4 months, the incisors appear.
2. After 2-3 weeks, new fangs can be noticed.
3. Another similar period of time will allow us to detect chewing premolars, and then molars.

Features of tooth structure

The structure, structure and characteristics of a cat's tooth will help you find many answers to your questions. For example, why dental diseases in cats are accompanied by pain, bleeding gums, and inflammation.

The “building” materials for vital biting and chewing instruments in tetrapods have some similarities with humans. This can be determined by the presence of:

• pulp (this is the main part of any tooth, which is a cavity from the root to the apex with nerve cells and blood vessels located; when this area becomes inflamed, excruciating pain occurs);
• dentin (covers the pulp);
• enamel (a fairly hard surface of the bone formation, completely devoid of nerve endings and, accordingly, sensitivity).

Dental system: the role of each element

As mentioned above, an adult cat has 30 teeth. The structure of the system itself in the oral cavity is predetermined by the purpose of each individual element. The following can be said about each type of teeth:

1. Incisors are small teeth located in front on both jaws, 6 pieces each. The cat, as a rule, does not use them to chew food: it only needs them to hold prey and large pieces.
2. Fangs are elongated teeth that cats use in the process of killing prey. They are quite strong because they are held deeper than other teeth by ligaments. The cat's jaws have one fang on both sides.
3. Premolars are bone formations in the oral cavity that perform chewing functions. Cats need 6 upper and 4 lower premolars to grind food, especially meat. If it is necessary to remove a superficial crown, it is important to remove the root of such a tooth.
4. Molars are the most difficult to reach massive teeth. They help animals break down solid food.

Teeth indicate a cat's age

The correct structure and the absence of any pathological signs generally indicate the health of the oral cavity. In addition, by looking into the animal's mouth, you can find out the cat's age by its teeth. Determining how old or young a pet is is quite simple, being aware of some nuances:

• The furry baby is apparently not even a month old, if his incisors have just begun to erupt.
• In an older kitten, the beginning of the process of losing baby teeth indicates that he is approximately 3-4 months old.
• If a kitten already has a full set of 30 teeth, it is probably at least six months old.
• An adult one-year-old animal has a snow-white grin and practically no plaque.
• By the age of two, the lower central incisors of cats begin to wear off, the enamel noticeably turns yellow, and the first tartar appears.
• At five years old, pets already have fairly worn out upper incisors and mandibular canines.
• After another couple of years, pigmentation occurs on the surface of the enamel.
• By the age of 10, cats' incisors often fall out.
• In older animals - 15 years and older - even their fangs fall out.

The structure of the teeth does not always allow one to accurately determine how old a cat is. Sometimes improper oral care of an animal or lack of it at all leads to the fact that the pet’s dental system begins to age prematurely. Periodic brushing of teeth and a balanced diet will help your cat maintain a satisfactory level of oral health and prevent the development of diseases.

Caring for a cat is a very responsible task. To keep your pet healthy and happy, you need to take care of its fur, claws and even teeth on a regular basis.

Formation and structure of the jaw

Most often, a cat's jaw is quite well developed and has one feature: its movement occurs only in the vertical direction. Cats seem to cut incoming food with their sharp teeth. The upper and lower jaws are symmetrically positioned relative to each other.

The structure of teeth in animals is almost the same as in humans. Each cat tooth has pulp, dentin, tooth enamel and a root. The placement of a cat's teeth is quite simple.

• There are 12 incisors located in front, which are mainly intended to hold prey in the mouth and cut food before swallowing.
• A little further along are very long fangs: two of them are at the top, and two at the bottom. They are intended for grinding food, and are also needed by cats for self-defense. In a fit of aggression, a cat can even bite a person’s hand.
• Behind the fangs are premolars - these are short and fairly wide teeth. On each side there are 3 premolars above and 2 below.
• The outermost teeth - molars - are located deep in the jaw. There are only 4 of them: 2 on top and 2 on bottom - one in each corner.

Number of teeth

Cats' teeth grow a little faster than humans' teeth. For example, without teeth they live only 2-3 weeks after birth. If the incisors do not appear at this stage, this is already a reason for a visit to the veterinarian.

In kittens

Kittens first develop baby teeth. At this time, pets may bite, as the gums are very itchy. In addition, saliva begins to actively secrete. And although people usually do not pay attention to this at all, the kitten suffers in the same way as a human child.

Therefore, it is best for those who care about their cats to purchase special painkiller in a veterinary pharmacy. They need to smear the places where teeth appear. By the age of 3 months, kittens have 26 baby teeth, 14 of them are on the upper part of the jaw, and 12 on the lower.

In adult cats

After 120-160 days, baby teeth fall out and permanent teeth appear, in the same sequence as baby teeth. The process of jaw formation is completely completed by 8 months. An adult healthy cat should have 30 healthy teeth. If their number is less or more, this is already considered a deviation from the existing norm.

Possible pathologies

Cats, like humans, can develop a variety of dental problems. In this case, it is best to contact good specialists. There are veterinarians who specialize in dentistry.

However, the owners themselves need to know about the main problems that their charges may have.

Yellowness

Most people don't pay attention to this. However, experienced breeders or owners of animals who participate in exhibitions immediately take a closer look at this point. And that's absolutely right after all, this problem is nothing more than tartar, which can appear in any animal.

The main reason is the hardening of plaque, which slowly settles on the pet’s teeth and then begins to destroy the enamel. Subsequently, caries occurs, and then teeth fall out. In addition, this also happens when the cat is fed only soft food. To prevent this from happening, you can give the kitten crackers, but without any chemical additives.

Dropping out

In addition, not every owner can immediately notice such a process. Such details are paid attention only when the cat begins to experience discomfort when eating food. At this time, saliva begins to be released and the gums swell.

Resorption

A pathological deviation such as dental erosion can occur in both young cats and adults. It usually forms around the neck of the tooth, and sometimes even deeper. This problem occurs most often in cats with poor genetics.

Not only not every owner, but not every specialist is able to notice the changes. After all, cats are very mobile and it is difficult for them to sit quietly in one place and be examined. Therefore, if there is no specific complaint about such a problem, then the doctor is unlikely to dwell on it.

You can often notice something resembling chewing gum between the animal's teeth. This is overgrown gum tissue, naturally, there is nothing good about it. Immediately after detecting such a deviation, you should quickly contact a specialist to prevent further tooth loss. Damaged teeth must be removed, since treatment in this case will simply be useless.

Periodontal disease

Most often, this problem appears as a result of a lack of vitamins or due to stomach problems. First, the teeth begin to creak and become loose, and then they may even begin to fall out. Treatment must be carried out only under anesthesia, since any touch will be very painful not only for the kitten, but also for the person, because during the examination the cat can scratch him.

Age-related changes

The first changes in cats occur when baby teeth are replaced by permanent ones. This begins to happen approximately 5 to 8 months after their birth. After 2 years, the lower incisors begin to wear off. It is almost impossible to prevent such a process. However, you can delay the time a little if you provide proper care for them.

Around 10-11 years of age, animals may lose several teeth. This is considered the norm.

How to determine age by teeth?

As your cat's teeth change, you can determine the animal's age. This can be done using the following criteria:

• when the cat turns 1 year old, it should have 30 white, healthy teeth;
• after 1.5 years yellowness appears;
• at the age of 2, the central incisors located on the lower jaw begin to wear off;
• at 3 years old the central incisors of the upper jaw are already worn away;
• 5-year-old pets are characterized by dark plaque on almost all teeth;
• upon reaching 8 years of age, all upper and lower incisors of cats are worn out;
• at the age of 10, the incisors in the lower jaw begin to fall out;
• after 13 years, the cat may not have a single incisor;
• After 15 years, the fangs completely fall out.

The older the animal, the more pronounced the yellowness of the teeth will be.

To keep your animals' teeth in good condition for as long as possible, it is necessary to provide them with proper care and also pay special attention to feeding your pets. After all, healthy teeth will help you chew all incoming food correctly. And if you brush your teeth on time, this will prevent the formation of tartar.

Feeding

It is very important to feed your pets properly. It is necessary that their diet is completely balanced, that is, it includes all the vitamins and minerals necessary for this. This is especially important during the period of animal growth, because at this time its bone tissue is fully formed. And this will allow cats to have healthy, strong teeth in the future.

If store-bought food is used, then additional vitamins are not required, especially if the food is of high quality. Such food can only be purchased at specialized veterinary pharmacies. If you buy food in supermarkets, it is best to immediately purchase vitamins, since the product may not contain enough of them.

Water

With its help, you can perfectly clean your cat's mouth. Irrigation of the mouth allows you to wash away all the bacteria that appear. Therefore, it is better if water is always within the reach of your beloved pet. It is advisable to change it several times a day; the water must be clean. It is also important to wash the bowl every time you add water to it.

Hygiene

Oral hygiene plays an important role. And therefore a cat needs a toothbrush no less than a person. However, it is best not to use toothpaste that is intended for humans. In veterinary pharmacies or pet stores you can purchase a toothbrush and toothpaste that are intended for cats. If you can’t find such goods in city stores, you can order them on a specialized website.

The structure of a cat's tooth

A cat's tooth is similar in structure to a human tooth. The crown (visible part) and root are distinguished. Main parts:

1. 1. Pulp. Fills the central cavity. Inside it there are blood vessels and nerve endings, for this reason inflammation of this area is painful.
2. 2. Dentin. The middle layer between the enamel and the pulp covers the root and pulp. Dentin is a hard substance, but it is sensitive to damage to the enamel and root, which results in pain.
3. 3. Enamel. It is the most durable part, completely devoid of sensitivity due to the absence of nerve fibers. Covers the crown and dentin, protecting the tooth and reducing its sensitivity. The enamel layer in cats is only 0.2 mm, which is why it is quickly destroyed. This leads to dentin exposure, increased sensitivity and susceptibility to various infections.

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Types of cat teeth

Structure of a cat's jaw

The cat has 26 baby teeth. They begin to erupt by the fourth week after birth. When the cat reaches 3 - 6 months, they fall out and their place is taken by molars, with additional molars. Based on when teeth begin to erupt, you can calculate the age of the kitten. The following table will help with this:

The jaws of cats are well developed, but unlike many other mammals, the lower one moves only vertically. For this reason, food is simply cut into pieces, so the cat chews food only conditionally. The diagram above shows that an adult has 30 teeth. Each of them has a specific function.

There are 12 incisors located at the front , with the help of which the prey is held in the mouth. Their distinctive feature is that they have one root. With age, the incisors may fall out, and in some individuals they do not grow at all.

The fangs are long, securely attached by ligaments and sit firmly in the bone - 2 on top and 2 below. They perform the function of grinding food and play an important role in hunting and self-defense.

There are only 10 premolars - 6 in the upper jaw and 4 in the lower jaw. They perform the function of chewing food and grinding bones. Premolars can have from 1 to 3 roots. More roots cause more problems when removing such a tooth.

In the depths of a cat's jaw there are 4 molars - 2 above and 2 below. In case of illness, it will be easier to remove the upper molars than the lower ones. This is due to the fact that the lower ones have 2 roots (one long and thick and one short), while the upper ones have only one.

In humans, caries appears on the chewing surface and then spreads deeper. In cats, it develops on the root, under the gum line or on the neck of the tooth. Therefore, the disease is not easy to diagnose. It can last for years and lead to complete tooth destruction. Therefore, it is important to closely monitor the health of your cat's gums and take seriously the first signs of diseases such as periodontitis and gingivitis. These include: unpleasant odor from the mouth, blackening at the base of the teeth, increased salivation.