Have you ever thought about your cat’s teeth? How many of his teeth have fallen out, or are they all complete? And if so, how many are they?
It could also be that your cat is not eating or having difficulty eating due to tooth loss, or your cat has a dental problem or bad breath, which is why you want to know how many teeth does your cat have so that she can treat it?
If you consider your cat’s tooth loss to be insignificant and ignore it, your cat may stop eating and develop another infection, which could lead to weight loss.
How many teeth a cat has depends on its age. If your cat is a kitten, it may have 26 teeth. If your cat is an adult, it may have 30 teeth.
It is normal for a baby cat to lose teeth. If an adult cat is losing teeth, it is not normal, so it will be very important that you get them checked out.
How Many Tooth Sets Do Cats Have?
A domestic cat typically has 30 permanent teeth and 26 milk (baby) teeth. Cats, like dogs, have two sets of teeth in their lives: the primary baby teeth and the permanent teeth that come later. Baby teeth begin to appear within a few weeks of a kitten being born.
Then, as the cat grows, these baby teeth fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth. Proper nutrition and hygiene are essential throughout this process to ensure proper tooth development.
Actors That Affect How Many Teeth a Cat Has
Although every adult cat has 30 teeth, this number can be affected by a few factors.
Genetics and Hereditary Reasons:
Cats of some breeds and families are born with differences in the number or shape of their teeth. For example, certain breeds may be born with fewer teeth than normal due to a congenital weakness in the gums (dental agenesis).
On the other hand, Siamese, Persian, and Abyssinian breeds are more prone to dental diseases (such as gingivitis, periodontal disease, or tooth resorption).
This genetic predisposition can indirectly influence the total number of teeth by affecting their health or eruption.
Extra or missing teeth:
Some cats are born with extra teeth (supernumerary) or fewer teeth (hypodontia). In dental agenesis, one or more teeth are missing from birth. Conversely, very rarely, cats can have extra teeth, called hyperdontia.
These abnormal teeth can cause crowding or malocclusion. If a tooth is missing, the surrounding teeth can move into the gap, creating a slight gap, and if there are extra teeth, they can cause difficulty in cleaning or malocclusion.
Health and well-being
A cat’s health also affects the number of teeth. Dental or gum disease (e.g., gingivitis, periodontal disease) or accidents such as tooth breakage can cause tooth loss.
For example, periodontal disease caused by plaque and tartar can loosen teeth and eventually lead to tooth loss. Tooth resorption is very common in cats; in fact, it is the most common cause of tooth loss, and approximately 30 to 70% of cats show some sign of it.
Autoimmune or infectious diseases, such as FIV, FeLV, kidney disease, and diabetes, can also affect the gums and worsen dental health. If teeth are lost, the cat’s overall chewing ability and diet may change, so proper care is essential for better dental health.
Remaining baby teeth:
In some kittens, baby teeth do not fall out at the scheduled time, which is called persistent deciduous teeth. The most common examples are the upper canines, followed by the lower canines and incisors.
When a primary tooth erupts instead of a permanent tooth, the two teeth can crowd together, making it difficult to clean and eat. Such teeth are often removed by a veterinarian so that the permanent teeth can come into their proper place.
How Many Teeth Does A Cat Have? From Baby to Adult Stage
The number of teeth a cat has changes with age. A newborn kitten has no teeth in its mouth. Baby teeth erupt within a few weeks, and permanent teeth are complete by six months of age. In this section, we will review the number of teeth at each stage of a cat’s life.
How Many Teeth Does A Cat Have in the Puppy Stage?
When a kitten is born, it has no teeth in its mouth. During the first few weeks of life, the milk teeth, also known as deciduous teeth or baby teeth, begin to appear.
Once fully erupted, a kitten will have 26 milk teeth in its mouth, including 12 incisors (small front teeth), 4 canines (pointed teeth), and 10 premolars. Molars (teeth) are not present at this stage, as they will erupt later in adulthood.
These milk teeth usually begin to erupt between 2 and 6 weeks of age, and most kittens have all 26 teeth by 6 to 8 weeks of age. Although these teeth are smaller and relatively more delicate than permanent teeth, they play a very important role for the kitten.
These teeth help the kitten learn to chew soft food, explore its surroundings, and develop natural habits such as biting lightly during play. These baby teeth are later lost to be replaced by strong, permanent adult teeth.
How Many Teeth Does A Cat Have in the Teething Stage?
However, these 26 baby teeth don’t last forever. As a kitten grows, the structure of its jaws and mouth changes, requiring stronger, permanent teeth.
That’s why, around three months of age, cats start to lose their baby teeth and their permanent teeth start to come in. This stage is called the “Teething Stage”, and it’s a natural and important part of a cat’s development.
During teething, a cat’s baby teeth gradually fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth. The front incisors are usually the first to come in, followed by the canines and premolars, while new molars also appear during this period.
In the middle of this process, the cat may start chewing more, experience sore gums or mild discomfort, and sometimes behave differently than usual. By about 6 to 7 months of age, this stage is complete, and all of the cat’s permanent teeth have come in.
How Many Teeth Does A Cat Have in the Adult Stage?
After the teething stage is complete, the cat enters the adult stage, and by this time, all of its permanent teeth have completely erupted.
A healthy adult cat has a total of “30 permanent teeth” in its mouth, including 12 incisors, 4 canines, 10 premolars, and 4 molars. These teeth are adapted to the cat’s predatory nature and help it to catch, tear, and chew food effectively.
The most prominent teeth of an adult cat are its long, pointed canines, which are used to hold prey firmly, while the premolars and molars perform the function of cutting and chewing meat into small pieces.
Usually, once the permanent teeth erupt, their number remains at 30 throughout life. However, in the event of dental disease, severe periodontal infection, injury, or an accident, one or more teeth may be lost, reducing the total number of teeth.
That is why regular dental care and veterinary checkups in adult cats are considered very important for maintaining dental health.
When Do Kittens Lose Their Baby Teeth?
Between 3.5 and 4 months of age, a kitten’s baby incisors start to fall out and get replaced by adult incisors. The canines and premolars follow between 4 and 5 months.
Most owners never find these tiny fallen teeth. Kittens usually swallow them while eating, which is completely normal and harmless.
By around 6 months of age, a kitten will have their full set of 30 adult teeth. If baby teeth stick around too long, it can cause crowding and other problems worth getting checked.
Signs Your Cat May Have a Dental Problem
Pawing at the mouth is one of the clearest signs that something is wrong. Dropping food while eating, sudden bad breath, or refusing to chew hard kibble are all red flags.
Tooth resorption is when your cat’s teeth break down and get reabsorbed by their bodies. It is a process that can be very painful for cats, marked by poor appetite and excess drooling.
If you also notice your cat a lot or frequently, it could sometimes connect to oral or upper respiratory issues worth checking with a vet.
Dental Care and Health Problems of Your Dog
Dental care is also important for cats. Research shows that about 50 to 90% of cats over the age of 4 have some form of dental or gum disease.
Common problems include gingivitis (gum inflammation), periodontitis (gum inflammation), and tooth resorption. Tooth resorption is the loss of tooth structure from the inside out, and it is the most common cause of tooth loss in cats.
If dental disease progresses, teeth may become loose, eating becomes difficult, bad breath occurs, and sometimes teeth may fall out.
It is a good idea to brush your cat’s teeth daily or regularly, give them dental treats or a special dental diet, and have regular veterinary dental checkups.
This will help prevent plaque and tartar buildup, which can lead to gingivitis. If your cat’s teeth are broken or have severe inflammation, seek veterinary attention immediately.
Good dental care can help keep a cat’s teeth healthy, and dental diseases can be caught and treated early.
FAQ’s
How many teeth does a domestic cat have?
A healthy adult domestic cat usually has 30 permanent teeth in its mouth. However, if the cat is still young, it has 26 milk teeth, which later fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth.
At what age do cats’ milk teeth appear?
Cats’ milk teeth usually start to appear between 2 and 3 weeks of age. Most kittens have all 26 milk teeth by 6 to 8 weeks of age.
At what age do cats’ permanent teeth appear?
Milk teeth begin to fall out at around 3 to 4 months of age and are replaced by permanent teeth. Most cats have all 30 permanent teeth by 6 to 7 months of age.
Does every cat always have 30 teeth?
Not necessarily. Although a healthy adult cat typically has 30 teeth, this number can sometimes be reduced due to dental disease, injury, or extractions during veterinary treatment. Some cats may also be born with a different number of teeth than normal.