Why is my cat losing teeth?Causes and what to do

When it is normal for a cat to lose teeth: kittens changing teeth

Kittens are born without teeth. The temporary (baby) teeth erupt at roughly 2 to 6 weeks of age — there are 26 of them. From about 4 to 7 months they are gradually replaced by 30 permanent teeth: the roots of the temporary teeth are resorbed, the tooth loosens and falls out, and a permanent tooth grows in its place. This is normal, physiological resorption — not the disease discussed below.

Owners often do not even notice: kittens swallow the tiny teeth with their food. Sometimes you may find a little tooth on the floor or in the bowl, see a drop of blood on a toy or slightly reddened gums — at this age that is normal.

What should concern you is a temporary tooth that has not fallen out even though the permanent one has already grown next to it. Such a tooth should be checked by a vet. More about this stage in the article on kittens teething.

Do adult cats lose teeth?

Permanent teeth are meant to last a lifetime. A healthy tooth is held firmly in the jawbone by the periodontium — the gum, the periodontal ligament and the alveolar bone. For a tooth to fall out, either the tooth itself or the tissues holding it must be destroyed.

So the idea that “teeth fall out with old age” is not quite right. An older cat has simply had more time for disease to develop. Age is a risk factor, not a cause, and a lost tooth in a cat of any age is a reason for an examination.

Why cats lose teeth: the main causes

In adult cats, teeth are most often lost for three reasons. They can occur together: the same cat may have both resorption and periodontal disease.

Tooth resorption (TR): the crown breaks off, the root stays

Tooth resorption (TR) is a process in which the body's own cells, odontoclasts, gradually destroy the hard tissues of the tooth. It often starts at the gum line: a small defect appears and red gum tissue grows into it. The lesion then extends into the dentine and reaches the pulp, and the tooth becomes so weak that the crown can break off even on ordinary food.

This is the moment owners see as “the tooth fell out”. But often only the crown has broken off, while the root or its remnants stay in the jaw. Depending on the type of resorption, the root may gradually be replaced by bone-like tissue and covered by gum — or remain inflamed and painful. Only a dental radiograph can tell these apart.

TR is not limited to cats — it is also described in dogs — but in cats it is one of the most common dental problems. Its cause is not fully understood, and home care does not stop it. Stages and types are covered in detail in the article on tooth resorption in cats (TR).

Periodontal disease: the tooth loses support and becomes loose

Periodontal disease starts with plaque — a bacterial biofilm on the teeth. First the gums become inflamed (gingivitis), and at this stage the changes are still reversible. If inflammation spreads deeper, the ligament and bone around the root are destroyed, periodontal pockets form, and the gum may recede and expose the root.

When little bone is left around a tooth, it starts to become loose and may eventually fall out — root and all. This is usually preceded by bad breath, tartar, red and bleeding gums, but your cat may carry on eating as usual. More in the article on periodontal disease in cats.

Trauma and broken teeth

A fall from a height, a blow, a fight with another animal or trying to bite something hard can break a tooth. Canines are particularly vulnerable. A broken-off crown also looks like a “lost” tooth, even though the root remains in the jaw. If the fracture exposes the pulp, the tooth hurts and eventually becomes infected.

After a fall or a blow to the face, your cat should be examined even if it seems fine: the jaws can be injured along with the teeth. More on the dental and jaw injuries page.

Sometimes teeth loosen because of a growth on the gum or in the jaw, so any swelling or lump near a tooth should also be shown to a vet.

My cat has lost its front teeth: what does it mean?

Owners often notice the front teeth — the incisors — first. There are twelve of them, six at the top and six at the bottom between the canines. They are small, with a single thin root, so even a little bone loss makes them mobile. They are also easy to see when your cat yawns.

Losing incisors on its own does not usually stop a cat from eating: food is mostly bitten with the side teeth. But it is a signal to check the whole mouth. The side teeth are hidden behind the cheeks, and that is where resorption or periodontal disease can quietly become advanced without the owner noticing.

If you find the tooth, keep it or take a photo. A whole tooth with its root more often points to periodontal disease, while a piece of crown without a root suggests the root is still in the jaw after resorption or a fracture. Only a radiograph gives the final answer.

“The tooth fell out, so that's that”: why the problem has not gone away

The logic “it fell out, so it won't hurt any more” is understandable, but in cats it often does not hold. Here is why:

• Roots may remain in the jaw. A root remnant left after resorption or a fracture can be a source of inflammation and pain, even when the gum over it has closed.
• Other teeth may have the same disease. Both resorption and periodontal disease usually affect more than one tooth.
• Pain may be hidden. Cats are good at masking it: they keep eating, but more carefully, on one side, preferring soft food.

Finding the cause: examination and dental radiography

You can start with an in-clinic consultation: I assess what can be seen without anaesthesia, ask about your cat's diet and behaviour and draw up a plan of tests. If you are not in Kyiv, the first step can be an online consultation based on photos and videos.

The final diagnosis for each tooth is made under anaesthesia following the COHAT protocol. Anaesthesia is inhalational, with monitoring, after tests that help assess the risks. How I work with cats specifically is described on the cat dentistry page.

1. 01

   In-clinic consultation

   Assessment of visible changes, questions about symptoms, a plan of tests.

2. 02

   Pre-anaesthetic tests

   Complete blood count and biochemistry, echocardiography, abdominal ultrasound; the list is extended if needed.

3. 03

   Examination under anaesthesia

   Examination of every tooth, periodontal probing, assessment of tooth mobility and the oral mucosa.

4. 04

   Full-mouth dental radiography

   Radiographs show the roots and root remnants, the bone and resorption that cannot be seen from outside.

5. 05

   Clinically indicated treatment

   The scope is based on the radiographs: professional cleaning, extraction of affected teeth or root remnants, pain relief.

How a cat losing teeth is treated

The approach depends on the cause and on what the radiographs show, so there is no one plan for every cat.

• Tooth resorption (TR). Affected teeth are usually extracted — this removes the pain. In some type 2 resorption confirmed on radiographs, crown amputation may be an option: the root, which is already being replaced by bone, is left in place.
• Periodontal disease. Professional cleaning above and below the gum line; teeth that have lost their support are extracted. Early changes are managed with treatment and home care.
• Root remnants. The decision is based on the radiograph: inflamed or infected remnants are removed, while in some cases of type 2 resorption they may be left and monitored.
• Trauma. The scope of treatment is decided after examination and radiographs — from root canal treatment or extraction of a broken tooth to stabilising jaw fractures.

The goal is to leave no sources of pain and inflammation in the mouth, not to save a tooth at any cost.

Will my cat be able to eat with fewer teeth?

Yes. Cats do not grind food with their teeth the way people do: they bite off pieces and swallow them almost whole. So after healing many cats eat well even with some teeth missing or with no teeth at all.

A diseased tooth that is still in place bothers a cat more than its absence. Many owners notice that after treatment their cat is more active and eats more willingly. How cats live after all their teeth are extracted is covered in the article on cats without teeth.

How much the examination and treatment cost

An in-clinic or online consultation will help you understand how urgently treatment is needed. The cost of the treatment itself depends on what the diagnostics under anaesthesia reveal.

Frequently asked questions