Curiosities of cats when their teeth come out

Cats have a rapid tooth eruption, since the whole process lasts approximately 6 months, while in the dog it takes a little more than 7 months.

The teeth make up the chewing organ par excellence of several animals, because thanks to them they are able to predigest and crush their food. However, some organisms are not born with them, but grow as the individual develops. In the case of the cat, the growth of the teeth begins at 2 weeks of birth and ends at 20 weeks of age.

These dental structures are of utmost importance for the growth of felines, since without them they would be unable to ingest their food. In addition to this, the teeth also function as a defense mechanism, as they are a sharp tool capable of causing damage to any enemy. Keep reading this article and find out when cats' teeth come out.

How many teeth does a cat have?

Like humans, these felines have 2 different dental games throughout their lives, which are usually called baby teeth and permanent teeth. An adult cat has 30 teeth, while young people of 3 to 4 weeks of age have a maximum of 26.

This difference is due to the normal development of cats, as they go through a process of "molting" with which they manage to change the milk teeth for the permanent one. Although it may not seem like it, this change is necessary, because the baby teeth only appear to allow the body to feed while it is young. When it grows, this dentition is no longer enough.

Milk teeth are called deciduous dentition and are made up of small, thin teeth.

The arrangement of the 26 temporary pieces in each jaw of the pussycat is as follows:

• Upper jaw: six incisors in front, one canine on each side (two) and three premolars on each side (six).
• Lower jaw: six incisors in front, one canine on each side (two) and two premolars on each side (four).

The permanent denture is characterized by being larger than the temporary one, since the jaw of the animal grows and leaves more space for each tooth. Thanks to this, the amount rises to 30 teeth in total.

The general arrangement of the pieces is as follows:

• Upper jaw: six incisors in front, one canine on each side (two), three premolars on each side (six) and one molar on each side (two).
• Lower jaw: six incisors in front, one canine on each side (two), two premolars on each side (four) and one molar on each side (two).

Rash of the cat's teeth

It is called a tooth eruption to the movement that the teeth make when they emerge from the gum. Although it may seem painless, the displacement of the pieces causes a series of slight discomforts in the pet, among which are the following:

• Inflammation and pain in the gums.
• Sialorrhea: excessive salivation.
• Changes in behavior: restlessness and slight aggressions.
• Difficulty eating: due to the discomfort of the gum, cats do not usually eat well or do so in small doses.

This process is very well programmed, since the order of appearance of each tooth is coupled to the age of the organism. Thanks to this, the chronological plan of the feline dentition is almost completely known, with which the approximate dates in which each denture appears are identified.

When do the cat's baby teeth come out?

Once they are born, the kittens' teeth begin to come out at 3 weeks of age and the process ends at week 6. In general, the eruption of the temporary teeth always begins with the incisors, continues with the canines and ends with the premolars.

When do the cat's permanent teeth come out?

In the case of permanent teeth, the replacement process begins at 11 weeks of age and ends at 24 weeks. During this stage the permanent denture begins to "push" the temporary dentition to throw it away. In the end this causes some symptoms of the tooth eruption to reappear, as the movements irritate the feline's mouth again.

Care of the cat's teeth

Like humans, cats' teeth require some care to avoid some diseases. It is best to brush the cat's mouth between 3 and 7 times a week with pastes and special brushes for the pet. Keep in mind that toothpastes for human use contain certain agents harmful to the animal, so they cannot be used on cats.

Despite the insistence, some felines do not agree to brush their teeth and it is not a good idea to force them to do so. In these cases, some types of hard foods or treats can help with dental cleaning, because while the pet chews them, an abrasive effect occurs. However, this is not a complete substitute for brushing.

It is important to note that, even if you brush your cat's teeth on a daily basis, it is necessary that you go to the veterinarian for a dental check-up. Some oral ailments are not obvious, so only a professional will be able to identify them easily. Remember to visit the clinic at least once a year to ensure that your pet does not have any oral problems.

Gingivitis is very common in senior domestic cats, as not all guardians clean their pet's mouth properly.

Maintaining oral hygiene is of utmost importance if looking for the health of the pet. Keep in mind that most pets have a permanent dentition that must be taken care of to avoid their loss. As in humans, any carelessness can seriously affect the quality of life of these wonderful companions.

Share on Facebook

Tweet