How many teeth does a cat have?

It is important to be attentive to the state of the teeth of cats, as certain diseases can decrease the amount and thickness of the teeth. If you detect any abnormalities in your feline's mouth, go to the vet immediately.

The teeth are one of the most important organs for animals, since the diet of the organism depends on them. Like humans, cats have teeth that change as they grow, causing them to experience a "molt" at a certain age. This should be taken into account when talking about how many teeth a cat has, as the number of teeth varies throughout its life.

Felines only exhibit two dental sets during their entire development, which are known as milk dentures and permanent dentures. Both have very specific characteristics, as they have an essential role that solves the basic needs of the pet. Read on to learn more about your cat's teeth.

Where do the teeth come from?

The teeth of animals begin to form from gestation, but the process ends a few months after birth. For this reason, cats are born without teeth, since they still need to go through certain body and metabolic modifications to generate functional teeth.

In other words, the teeth that form during pregnancy are actually a type of soft, unhardened "pulp." After delivery, this structure begins to calcify to protect itself and become hard, which already agrees with the normal description of a tooth.

This whole process is out of our sight, since it occurs while the denture is immersed in the maxilla (jaw). In this way, the teeth are kept protected to harden and then be able to come out. At this time a tooth movement begins, known as a rash, in which each piece comes out through the gum.

This means that the teeth are present from birth, only they are not visible because they are sheltered inside the jaw. Also, the time it takes to harden is the cause why certain teeth come out before others, because each one begins to calcify at different times.

The types of teeth a cat has

Animals go through an evolutionary process that transforms them to adapt to their needs throughout their lives. These changes also affect the teeth, as the diet is better processed if they have the necessary teeth to consume it. There are different types of teeth that have particular roles during chewing.

Cats are carnivorous organisms that need teeth to cut meat, so their teeth are adapted to fulfill this function.

The types of teeth that felines have are the following:

• Incisors: they are teeth with a rectangular shape, small and short. Its function is usually to tear and cut the food.
• Canines: their appearance is large, elongated and with a pointed finish. This type of sharp teeth is characteristic of carnivores, as it allows them to capture and tear the flesh of their prey.
• Premolars: these teeth are usually wider and have irregularities on their surface. These aspects serve the felines to begin to crush the food that enters the mouth.
• Molars: they are slightly larger than the premolars, but with more irregularities on their surface. Thanks to these characteristics, they facilitate the crushing of food and digestion.

How many teeth does the cat have?

Cats are animals that have two complete dental sets, which are replaced (molted) as the body grows. For this reason, the number of teeth changes with respect to the age of the specimen. The two dentures that these felines present are the baby teeth and the permanent ones. We see them in depth in the following lines.

Baby teeth (deciduous teeth)

Baby teeth are the first teeth to appear in cats. In fact, these dentures begin to come out at 2 weeks of age and are completed by week 5. In total, the milk dentition is composed of 26 pieces distributed in both jaws. The accommodation in each maxilla is as follows:

1. Upper jaw: 6 incisors in front, 1 canine on each side (2) and 3 premolars on each side (6). A total of 14 teeth.
2. Lower jaw: 6 incisors in front, 1 canine on each side (2) and 2 premolars on each side (4). A total of 12 teeth.

This denture is characterized by being smaller, thinner and sharper than permanent teeth. These differences are associated with the size of the feline, because the jaw has not grown enough so that there is more space in its mouth. Consequently, deciduous (milk) teeth are more "delicate" because they cannot harden too much.

Temporary teeth are developed as a temporary means of feeding. This means that the body does not spend many resources on this denture, because it will lose it when it changes it for the permanent dentition.

Permanent teeth

Permanent teeth are the definitive teeth of cats, so they are responsible for "pulling" the deciduous in the process of molting. These dentures begin to emerge at 11 weeks of age and the process ends shortly after week 24.

A total of thirty teeth are distributed between the two jaws and are arranged 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). A total of sixteen teeth.
• 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). A total of fourteen teeth.

The biggest difference between deciduous and permanent dentition is the presence of molars. This is because in a young cat the jaw is shorter, so there is not enough space to house these teeth. When it grows, not only the molars are added, but the other teeth widen and calcify better.

Calcification causes the final teeth to be larger and more resistant than those of milk.

Care of the cat's teeth

The teeth of cats are quite resistant, so some problems such as cavities are not very common in these pets. However, this does not mean that they should not have any type of dental care. Like humans, brushing is the best technique for maintaining tooth health in felines.

There are hard foods and treats that serve to clean the teeth of cats. However, this type of care does not completely replace tooth brushing. Consequently, guardians may face a dilemma, as some pets cannot stand home dental cleanings.

The best solution is to go to a veterinarian for a dental check-up, since professionals are able to thoroughly clean the pet's teeth. Likewise, any hidden anomalies in the mouth will be checked in order to ensure that the cat's teeth are perfect.

Keep in mind that it is likely that general anesthesia will be applied to the pet during the process, as this greatly facilitates the oral examination.

Finally, remember that it is important to be aware of the health of the feline, since many dental problems are not very evident. Try to make regular visits to your veterinary center, because only then will you keep your pet in good general health.

Share on Facebook

Tweet