Dental care for cats

In the wild, cats use their teeth to hunt and kill their prey. Chewing and tearing at prey in the wild cleans a cat's 30 teeth by removing plaque. Domestic cats, on the other hand, rarely need to chew on hard bones and often enjoy food at home from a pouch instead. What has become a convenience for the animal is also a problem for little kitty's natural dental health.

The consequences of poor dental care in cats

Signs of toothache in cats can include a change in their eating habits. If food falls from the mouth while eating, the head is held at an unusual angle or there is painful meowing, these could be a sign of toothache. Furthermore, cats suffering from toothache may try to wipe their mouth with their paw or rub their face up against things. Inflamed gums or tartar can also be potential consequences of poor dental care in cats.

FORL — the most common dental disease in cats

The severity of dental problems can vary greatly in cats. Not only can these be related to diet and tooth care, they can also be genetic. 

FORL, the abbreviation for “Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions”, represents the most common and at the same time most painful dental disease in cats, typically involving the slow decay of the teeth. Around one in three cats is affected — regardless of breed, but due to genetic factors, especially in Siamese and Persian cats. This rises to every other cat after the age of five. This disease causes the tooth and its root to decay gradually from the inside out. Unfortunately, the progress of FORL cannot be halted. The only known treatment is surgery to remove the tooth, to clear up the inflammation and eliminate the associated pain.