At What Age Do Cats Lose Their Baby Teeth
Signs Your Kitten Is Teething and What to Do
Your kitten has started chomping on everything in sight—including your arm! She is teething, and her adult teeth are starting to come in. Hither are the answers to all your questions about your tiny tiger's growing pains.
Teething is a normal process that all kittens go through. While most kittens are very brave virtually teething, others need some actress comfort during this life phase.
My Kitten Is Losing Her Teeth...Is That Normal?
Yes! Between about 3 and six months of historic period, your kitten volition lose her deciduous (or "baby") teeth as her adult teeth come up in. The teeth you find will exist tiny, and oftentimes are just a hollow shell. This is normal, considering her torso has resorbed the root of the infant teeth to permit them to autumn out more easily.
Your kitten'southward adult teeth started out as tooth buds seated in the os of her jaw. As they abound and develop, they will push through the bone and gum tissue to erupt into the mouth. While the deciduous teeth should button out hands, the developed teeth retain roots that connect them to your cat'due south jaw. These roots help secure your cat's teeth for chewing, and also provide a channel for the nerves and blood vessels that bring nutrition to the pulp of each tooth.
She needs to lose her baby teeth to make room for her permanent teeth. Whatsoever deciduous molar that sticks effectually as its equivalent adult tooth comes in is called a persistent deciduous tooth. Persistent deciduous teeth are a problem considering they get in the mode of the adult teeth, causing them to come in at incorrect angles and crowding other teeth in the mouth. This tin result in your cat'south jaws not lining up properly, equally well as predisposing her to gingivitis and dental illness and potentially causing trauma if the adult teeth connect with the tissue of her mouth. Your kitten's iv pointy canine teeth are the most likely to be retained.
When Do Kittens Get-go Teething?
The outset phase of teething is when your kitten gets her deciduous teeth in between ii to vi weeks of age. The eruption of the baby teeth is usually pretty uneventful, though you may notice the kittens doing some actress chewing on toys (and their siblings).
The main event for teething is when the adult teeth come in. This generally starts around three months of age, with all of the adult teeth in place by half dozen or vii months.
What's the Difference Betwixt Kitten Teeth and Cat Teeth?
Kitten teeth, also known equally deciduous, milk, baby, or primary teeth, are the first, temporary set of teeth that every kitten has. These teeth are extremely small and sharp, with short, thin roots and a thin coating of enamel. If you care to count, your kitten should have 26 deciduous teeth. These deciduous teeth are only placeholders until the permanent adult teeth come in, and so they don't require much care.
By half-dozen months former, your cat should accept a full set of 30 adult teeth. These teeth are bigger than her deciduous teeth, and frequently announced slightly more cream-colored. They have a thicker layer of enamel to protect against wear, and have long roots that ballast them to the jaw bone below the gums.
Your cat volition have her developed teeth for the rest of her life, so it is important to have care of them! Daily brushing with a cat-safe toothpaste is the gold standard for feline dental care, plus professional dental cleanings nether anesthesia on a regular basis. Dental diets and treats tin can as well help for some cats.
Credit: Ir Kleveta / Getty
What are the Signs of Teething in Kittens?
Signs that your kitten is teething include:
- Vocalizing more than, from pocket-size mews to loud meows
- Increased chewing, specially on soft items
- Drooling
- Bleeding gums
- Chewing food more slowly
- Eating less
- Crankiness
- Hesitant to bite at or shake toys
- Pawing at mouth
- Bad jiff
- Gingivitis
Most of these signs are normal and will resolve on their own, but some can exist a crusade for concern. Monitor your kitten's appetite closely, and seek veterinary attention if she is losing weight. Mild bleeding from the gums is normal, but excessive bleeding or pawing at the mouth tin can exist signs of other dental issues that you should speak with your vet well-nigh.
Can Teething Hurt My Kitten?
Teething itself is unlikely to cause more than than mild discomfort for your kitten. Make sure that she is withal eating plenty to maintain her weight.
Increased chewing equally a result of teething, still, tin can crusade your kitten damage. You likely went through your house and kitten-proofed it when you lot first got your kitten, just teething is a good time to repeat that process.
- Does your kitten accept access to electrical cords? The soft outer coating is an attractive chewing detail for sore gums. Cover all cords or prevent your kitten from accessing them without direct supervision.
- Are your houseplants safe for your kitten? Many plants are toxic to cats. Double cheque the ASPCA toxic plants listing to make sure your plants are OK, and move whatsoever potentially unsafe plants to a room where your kitten tin't access them.
- Are food items kept in a pantry or other secure location? A multifariousness of common food items are dangerous for cats, including simply not express to chocolate, onions, garlic, and grapes. A kitten who previously was but interested in meats may be less picky now that she is teething. If your kitten ever eats something and you lot aren't sure if it is condom or not, a call to the Pet Poison Helpline or ASPCA Poison Control Eye is invaluable.
- Are toys, knickknacks, and other small items secure? Annihilation small enough for your kitten to swallow is potentially dangerous.
If your tiny teething tiger is putting her mouth on everything, the easiest mode to keep her safe may be to confine her to a big dog crate or a unmarried room when you aren't dwelling to supervise her.
How to Help a Teething Kitten Find Relief
There are several things you tin effort to help soothe your kitten's sore gums:
- Offer soft food; either a canned diet or kibble soaked in warm h2o
- Make sure she gets plenty of interactive play fourth dimension with you to keep her decorated and tire her out
- Make ice cubes of low-sodium chicken goop or diluted tuna juice for her to play with and chew on. The ice will soothe irritated gums. This is an especially popular item during hot weather!
- Provide soft toys to chew on
- Provide pet-safe cat grass for snacking
Thankfully, discomfort due to teething is usually mild and resolves rapidly. If your kitten is in farthermost pain, schedule a veterinary exam to brand sure there isn't something more serious going on.
Toys That Help Teething Kittens
Commercial kitten teething toys are usually made of soft rubber or plastic. They should be durable plenty that your kitten can't suspension off pieces and swallow them, but soft enough that they won't break or damage her teeth.
Y'all can likewise make your ain teething toys past cutting a square of cloth or leather for your kitten to chew on. Braided fleece toys are besides popular, and tin exist dragged across the floor for playtime.
Source: https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/health-care/kitten-care/kitten-teething
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