One of the most overlooked parts of a cat's health is their teeth. We assume that they will just take care of their own teeth, but this is not the case. As a cat owner we need to be aware of what is typical development for our cat and how to care for our cat's dental needs.
Your dental care and your cats should be similar. Did you realize that by the time a cat is 3, 70% of cats have serious dental issues? None of us want our kitties to have these issues. They can be very painful and an experience we want to avoid our cats having.
Like humans, cats have two sets of teeth in their lives. They have 26 baby teeth, which they begin to lose and replace with adult teeth from 11 to 30 weeks of age. These are called milk teeth. Most times we do not see these teeth as the cat simply swallows them. During this time their mouths may be sore and they may eat less. My kittens tend to chew and push on things in an effort to release the soreness.
Since they enjoy the feeling of someone playing with their teeth and gums this is the right time to start bushing your cats teeth. It prepares them for the times when they will need dental care as they get older.
Adult cats have 30 teeth. There are six incisors on the top jaw and six on the bottom jaw. These are used to nibble shreds of meat from bones and also for grooming. There are two canine teeth on the top jaw and two on the bottom. These are the "fangs." They are used to hold objects in the cat's mouth and to defend themselves when necessary. Then there are ten premolars and four molars, which work together to cut food.
In our next article we will focus on dental care for your cat's and how to not be one of the 70% of cat owners that have to deal with serious dental issues.
Your dental care and your cats should be similar. Did you realize that by the time a cat is 3, 70% of cats have serious dental issues? None of us want our kitties to have these issues. They can be very painful and an experience we want to avoid our cats having.
Like humans, cats have two sets of teeth in their lives. They have 26 baby teeth, which they begin to lose and replace with adult teeth from 11 to 30 weeks of age. These are called milk teeth. Most times we do not see these teeth as the cat simply swallows them. During this time their mouths may be sore and they may eat less. My kittens tend to chew and push on things in an effort to release the soreness.
Since they enjoy the feeling of someone playing with their teeth and gums this is the right time to start bushing your cats teeth. It prepares them for the times when they will need dental care as they get older.
Adult cats have 30 teeth. There are six incisors on the top jaw and six on the bottom jaw. These are used to nibble shreds of meat from bones and also for grooming. There are two canine teeth on the top jaw and two on the bottom. These are the "fangs." They are used to hold objects in the cat's mouth and to defend themselves when necessary. Then there are ten premolars and four molars, which work together to cut food.
In our next article we will focus on dental care for your cat's and how to not be one of the 70% of cat owners that have to deal with serious dental issues.
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It's essential for your cat to have a good selection of games that he or she can enjoy. Get the low down of great cat towers now in our complete guide to all you need to know about how and where to get the best cat condos .
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