Daily BiscuitsPeriodontal disease is the most common diagnosis in cats
In VetCompass data on 18,249 UK cats under primary veterinary care (O’Neill et al. 2023), periodontal disease was the single most common diagnosis, with a one-year prevalence of 15.2%. Age drives it: compared with cats under three, cats aged 9 to 12 had 6.7 times the odds, 12 to 15 had 7.4 times and over-15s had 7.9 times. Larger cats (4 to 7 kg) had 1.25 to 1.5 times the odds of cats under 4 kg. Cats with periodontal disease had 1.8 times the odds of at least one other condition, including heart rhythm problems, heart murmurs and chronic kidney disease. Cornell puts some degree of dental disease in 50 to 90% of cats over four. Signs to watch for are bad breath, drooling, chewing on one side, dropping food, pawing at the mouth and red gums; a cat that has stopped eating with bad breath needs to be seen.
The 2025 dental guideline in plain terms
Periodontal disease affects 80 to 85% of cats over two, and gingivitis rises from about a quarter of cats under one year to over half by five to six years. Tooth resorption, a painful loss of tooth structure that is invisible without X-rays, is present in roughly 28 to 67% of cats and up to 83% of cats over ten; there is no way to prevent or halt a lesion, only to extract or monitor it. The guideline suggests considering a first oral assessment under anaesthesia from about two years, asks owners to remove plaque regularly by brushing or wiping with VOHC-accepted products, and states that FelineVMA opposes anaesthesia-free dentistry. Signs to report: bad breath, drooling, chewing on one side, dropping food, red gums.
Source: 2025 FelineVMA feline oral health and dental care guidelines (JFMS)
The dental guideline most owners have never heard
The 2019 AAHA Dental Care Guidelines recommend that a cat’s first anesthetised dental evaluation with full-mouth radiographs happens by one year of age, then at intervals the vet sets. X-rays matter because in one feline study 42% of teeth that looked normal had clinically important findings underneath, and tooth resorption, painful and invisible from above the gum, affects 27 to 72% of cats. Home brushing ‘needs to be done daily to be of benefit’; build up over about four weeks from touching the lips to a finger brush to a soft brush with cat toothpaste. Products carrying the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal have evidence behind them: dental diets, some treats and water additives. AAHA rejects anesthesia-free cleanings, which scale only the visible crown and cannot examine below the gum line. Typical US costs are $300 to 700 for a cleaning and $800 to 2,000 or more with radiographs and extractions.
Source: AAHA 2019 Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats; VOHC
Brush their teeth (eventually)
Between 50 and 90% of cats over 4 have dental disease. Daily brushing is the most effective home care, and nobody starts with a brush.
- Week 1: lift the lip for a second, treat. Every day.
- Week 2: rub one tooth with a finger, treat.
- Week 3: finger with a smear of cat toothpaste (never human paste; the fluoride is toxic to them).
- Week 4: a finger brush or a soft baby toothbrush on the outside of the back teeth only. Ten seconds a side.
- Work up to every day over about four weeks. Daily is what the dental guidelines say helps; any brushing beats none.
If they won’t
A VOHC-accepted dental treat or water additive does something. Anaesthesia-free “cleanings” do nothing under the gumline and the AAHA guidelines reject them.
Signs to act on
Bad breath, drooling, chewing on one side, red gums, or eating less. Those are a vet visit, not a brushing problem.
Source: AAHA 2019 Dental Care Guidelines; Cornell Feline Health Center
Dental care
Most cats over three have some dental disease. Daily tooth brushing with a cat-safe toothpaste (never human toothpaste) is the gold standard; build up slowly from touching the lips, to a finger, to a brush. Dental diets and VOHC-accepted treats help. Bad breath, drooling, pawing at the mouth or dropping food warrant a vet exam. Professional cleaning under anaesthesia is the only way to treat tartar below the gum line.
Source: AAFP; Cornell Feline Health Center, “Feline Dental Disease”
When to call the vet
Bad breath, drooling, pawing at the mouth or dropping food warrant a vet exam.
Source: AAFP; Cornell Feline Health Center, “Feline Dental Disease”