It’s hard to imagine that cats and sabertooth predators have the same ancestors. Compared to the size of the larger beast, our modern-day kitties have drastically smaller teeth – but as tiny as their chompers are, they still serve ferocious purposes. But how many teeth do cats have – and what’s the purpose of each type of tooth?

How many teeth do cats have?

When kits are born, they have no teeth – this is essential that they’re born like that. Because having teeth as newborns can hurt the mommy cat when they suckle for milk. However, it won’t take long before their deciduous (or milk teeth – aka, baby teeth) start erupting!

At around 2 weeks, the kittens will start growing milk teeth – which makes them able to chew on soft foods. By the time the kittens are 8 weeks old, they’re supposed to have about 26 teeth.

However, within 12 weeks of age, kittens will start shedding their milk teeth one by one (or a few at a time) – this is very normal. As their permanent teeth will start erupting! Once they’re 24 months old, they should have a total of 30 teeth.

What’s the purpose of each set of cat teeth?

Cat teeth serve different purposes – and they’re detrimental to a cat’s behavior and diet. 

Canines

Canines (or the fangs) are perhaps the most important set of teeth in cats – and many other carnivorous animals. Just like most predators, cats need their canine teeth to tear flesh and meat; this is vital for hunting, eating, and fighting against other threatening animals.

Molars and Premolars

Molars and premolars are located at the very back of the mouth. The purpose of these sets of teeth is pretty straightforward – just like humans, they need the molars and premolars to chew and grind their food.

The canines may be the sharpest, but most predators’ molars and premolars are the strongest – the strength of the jaw is most evident in these sets of teeth.

Incisors

Incisors are at the frontmost part of a cat’s mouth. If you look at your kitty’s incisors, you’ll see that they’re not too sharp (as they’re blunt and not pointy). They use their incisors mainly to pick things up – or to groom themselves.

How do I take care of my cat’s teeth?

Dental hygiene is paramount to cats – especially because there aren’t as many dental repair options for them, compared to us. Therefore, if one cat’s tooth is damaged, it might have to be extracted – and they’ll permanently lose their tooth.

Fortunately, taking care of your cat’s teeth isn’t so difficult to maintain. You can start brushing their teeth from an early age. They typically don’t mind their teeth being brushed when they’re young. (Still, some might! But they’ll eventually get the hang of it.) As long as you do it gently and find ways to make it enjoyable for them!

Cats cannot use regular toothpaste designated for humans – there are harmful ingredients present in our toothpaste and your cat might not tolerate it. Worse, they might suffer from certain illnesses if they ingest human toothpaste. Instead, find a veterinary-approved toothpaste for your cat. Ask also what your local vet recommends.

Our feline pals are not known to complain whenever they’re suffering from a tooth, mouth, or gum disease. Therefore, as much as possible, regularly check your cat’s mouth and see if there seems to be anything out of the ordinary.

See if these are present in your cat:

• Bad breath
• Bleeding gums
• Chipped tooth

There might also be some instances when your cat may lose their appetite or they might become lethargic. Sometimes, dental health problems can cause this. If any of the listed symptoms are present in your cat, you should have him or her checked by a vet!

All Things Considered,

We finally know the answer to the question, “How many teeth do cats have?” – turns out, it’s 30! And as cat owners, it’s our job to take care of each and every single “toof” of theirs!