For a predator, teeth play a huge role in life. They help the animal not only absorb food, but also defend itself. The structure of cats' teeth is created by nature in such a way that they can cope with tough food. Just like humans, cats' teeth develop gradually. Any owner of a “furry friend” will benefit from knowing some basic information about cat teeth.

Kittens teeth

Kittens are born completely without teeth. In the first weeks of life, they will feed on their mother's milk and do not need teeth.

Their baby teeth begin to emerge at about one month of age. The first set consists of 26 teeth. While teething, kittens' gums itch. They willingly chew on various objects to soothe the itching. How long this period will last depends on the breed and individual characteristics of the pet.

Around 3-4 months, sometimes later, kittens’ milk teeth begin to be replaced by permanent ones. All this time, the substance lysozyme is actively produced in the animal’s oral cavity. This is an antibacterial agent that protects the mucous membrane from the development of infections and inflammations. Each new tooth is positioned so that the animal can quickly absorb solid food.

Permanent teeth and their structure

Full formation of the jaw and teeth in cats occurs at approximately 8 months of age. An adult has 30 permanent teeth. of which:

• 4 fangs (located in front).
• 12 incisors (short front teeth with a sharp edge).
• 10 premolars (long single-rooted chewing teeth).
• 4 molars (similar to human wisdom teeth).

A cat's tooth is designed more for cutting hard food than chewing. After all, cats are predators by nature and their main prey are smaller animals. Therefore, all teeth are prematurely sharp and easily cut meat.

The structure of teeth in cats

A cat's tooth is formed from the following components:

• Pulps– a central cavity inside which contains nerves and blood capillaries that nourish bone tissue.
• Dentin– mineralized tissue that fills the space between the pulp and the outer membrane. In fact, this is the main base of the tooth. Dentin is very hard, but sensitive, and is destroyed quickly if the top protective layer is damaged.
• Enamels– outer white shell. The hard outer layer is not connected to the nerve endings and is therefore not sensitive. Enamel is the main protection of the tooth from external factors. If it becomes damaged or worn away, eating the food causes pain for the cat.

The arrangement of teeth in cats looks like this:

• Upper jaw – 2 fangs; 6 incisors; 6 premolars; 2 molars.
• Lower jaw – 2 fangs; 6 incisors; 4 premolars; 2 molars.

The age of a cat can be determined by its teeth. Very often, by the age of 5-6 years, the incisors of animals are already severely worn out, the enamel becomes yellow or even brown. By the age of 10-12 years, fangs fall out.

With the loss of fangs, the head skeleton of a predator may change - the upper jaw moves forward slightly, but this is not always so noticeable.

The teeth and oral cavity of animals are also susceptible to various diseases: caries, pulpitis, periodontal disease, gingivitis. Only, unlike a person, a cat cannot communicate its pain and suffers in silence.

A lot depends on food. Cats cannot be constantly fed soft food - their gums and incisors weaken. While chewing hard food, the enamel cleanses itself, and soft food, on the contrary, creates plaque and tartar, which destroy the structure of bone tissue.

To prolong your pet's dental health, you should be examined by a veterinarian at least once a year. Preventative visits will help prevent illness or detect problems at an early stage. As a rule, the teeth of domestic and well-groomed cats remain healthy much longer and fall out later.

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Cats seem playful and affectionate to us. But in fact, these are predators that are simply relatively small in size. Like any other predator, cats have powerful jaws and strong teeth, which are necessary for capturing and grinding prey. It is clear that at home the value of this weapon is leveled, however, it still plays a very important role in the normal functioning of the body.

Like many other mammals (including humans), they are completely toothless. During this period of life they do not need them, since they can attach themselves to the mother without the help of fangs and incisors.

It goes without saying that the formation of the first bite in cats begins much faster than in people. The first primary incisors begin to appear a few weeks after birth. Next, the canines and premolars emerge. The last to appear are the molars, and this all takes several months. By this time the kitten should have 26 teeth. Naturally, they are all milk teeth, so the formation of the bite is not completed.

The next step is to replace the milk teeth with permanent ones. Moreover, this process is carried out in the same order as cutting through the dairy. Initially, permanent incisors appear, then canines, premolars and molars.

Diagram of the structure of the jaw in cats

If the animal is completely healthy, then the end of jaw formation coincides with the beginning of puberty, that is, by approximately 8-10 months. During the entire period of growth of new incisors, it is strongly recommended to give your pet food rich in calcium, phosphorus and other minerals that play an important role in the formation of bone tissue.

In general, by the first birthday of a mustachioed pet, there should be 30 “tools” in his mouth - 16 on top and 14 on the bottom.

It is noteworthy that the age of an animal can be easily determined by the number and appearance of teeth. There is nothing complicated about this; accordingly, even an amateur can cope with this task. But before that, it is recommended to study the following table:

It is possible to determine the exact age from the teeth only if the animal is domestic, it eats properly and is properly cared for. In street vagabonds, damage and loss of incisors and even fangs begins much more often.

Of course, they are very important for any animal and, of course, people. Over time, incisors, molars or fangs will deteriorate - this cannot be avoided. And if a person can turn to a dentist for help, then cats have no one to rely on. The owner’s main task is to ensure that the teeth remain healthy for as long as possible. If they begin to deteriorate ahead of time, this will inevitably negatively affect the functioning of the pet’s body.

The reasons why they may fall out can be either physiological, that is, normal, or pathological.

Physiological causes of tooth loss

They are typical only for young individuals. As mentioned above, initially the kitten grows baby teeth. They are temporary, and accordingly, over time they will be naturally replaced by permanent ones. In total, 26 dairy ones germinate, and 30 permanent ones.

In a healthy animal that does not suffer from any pathologies, the replacement of teeth with permanent ones occurs without any problems or pain. Often the owner does not even know about it. However, you need to examine your pet's mouth from time to time in order to detect developing pathology in time.

Sometimes the loss of baby teeth is delayed, but permanent teeth are already emerging. This leads to problems such as:

• malocclusion, as they simply interfere with each other and become distorted;
• redness of the gums, which indicates their inflammation. Bleeding may also occur;
• characteristic stench from the mouth.

In a healthy animal that does not suffer from any pathologies, the replacement of teeth with permanent ones occurs without any problems or pain.

During the period of changing fangs, the animal is in a depressed mood and often refuses food. The pet’s desire to chew on everything is just one of the external manifestations of this process. To prevent your kitten from chewing on your important things, buy him appropriate toys.

If you notice something is wrong with your little furry, be sure to take him to the vet. An incorrect bite will cause the animal a lot of discomfort in the future, so it should be avoided.

Pathological causes

The main cause of early tooth loss in adults is classical dental diseases:

• caries;
• tartar;
• dysbacteriosis of the oral cavity;
• pulpitis;
• periodontitis.

The development of these ailments is caused by insufficient oral hygiene, malocclusion, poor quality nutrition, as well as genetic predisposition.

An important role is also played by concomitant disorders that seem to have nothing to do with teeth. First of all, this is:

• immunodeficiency states;
• urolithiasis;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• problems with liver function.

A lack of minerals and vitamins in the body can also provoke the premature loss of the pet’s main weapon. This is especially true if the cat does not receive enough calcium, phosphorus and all groups of vitamins.

In fact, taking care of your mustachioed pet's teeth is not that difficult. Care is based on three main principles:

• high-quality and systematic cleaning;
• proper nutrition;
• regular examination by a specialist.

You can prevent the development of a number of dental problems through cleaning. In fact, accustoming an animal to such a seemingly classic human procedure is not so difficult.

The main rule is not to rush. First, you need to place a little toothpaste in your pet's mouth so that he gets used to it, and then gently begin to move the brush. If the animal resists, leave it alone, but the next day start all over again. Sooner or later, the pet will get used to the procedure and will not show any dissatisfaction with what is happening.

You can prevent the development of a number of dental problems with brushing.

Nutrition should be balanced. It is very important that food contains sufficient amounts of phosphorus, calcium and other minerals. This is especially true when. From time to time, give your cat cartilage, soft bones and raw meat - these foods help to naturally strengthen the gums.

Even if you don't notice any problems with your pet's mouth, he still needs to be taken to the vet regularly. The earlier a pathology is detected, the easier it is to eliminate it, and without negative consequences for the body.

What if there are no teeth?

The digestive system of cats is more resilient than humans, and is designed in a slightly different way. If it is very important for us to chew every piece thoroughly, then cats do not have to do this. They need fangs and incisors only to capture and securely hold prey, and then tear it apart. Chewing is carried out with the help of molars, of which the cat has few.

Therefore, if we talk specifically about pets, then tooth loss is not as dangerous for them as for wild animals. The thing is that at home the cat does not experience any problems with lack of food.

But such animals still need care. You will have to switch your pet mainly to liquid or soft food. If this is not done, then digestive function will deteriorate significantly, and this can already threaten the development of a number of serious diseases.

Dental disease is the cause of many cat diseases. The occurrence of pathologies in the oral cavity of animals has an extremely negative impact on their overall health. The cat's immunity decreases, problems with digestion and the cardiovascular system arise. In the early stages, most dental diseases do not bother your pet. Diagnosing them at home is extremely difficult.

Even dental plaque, which if not removed in a timely manner leads to tooth loss, should be a reason to contact a veterinarian. Lack of proper treatment for any dental disease leads to serious complications and damage to the cat’s internal organs.

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Symptoms and treatment of various pathologies

Dental ailments include not only problems with enamel, but also various inflammations and pathologies that affect the mucous membrane of the oral cavity, nerves, bones and salivary glands. This group of diseases has no breed, age or gender restrictions, but cats with weakened immune systems and older animals most often suffer from them.

There are many causes of dental disease in cats. They depend on the breed of the pet, its age and accompanying ailments.

A full examination conducted by a veterinarian will help identify the causes. If you suspect any ailment in the oral cavity, you should immediately take the cat to him for an appointment, and not try to cure the animal yourself.



Raid

There may be several reasons for the appearance of plaque on the surface of a pet’s teeth:

• hereditary predisposition;
• features of the digestive system;
• way to feed a cat.

Plaque appears in the form of a grayish or yellow film. It is formed from food debris, microorganisms and cat saliva. Over time, the film tends to thicken.

Plaque itself is not a serious disease. However, if not removed in a timely manner, it will mineralize. This leads to the formation of tartar.

Cleaning will help get rid of plaque. It can be done at home using a special paste and brush. It is advisable to have the first cleaning done by a veterinarian.



Tartar

Some cats develop porous layers on their teeth. Most often they arise due to untimely removal of plaque.

The stone initially forms at the base of the cat's tooth, and then affects the root, penetrating deep into the gum and gradually completely enveloping it.



There are several main reasons for the occurrence of the disease. This:

• a cat’s diet consisting exclusively of soft foods or wet food;
• lack or lack of oral hygiene;
• various metabolic disorders in the animal’s body;
• abnormal position of teeth;
• increased roughness.

Some purebred cats (Scottish Fold, British and Persian) have a congenital predisposition to the appearance of tartar.

Symptoms of this disease are:

• hard growths on the tooth that have a brownish-yellowish tint;
• bad breath;
• bleeding gums.

Only removal of the stone will help completely get rid of the disease. The method of treatment depends on the stage of the disease. At the initial stage of development of the pathology, the veterinarian uses dissolving gels, and at an advanced stage - a special spatula or ultrasound. For nervous cats and those animals in which the stone has already penetrated under the gum, veterinarians perform the procedure under anesthesia.

To prevent stone formation, you must carefully monitor your pet's oral hygiene.



Caries

Caries is a decay process that provokes the destruction of tooth enamel and the formation of cavities in hard tissues. In cats, pathology can be caused by:

• violation of metabolic processes;
• acute lack of nutrients in the body;
• lack of B vitamins;
• infection that gets into the wound when a tooth is injured.



Experts distinguish 4 stages of caries. The illness may be:

• spotted;
• surface;
• deep;
• average.

Caries can progress and provoke the occurrence of more complex diseases (osteomyelitis, pulpitis and periodontitis). During the development of pathology, the animal experiences:

• heavy salivation;
• inflammation of the mucous membrane;
• unpleasant odor from the mouth;
• formation of a hole in a diseased tooth;
• darkening of the enamel.

Over time, the cat’s teeth begin to hurt, and he tries to chew his food carefully.

Superficial and spotty caries can be cured using a solution of silver nitrate or sodium fluoride (4%). In more advanced cases, it is necessary to remove the diseased tooth, since it is extremely difficult to put a filling on a cat. Before removal, the veterinarian resorts to using an anesthetic drug.

An annual visit to the clinic to monitor your cat's oral health will help prevent tooth decay.

Osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis occurs in cats due to complications of caries, periodontitis and purulent pulpitis. The disease is an inflammation of the gums, bone marrow and wall, as well as the alveoli.



Signs of osteomyelitis are:

• redness of the gums;
• pain when chewing food;
• swelling and asymmetry of the muzzle;
• loose teeth;
• weight loss;
• enlargement of regional lymph nodes.

As the disease progresses, an abscess begins to develop and fistulas form. Pus is released from them.

Before visiting a veterinarian, it is necessary to rinse the animal’s mouth with a weak manganese solution. After confirming the diagnosis, the veterinarian selects a treatment regimen. It depends on the stage of the disease. At an early stage of osteomyelitis, a course of antibiotics and medications that enhance immunity are indicated. In advanced cases, the veterinarian removes the pus and opens the fistula.

Periodontitis

The inflammatory process that develops at the apex of the tooth root is called periodontitis. The disease can be acute, purulent, aseptic and chronic. The causes of periodontitis are:

• tartar and plaque;
• lack of antiseptic treatment after molar tooth extraction;
• food particles getting stuck between teeth and gums;
• caries;
• pulpitis.

The characteristic symptoms of the disease are:

• foul odor from the cat's mouth;
• pain that occurs when touching the affected tooth;
• lack of appetite, weight loss;
• looseness of the diseased tooth;
• swelling of the gums (with a purulent form of periodontitis).

Treatment of the disease consists of spraying the animal's mouth with furatsilin or manganese solution. Inflamed gums must be treated with iodine. If periodontitis has become purulent, then it is necessary to rinse the oral cavity with an antiseptic and extract the tooth.



Gingivitis

Chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the gums is called gingivitis. At the initial stage of the disease, the cat develops yellowish plaque. The tissues around the tooth soon become red and spotty. Tiny ulcers form on the gums.

The causes of the disease are:

• tartar;
• lack of regular hygiene procedures aimed at cleaning the oral cavity;
• gum injury;
• acute lack of vitamins;
• infectious diseases;
• diseases of internal organs;
• a diet consisting only of soft food;
• violation of metabolic processes in the body.

With gingivitis in a cat, the following are observed:

• excessive salivation;
• foul odor emanating from the mouth;
• bleeding from the gums;
• swelling and redness of the gums;
• decreased appetite.



Therapeutic measures depend on the stage of the disease. At the initial stage, you can treat gingivitis yourself. To do this, it is necessary to regularly clean with a special paste and brush, and also treat the gums with Zubastik or Metragil Denta ointments. In advanced cases, the veterinarian prescribes a course of antibiotics and sometimes hormonal therapy.

Improper development of teeth or bite

Dental abnormalities lead to:

• to mechanical injury to the mucous membrane of the tongue, cheeks, lips and gums;
• to the occurrence of diseases of the stomach and intestines;
• to difficulty chewing food.

The most common occurrences in cats are:

• insufficient number of teeth;
• location of the tooth outside the jaw row;
• excessive convergence of the roots of molars;
• significant discrepancy of dental crowns;
• excessive number of teeth;
• shortened upper jaw (due to this, the incisors of the lower jaw do not close with the upper jaw);
• mouth distortion;
• shortened lower jaw protruding beyond the border of the lower jaw.

Such dental problems in cats appear mainly due to congenital disorders of jaw development and untimely loss (or preservation) of baby teeth.



The main sign of improper dental development is difficulty eating. In difficult cases, teeth have to be removed.

To prevent the occurrence of such anomalies, you should monitor how the animal’s teeth are replaced. If necessary, they should be removed in a timely manner at a veterinarian's appointment.

To keep cats' teeth strong and healthy, owners will have to monitor their condition. This is very important, because the health of the teeth and the absence of diseases determines how well the kitten will develop, and how well the adult cat will be able to eat a variety of foods. Strong teeth are very important for a predator, and the cat, despite the fact that it has lived next to humans for a long time, has completely retained its “wild” habits.

Kittens' teeth

Cats are mammals, so their offspring are born toothless, because at first they do not need teeth when feeding on their mother's milk. Kittens come into this world blind and unable to eat solid food, and like human children, first have a set of baby canines and incisors.

Milk teeth appear in cats around the end of the first month of life. The kids have an incomplete set - 26 pieces. They begin to change around the fourth month of life.

When babies are teething, their gums become very itchy, and babies may bite and chew on various objects. While the kitten's permanent teeth are growing, they need to be looked after. Usually baby teeth fall out on their own, but sometimes a growing permanent one retains a baby tooth. In this case, new ones are cut at an angle and may grow crooked, defective, or begin to interfere with the cat’s eating.

To ensure that all of your kitten's teeth grow healthy and correctly positioned, it is worth visiting a veterinary dentist.

Until the milk ones are replaced by permanent ones, the baby’s body is considered weakened, so during this period he is not given vaccinations or given.

Adult teeth

A cat's permanent teeth appear after four months of life, finish forming around the eighth month and number 30:

• 4 fangs;
• 12 incisors;
• 14 premolars, of which 6 are on the lower jaw, and 8 on the upper.

Since these animals are predators, the shape and arrangement of the cat's molars are designed to tear off pieces of flesh rather than chew food. The special structure of teeth in a domestic cat almost completely repeats their pattern in large cats.

Causes of diseases

All cat teeth are small in size and very sharp. They can suffer physically from various incidents, for example, it is not uncommon for a cat to have a broken tooth due to eating the wrong food or due to injury. The main causes of damage to teeth are impacts; they are knocked out during falls and accidents with vehicles.

Sometimes the cause of breakage and serious damage is bones that accidentally end up in cat food, or this happens when a cat eats a caught mouse or bird.

Usually, after such incidents with the cat’s teeth, roots are left that are easily inflamed and painful. When asked what to do in such a situation, it can be recommended to contact a veterinarian and remove the remains, since they will most likely bother the animal and will soon cause inflammation of the gums.

In addition to mechanical damage, the following conditions or diseases can cause problems:

1. Genetic predisposition. Most often, structural defects and a tendency to disease are found in cases where the cat belongs to a breed obtained as a result of human selection efforts.
2. Pathologies of location. Some breeds are missing one or two teeth, which negatively affects the operation of the entire apparatus.
3. Improper or insufficient nutrition. This has a particularly negative effect on the condition of the bones and teeth of kittens if their mother was malnourished or starved during pregnancy, or if they received poor nutrition in the first months of life. In the future, disruption of the structure and functions of the oral apparatus can be provoked by monotonous, poor food with insufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals.
4. Bad environment. A cat, like a person, will suffer from poor quality water, polluted air and artificial chemical food.
5. Infections. They cause inflammation of the gums and tooth tissues, causing it to become loose in the socket, and a swaying tooth can easily break or simply fall out. Sometimes tooth resorption occurs due to infection in domestic cats.
6. Insufficient oral hygiene. Plaque that is not removed in time turns into hard tartar, which injures the gums, causes inflammation and causes putrefactive processes and tooth loss, as well as many diseases of internal organs.

Since there are many reasons for a cat's oral cavity, owners will need to monitor it closely to catch problems early.

Main signs of dental diseases

The symptoms of dental disease in cats are practically no different from those in humans:

1. It is painful for the animal to eat, especially in the area of ​​the affected tooth. If the pain is very severe, the cat may completely refuse to eat. Outwardly, it is noticeable that the cat is trying to eat so as not to hurt the sore side.
2. The gums are red, inflamed and swollen.
3. The tooth is loose or looks displaced in relation to its neighbors.
4. An unpleasant odor appears from the mouth.
5. Teeth wear down unevenly if one of them is damaged or diseased.
6. The cat often rubs its face with its paws or stops washing itself due to pain.
7. An abscess or “bump” appears on the jaw.
8. The animal does not allow you to examine its mouth, and may even try to bite or scratch the owner, which it has never allowed itself to do before.
9. The character and behavior of the cat change - yesterday, an affectionate and cheerful cat becomes either gloomy and withdrawn, hides from people and does not play, or quickly becomes aggressive only when trying to stroke or caress it, or pick it up.

Signs of diseases appear gradually, so attentive owners always have time to change the situation for the better.

Common problems

Dental diseases in cats are varied, but the most common problems are:

1. . It is soft, yellowish or grayish, accumulates on the teeth gradually, and is easily removed. If you clean regularly and efficiently, you can avoid many serious health problems.
2. . It consists of fossilized hard plaque, which contains a lot of harmful bacteria that threaten the body with various dangerous diseases.
3. Caries. Although cats do not eat sweets, they are also subject to the scourge of the twentieth century.
4. Osteomyelitis. This is a dangerous disease that threatens the cat with destruction of the jaw bones. Most often it is a complication of caries and can lead not only to complete loss of teeth, but also to the death of the animal.
5. Periodontitis. Inflammation of the gums leads to loosening of the tooth and damage to its root, causing it to bleed and fall out.
6. . Inflammation of the gums is accompanied by bleeding, swelling, pain, and the formation of ulcers and cracks. If treatment is not started immediately, the teeth may become damaged, and the cat risks being left without them.

With these diseases, the teeth wobble and can break; sometimes the owners notice that they are so worn down that only the root remains; due to layers of tartar, they are bent and injure the lips and cheeks of the animal when it chews. All this leads to serious health problems.

To figure out how to treat dental diseases in your pet, you need to contact a veterinary clinic, where there are specialists in this field and specialized equipment.

Treatment options

In a veterinary clinic, a dentist will offer several treatment options for treating cats:

• manual removal of tartar. It can be done for single and small formations, which can be removed quickly and painlessly;
• ultrasonic cleaning. After stone removal procedures, teeth need to be polished. This is a gentle method that is well tolerated by animals;
• . It is practiced when a cat’s teeth hurt and they are so damaged that there is practically nothing to save. Both teeth damaged by infection and broken, severely worn and painful teeth can be removed.

The procedures are performed under anesthesia, after which the doctor prescribes special treatment, often using antibiotics, especially after the removal of rotten teeth, in order to avoid complications.

Preventive measures

Preventative measures will help avoid serious problems or at least delay their occurrence. In this case, the animal’s nutrition and hygienic measures for cleaning the oral cavity play an important role.

As for nutrition, it must be balanced, complete, with a sufficient amount of minerals and vitamins so that the cat’s teeth and bones are strong and strong.

For the same purpose, you can give the animal some kind of treats - special vitamins. This healthy treat for cats is eaten with great pleasure and brings great benefits to the body.

You also need to pay attention to the water that is given to the animal. It must be clean and of high quality, constantly fresh.

In order for a cat to have strong teeth, he must receive not only soft food, but also foods that need to be chewed - meat, fish. His menu should include cottage cheese and other fermented milk products as a source of calcium. You also need to give eggs periodically.

With a healthy diet, general strengthening of the body and regular hygiene procedures with teeth, the animal will be in perfect order.

Each animal species has its own dental formula - a certain sequence of teeth in the oral cavity. Their correct development ensures a full bite. Let's talk about how many teeth an adult cat has - the answer in pictures, in this case, will be the most obvious.

About changing children's teeth to adult ones

Kittens develop their baby teeth at 3–4 weeks of age.

There are 26 of them, and they are replaced by radical ones at the age of 5–6 months - everything happens in much the same way as in humans.

Sometimes baby teeth sit too tightly in their places and do not fall out in time, and the molars have to grow nearby. This occurs most often due to the hereditary characteristics of the germination of permanent teeth.

Due to the incorrect trajectory, the molar does not push out its temporary counterpart, as it should, but simply grows next to it. This phenomenon is called persistence. If primary teeth do not fall out, it is best to have them removed at a veterinary clinic to maintain proper bite and oral health.

The photo shows a cat with persistent fangs.

So how many teeth should an adult healthy cat have? If temporary teeth fall out on time, they are replaced by molars: first the incisors are replaced, then the canines, premolars and molars grow - a total of 30 teeth.

How many teeth does an adult cat have: photos of all types

Cat teeth vary in appearance and purpose.

The incisors are small teeth located in the front, 6 on the upper and 6 on the lower jaw.

Fangs - strong, prominent, sharp and long teeth, located 1 on each side, both above and below. They are also clearly visible in the previous photo.

Premolars are short and wide teeth located behind the cheek, 3 above and 2 below on each side.

Molars are the outermost teeth, hiding in the depths. On the upper jaw they are small - one on each side, and on the lower jaw they are wide, and also one on the right and left.

To make it easier to imagine the full picture, look at the diagram of the location of the teeth on the cat’s jaw, side view:

You can clearly see how many teeth cats have, and in the photo of the animal’s skull:

The right and left sides are symmetrical; there are differences in the number of teeth only between the lower and upper jaws.

Assess the condition of the animal's teeth

So, to summarize, a healthy adult cat has 12 incisors, 4 canines, 10 premolars, 4 molars. In diagram form, it can be represented like this:

To simplify things, veterinarians use a dental formula, denoting each type of tooth with a Latin letter:

To assess the number of teeth and their condition in your cat, you need to fix the animal’s head with one hand. And the second one gently pulls the lower jaw down:

For any problems with teeth and gums, it is better to immediately consult a veterinarian.