Do Cats Lose Teeth? Kittens Do; Adults Need a Vet

Yes—kittens lose baby teeth as their permanent teeth come in. Adult cats do not have another normal round of tooth shedding. A loose, newly missing or broken adult tooth needs a veterinary check, even if your cat still eats. Cats have only two sets of teeth: baby teeth and permanent teeth. VCA explains feline tooth development, and the American Veterinary Medical Association recommends an earlier dental exam for loose or broken teeth.

When do kittens lose their teeth?

Kittens have 26 baby teeth. They usually start shedding them around 3–4 months of age, and most have all 30 adult teeth by 6–7 months. You may find a tiny baby tooth in bedding or on the floor, but often kittens swallow shed teeth, so you may never find one. PDSA’s kitten teething guide

Teething can bring extra chewing, a tender mouth and some drooling. Avoid hard objects that could damage developing teeth. VCA also recommends pausing toothbrushing during the brief period when baby teeth are falling out and permanent teeth are erupting. VCA’s teething guidance

Two teeth occupying the same spot need attention. If an adult tooth appears while its baby tooth remains, book an exam as soon as possible rather than waiting for a future spay or neuter appointment. A retained baby tooth can crowd the adult tooth and alter the bite. Do not try to pull it yourself. VCA’s retained-tooth guidance

Why might an adult cat lose a tooth?

Do not assume a tooth fell out simply because your cat is getting older. Possible explanations include:

• Periodontitis: disease damages the tissues and bone supporting the tooth, allowing it to loosen or fall out.
• Tooth resorption: the tooth’s structure breaks down. Cornell identifies this as the most common cause of tooth loss in cats.
• Injury or fracture: what looks like a shed tooth may actually be a broken piece.

These require an exam, not a diagnosis from the gap alone. Cornell’s feline dental disease guide and AVMA dental guidance explain these problems.

Eating normally does not rule out pain. Cats with tooth resorption may keep eating but chew on one side, drop food or suddenly prefer soft food. Cornell’s tooth resorption guidance

Watch, book or go now?

Watch at home

A kitten within the teething window sheds a small baby tooth, continues eating and playing normally, and has no ongoing bleeding or obvious pain. Monitor appetite and comfort; you do not need to find every shed tooth.

Book a vet exam

Contact your vet promptly for a loose or newly missing adult tooth, or a kitten with two teeth in the same spot. Mention bad breath, red gums, drooling, food dropping or changes in chewing. AVMA lists these dental warning signs.

Call the same day for a broken tooth, refusal to eat, facial swelling or clear mouth pain so the clinic can assess urgency. Do not wait for a routine checkup. PDSA’s dental guidance and North Bay Veterinary Dentistry’s urgency guidance

Go now

Seek emergency veterinary care for significant or steady mouth bleeding, severe pain, facial or jaw trauma, or inability to open or close the mouth. Call the emergency clinic while arranging care. A missing tooth alone in an otherwise comfortable adult cat is not usually an emergency, but it still needs an exam. Veterinary dental emergency guidance

What to do before the appointment

If you found a tooth or fragment, keep it to show the vet. Note when you noticed it and any changes in eating. Do not force the mouth open, wiggle remaining teeth or brush a painful area; painful animals may bite. Do not force-feed or give medication unless a veterinarian instructs you to. AVMA, Cornell and North Bay Veterinary Dentistry

The vet may recommend dental X-rays to assess roots and disease below the gumline. Once the mouth is comfortable and your vet approves, gentle toothbrushing habits can help prevent plaque-related disease—but brushing cannot repair a broken or resorbing tooth. AVMA’s dental care guidance