When do kittens start teething?
A kitten will get their first set of teeth at around 3 to 4 weeks old. It is around this time they will begin weaning from their mother's milk and start to eat wet food or dry kibble.
The emergence of teeth is normally uneventful. But, you might notice the kittens nibbling on their toys, or maybe their siblings, more than usual.
When do kittens lose their baby teeth?
When do kitten teeth fall out? At roughly 12 weeks or 3 months. By the age of 6 months, your cat should have a full set of 30 adult teeth. However, some cats take up to 9 months for all their adult teeth to come in.
Your cat's adult teeth will be with them for the rest of their life, so take good care of them! The gold standard includes daily brushing with cat-safe toothpaste and annual dental cleanings. There are also dental treats for cats that can help prevent plaque buildup. Talk to your veterinarian to see what they recommend.
Your kitten's baby teeth are also a useful indicator of your cat's age. Your vet should be able to tell you how old a kitten is by using their teeth as a guide.
How to Tell How Old a Kitten is By Teeth
Here's how to tell a kitten's age by its teeth. Baby teeth typically start to emerge at around three weeks of age, while permanent teeth begin to appear between three and four months old. The middle incisors usually emerge around 14 weeks, followed by the second and third incisors, which are permanent, appearing around 15 to 16 weeks after birth.
Kitten teeth are exceptionally small, making it challenging to distinguish between baby and permanent teeth. When inspecting a kitten's teeth for identification, take a look at these characteristics:
- Size and Shape: Baby teeth are generally smaller and more pointed, whereas permanent teeth are larger and have flatter edges.
- Color: Baby teeth are typically whiter, while permanent teeth may have a slightly yellowish tint.
- Tooth Position: Baby teeth may appear more crowded in the mouth, whereas permanent teeth usually have more space between them as they grow.
- Gumline: The gumline around baby teeth may appear more swollen or inflamed compared to that around permanent teeth.
- Presence of Both: Sometimes, both baby and permanent teeth are present, allowing for a direct comparison based on differences in size, shape, and position.
You can also search for 'kitten teeth chart' using your favorite search engine and compare what you see to your kitten to determine their age.
What are the most common signs of kitten teething?
Some signs that indicate your kitten may be teething include:
- Vocalizing more, from small to loud meows
- Increased chewing, especially on soft items
- Drooling
- Bleeding gums
- Chewing food more slowly
- Eating less
- Crankiness
- Hesitant to bite at or shake toys
- Pawing at mouth
Most of these symptoms should not be a cause for concern. However, you should still watch your kitten. If you notice excessive bleeding, a lack of appetite, or an odd smell coming from your cat's mouth, they could be suffering from an infection. Make an appointment with your vet to have the issue diagnosed.
How to Help a Teething Kitten
Thankfully, there are several options available to you to help your teething kitten. You can try to:
- Offer soft food; either a canned diet or kibble soaked in warm water
- Make sure they get plenty of interactive playtime with you to keep them busy and tire them out
- Make ice cubes of low-sodium chicken broth or diluted tuna juice for them to play with and chew on. The ice will soothe irritated gums. This is an especially popular item during hot weather!
- Provide soft toys to chew on
- Provide pet-safe cat grass for snacking
Discomfort is usually mild and should resolve itself. For extreme cases of pain, make sure you contact your veterinarian.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.
