Where do cats' teeth go? - briefly
When cats lose their teeth, they typically don't regrow them like some other animals. If a cat loses a tooth due to decay or injury, it will not grow back, similar to human teeth.
Where do cats' teeth go? - in detail
Cats, like humans and other mammals, are born with a set of deciduous or baby teeth that eventually fall out and are replaced by permanent adult teeth. The process of tooth eruption and replacement is an important stage in a cat's dental development.
Baby cats, known as kittens, typically have 26 deciduous teeth, which include incisors, canines, and premolars. These teeth begin to erupt at around three weeks of age and are fully present by the time the kitten is six to eight weeks old. The deciduous teeth serve essential functions such as aiding in nursing and helping the kitten learn to chew and tear food.
As kittens grow, their jaw bones expand to accommodate a full set of adult teeth. The process of tooth replacement usually starts at around four months of age, with the incisors being the first to be replaced. This is followed by the canines and then the premolars. By the time a cat reaches six to seven months old, all of the deciduous teeth have typically been shed and replaced by 30 permanent adult teeth.
The shedding of baby teeth in cats occurs gradually over several weeks or even months. During this period, it is not uncommon for cat owners to find small, white objects around the house—these are the lost baby teeth. Unlike humans, who often save their children's lost teeth, cats do not typically keep or "save" their shed teeth; they are simply discarded as part of the natural development process.
In rare cases, a cat may experience complications during the tooth replacement process. If a deciduous tooth does not fall out as expected, it can become impacted and cause issues such as infection or misalignment of adult teeth. Veterinary care is crucial in such situations to ensure that any problems are addressed promptly.
In summary, the teeth of cats undergo a natural cycle of eruption and replacement from baby teeth to permanent adult teeth. This process ensures that cats have strong, functional dentition throughout their lives.