Cat Dental Chart
A cat dental chart: all 30 adult teeth named and numbered, the kitten teething timeline, and how vets estimate a cat's age from their teeth — plus the cat-specific dental problem most owners have never heard of.
The 30 adult teeth
| Tooth type | Upper jaw | Lower jaw | Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incisors | 6 | 6 | Grooming and grasping |
| Canines | 2 | 2 | Catching and holding prey |
| Premolars | 6 | 4 | Shearing |
| Molars | 2 | 2 | Minimal grinding |
| Total | 16 | 14 | 30 teeth |
Cats are obligate carnivores and their teeth show it: almost everything is built for shearing rather than grinding, and cats barely chew at all — they cut food into swallowable pieces.
Kitten teething timeline
| Age | Teeth |
|---|---|
| 0–2 weeks | No teeth |
| 2–4 weeks | Baby incisors erupt |
| 3–4 weeks | Baby canines appear |
| 4–6 weeks | Baby premolars; all 26 kitten teeth by ~8 weeks |
| 11–16 weeks | Adult incisors replace baby ones |
| 4–5 months | Adult canines erupt |
| 5–7 months | Premolars and molars complete the set of 30 |
This timeline is the most accurate way to age a young kitten — see thekitten age calculator and thekitten milestones chart for the full development picture.
Estimating an adult cat's age from teeth
| Appearance | Approximate age |
|---|---|
| All adult teeth, clean and white | 7 months – 1 year |
| Slight yellowing on back teeth | 1–2 years |
| Tartar on most teeth | 3–5 years |
| Visible wear, gum recession, some tartar buildup | 5–10 years |
| Heavy wear, missing teeth | 10+ years |
Tooth resorption: the cat-specific problem
Cats suffer from a condition that is far less common in other species: tooth resorption, where the body breaks down the tooth structure itself. Estimates suggest it affects between a fifth and more than half of all cats, and it becomes more common with age.
It's genuinely painful, and often invisible on a visual exam — the damage starts below the gum line, which is why proper feline dental assessment includes X-rays under anaesthetic. The only effective treatment is extraction of the affected tooth. Cats who have had painful teeth removed frequently become noticeably more active and affectionate afterwards, which tells you how much discomfort they were quietly tolerating.
Signs of dental trouble
- Bad breath — the earliest and most commonly dismissed sign
- Dropping food, or chewing on one side only
- A sudden preference for wet food over dry
- Drooling, sometimes blood-tinged
- Pawing at the mouth, or head-shaking while eating
- Reduced grooming (a painful mouth makes grooming unpleasant), leading to a scruffy coat
Any of these deserve a vet visit — cats are so good at masking oral pain that owners rarely catch it early without looking deliberately. Gum color is a separate quick check worth knowing: see the cat gum color chart.
Frequently asked questions
How many teeth does a cat have?+
Adult cats have 30 teeth — 16 on the top and 14 on the bottom. Kittens have 26 baby teeth. That is fewer than dogs (42) and humans (32), reflecting a diet built around shearing meat rather than grinding.
When do kittens lose their baby teeth?+
Kitten teeth start being replaced around 11–12 weeks, with adult incisors first, canines at 4–5 months, and the full adult set of 30 in place by 6–7 months.
What are tooth resorption lesions in cats?+
A painful condition unique in its frequency to cats, where the tooth structure breaks down at or below the gum line. It affects an estimated 20–60% of cats, is often invisible without dental X-rays, and the only treatment is extraction. It is a major reason cats need proper dental exams.
How can I tell if my cat has dental pain?+
Cats hide it exceptionally well. Watch for: dropping food, chewing on one side, preferring wet food suddenly, drooling, pawing at the face, bad breath, or simply becoming withdrawn. Many owners only recognise the pain in hindsight, after treatment.