How Many Sets of Teeth Do Cats Have?
The cat has two sets of teeth during its lifetime. The 26 deciduous teeth (baby, milk, or kitten teeth) begin to erupt when kittens are about 21 days old (incisors) and are fully erupted by 5 to 6-weeks-of-age (premolars). The 30 permanent teeth begin to erupt when kittens are about 4 months of age and are complete for most cats by 6 months of age. The cat’s permanent teeth follow the pattern seen in most carnivores although there are fewer.
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Cats baby tooth retained causing two sets of teeth
Dentition of the adult cat:
Here is some more detail on the time of teeth eruption:
| Cat Teeth | Age they erupt |
| Incisors (baby) | 2 – 3 weeks |
| Canines (baby) | 3 – 4 weeks |
| Premolars (baby) | 3 – 6 weeks |
| Incisors (permanent) | 3 – 4 months |
| Canines (permanent) | 4 – 6 months |
| Premolars and molars | 4 – 6 months |
Source: Michael and The Cat It’s Behavior, Nutrition & Health.
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If a vet pulls all your cats teeth without calling you, what should you do. She said “you would have just been back with the others costing you another thousands of dollars.etc.
I am upset because he is constantly rubbing his jaws on everything and acts in pain. Any suggestions. Do they implant false teeth on animals?
Well, I am very surprised to hear your story. He must have taken them out for a good reason i.e. poor oral health but he should have asked for your consent first. And he should have fully explained why he was doing it. Have you asked the veterinarian whether your cat’s apparent pain which I would have thought is to be entirely expected, will dissipate i.e. fade away gradually? The only question here is will the pain go away and, in the meantime, can you provide some sort of painkillers. However, be very, very careful about painkillers. I wouldn’t use Metacam. You might look it up on the Internet but as I recall it can cause kidney damage. Ask your veterinarian but if you’re in some doubt about his or her capabilities, seek a second opinion. This is going to be troublesome I realise but it seems to me that this is the position you find yourself in. I wish you the best of luck. I don’t think you can sue this veterinarian for negligence because it looks as though he has acted within the boundaries of a reasonable veterinarian albeit he failed to communicate with you. I wish your cat the best of luck by the way. And yourself.
Teeth progression in kittens is much faster than in human babies. But, I think that the order is the same.