When do British kittens lose their baby teeth? Advice for owners whose pets' teeth are changing. Kittens of Siamese and Thai breeds

Healthy teeth are an important factor ensuring proper nutrition mammal, and, therefore, healthy condition his body as a whole. Their health needs to be monitored and cared for constantly after the kitten appears in the house.

In order for a cat to be strong and healthy, the owner must devote a lot of time to it, take care of its development, know about its growth characteristics, proper care and characteristics of the body. Among other things, it is important to know at what age and with what symptoms his pet’s baby teeth should grow out.

Ideally, their growth should be completed in 2 months. By this period, the baby should have a complete set of first very sharp teeth in the amount of 26 pieces. From now on, small predators can eat pieces of meat.

As a rule, at birth, kittens, like all mammals, are born toothless, except for rare exceptions that are not the norm. Thus, nature provides natural protection for mother cats from nipple bites and associated pain.

Teething begins at 1-2 weeks of age. This process occurs almost unnoticed by either the kittens or their owners, since at this age they do not yet move around the room. Tiny incisors appear first, and later, by 3 months, fangs grow.

How the process works

The change of teeth in cats begins at the age of 4 months and continues for 2-3 months. All individuals are individual, so this process can take place in different ways: in some cases it is completely unnoticed, and in some with complications that require careful care. Baby teeth first fall out and must be completely replaced by permanent teeth at 7 months.

This period is more restless than during the growth of primary molars.

Permanent teeth grow in the same sequence: first the incisors appear, and then the molars, and finally the canines change - first the lower ones, and then the upper ones.

However, unlike kittens, in adults, in addition to premolars, molars also grow. At the same time, it increases total teeth. In adult animals, their number should be 30, in contrast to babies, who have only 26 teeth.

Representatives of felines have 3 incisor teeth and a pair of fangs on both jaws. At the same time, the number of molars per upper jaw exceeds their number in the bottom row: there are 8 teeth at the top, and 6 at the bottom. The dental formula of permanent dentition in cats older than 7 months looks like this:

3 incisors;
1 fang;
3 premolars;
1 molar;
paired fang;
2 premolars;
1 molar

In total, 12 incisors, 4 canines, and 7 molars grow on both jaws (3 at the top, 4 at the bottom).

Possible complications

Some cats do not tolerate the process of changing their teeth to permanent ones. They become restless, refuse to eat, meow loudly, and may chew furniture and other things.

This process is often accompanied increased salivation, and in some individuals it may long period gum irritation persists.

Many kittens swallow lost baby teeth while eating. As a rule, this does not cause any undesirable consequences, foreign object is not digested in the stomach, but comes out naturally. There is no damage to the mucous membranes.

It may happen that after falling out, the hole festers. The first sign of this is the appearance of bad breath in the kitten. In this situation, you need to contact veterinary clinic, since inflammation can spread throughout the entire oral cavity and lead to undesirable consequences.

Sometimes it happens that the baby’s primary teeth do not fall out at all and at the same time permanent teeth begin to grow. In this case, a double row of teeth is formed, the correction of which requires extraction.

Double dentition is a pathology that provokes the appearance of osteomyelitis, stones and bacterial deposits. Also, an excess of teeth in a pet’s mouth can cause injury to the gums, the appearance of ulcers on the mucous membrane, the formation of wounds, malocclusion, periodontal disease and problems with the jaw bone tissue.

In other cases, milk teeth that do not fall out at the appointed time completely block the growth of the main ones, which also requires their removal.

A temporary tooth may break, in which case it is also necessary to contact a veterinarian, who will remove it painlessly. Removal procedures are performed under anesthesia, so the kitten will not experience pain or stress.

A deviation from the norm is uneven teeth. In the future, this leads to deterioration of chewing qualities and complications. digestive processes. This situation requires adjustment.

The most common complications during teething:

injuries to the gums and palate;
pathological changes in bite;
periodontal disease.

How to make the process easier

Regardless of how many months the teeth change, the owner should know that all of them should be white or cream in color, without signs of destruction or inflammation. You also need to keep in mind that proper nutrition plays a big role in the oral health of cats.

During this time the pet should receive complete diet and eat only healthy and good-quality food. The menu can include special supplements containing calcium and phosphorus.

Under no circumstances should you help to a pet and pull out baby teeth yourself. External influence will only cause harm, loss must occur in a natural way, and human intervention can lead to damage to a tooth that is not yet ready to fall out.

A specific indicator indicating that the kitten is teething permanent teeth, is particularly sharp and bad smell their oral cavity. In the absence of other symptoms, this should not cause concern; the unpleasant odor should go away on its own after a couple of months.

You need to regularly inspect your pet’s mouth and pay attention to the gums - they should have an even structure and uniform pink color. At this time, the baby’s gums are itching, so by the way, you will need dry food, rubber toys and special teethers that can be chewed will also come in handy. Before use, such a toy can be frozen, which will help soothe the gums.

The norm is if, when changing teeth to permanent ones, the cat refuses to eat. She experiences discomfort in her mouth and has difficulty chewing. However, if she does not eat for more than a day, then this is alarm signal and in this case more should be excluded serious problems with your health and show it to a specialist.

Cats have a special digestive system, which is characterized by the fact that prolonged fasting, lasting more than 2 days, has Negative influence on the gastrointestinal tract.

Today I will tell you how kittens change teeth and what measures should be taken during this period. Most often, the process occurs painlessly and unnoticed by the owners, so not many people think about whether cats’ teeth change at all. If you yourself are not involved in breeding kittens, you may not even know that they are born completely toothless. Usually in new house the pet “arrives” with, if not a complete, then a partially completed set of baby teeth. In small kittens, you can often see a picture when the baby shows the tip of its tongue. This is not due to harmfulness, but due to the lack of fangs, which are one of the last to erupt. By the age of two to three months, there are already 26 teeth in total, which is the cat’s norm. After the “milk set” is fully formed, another process begins - the replacement of teeth with permanent ones, which in kittens can last over the next four months. Typically, the period when cats change their teeth begins at three months, but slight variations in the timing are allowed. If the process started a week earlier or later, there is nothing wrong with that. Most likely, at the very beginning you will not even notice any changes. Ailments and painful sensations occur extremely rarely.

What to pay attention to

However, at the time of changing teeth, care should be taken Special attention cat nutrition Food must be of high quality and contain sufficient quantities of substances such as phosphorus and calcium. It is on them that the state of the emerging skeletal system kitten If the animal is feeding natural food, it is worth adding more cottage cheese to your diet. You can also select food supplements containing the listed elements. Good nutrition and vitamins will also help the developing body resist various viral infections, to which the animal is especially susceptible during this period. After all, at the time when cats’ teeth change, their immunity is significantly reduced. This is why experienced veterinarians do not recommend mandatory vaccinations for all kittens at this time, if for some reason you did not do them in a timely manner. Implementation of weakened immunity even small quantity There is no need for a virus now.

When changing teeth, a cat may have a well-founded desire to “scratch” them, which he does with pleasure, tasting everything he can get his hands on. There is no point in punishing a cat for such tricks. It is more advisable to purchase suitable toys and treats at the pet store that will help your pet quickly get rid of baby teeth without harming furniture, shoes and your nerves. And for the cat - joy and fun. Do not allow him to bite your hands during this period, because bad habit may remain for life.

If new tooth has already grown, but the dairy has not yet left its place, it is better to contact a veterinarian for help. The same applies if you notice a wound in the cat’s mouth or even pus. Do not try to treat the animal yourself; let a specialist do it. Such complications, although rare, do occur, and should not be ignored in order to avoid health problems in the future.

Adult cat teeth

At the end of the change of teeth, cats will already have as many as 30 of them.

1. Incisors– the smallest teeth, which are located on the front of the upper and mandible. Their main purpose is to capture and hold prey in the mouth; they do not participate in the process of chewing food. In total, a cat’s complete “dental set” has 12 incisors, 6 on each jaw. However, with age, some of them may be lost, since they are attached to only one root and are very unstable.

2. Fangs– an important part of the cat's jaw. It is with their help that in the wild, predatory animals dismember the caught prey. Despite the fact that the canines also have only one root, it is deeply embedded in the jaw and is therefore much stronger than the incisors. The cat has only four fangs.

3. Premolars. They are located directly after the fangs, three after each on the upper jaw, and two on the lower jaw. Designed for chewing and grinding hard food. They can have up to three roots, so if one of the teeth is diseased, it is important to know their number, so that in case of removal you do not leave the root in the gum.

4. Molars. The outermost teeth, located one at a time on each inner edge of the jaw. Also used for chewing solid products and meat. The upper molars each have one short root, so they do not cause any difficulties with removal. The lower ones are a little more difficult, since they have two roots and, moreover, one of them is secured with ligaments.

TO three years old most cats encounter various problems with teeth, so it is important to carefully monitor their condition. Ideally, it is recommended to take the animal to the doctor at least once a year for examination, and more often if there is dental problems. A common occurrence that can lead to serious consequences is dental plaque. If you don’t get rid of it in time, it can threaten your cat with the loss of one or more teeth, which is not only inconvenient, but also dangerous for the cat. small predator. After all, a cat's teeth are the main tool for eating, and its main weapon in the wild. Even toothless cats can feel comfortable in a home environment if caring owners They will prepare soft, easily digestible food for them. But it’s better to solve problems that arise in a timely manner and not let them reach a neglected state.

Replacing baby teeth with permanent ones is a common process for all mammals. Most people remember how this happened to them. But few people are familiar with the course of this process in pets. Questions regarding when kittens' teeth change and how this happens arise for many people who decide to have a cat that is less than six months old. For inexperienced owners, changing teeth can cause some concern in a kitten. But having the necessary knowledge and proper preparation will help avoid problems and make this process easier for the pet and its owners.

Features of teeth in cats

Most kittens are born toothless. Only in in rare cases At birth, a kitten may have several teeth. They usually begin to erupt after the first or second week of life. When the animal reaches the age of 2 months, it has 26 teeth. They will begin to change to permanent ones in 1-2 months. Kittens often change their teeth at 4 months. This process lasts about 3 months.

Normally, baby teeth have White color with a creamy tint. The color of teeth depends on heredity and the developmental characteristics of the fetus.

U adult cat must have 30 teeth. This is 4 more than there were dairy products.

In kittens, teeth change at the age of 3-4 months. By 7 months he should have the “full set” permanent teeth.

On the upper jaw of a cat:

6 incisors;
2 fangs;
4 premolars;
2 molars.

On the lower jaw:

6 incisors;
2 fangs;
6 premolars;
2 molars.

Beginning of teeth change

After the cat has all its milk teeth, the process of replacing them with permanent ones begins. This happens in the same sequence as the appearance of dairy products. Usually the incisors fall out first, then the canines, and then the premolars and molars. A complete change of teeth in a kitten should occur before the pet reaches the age of 7 months. By this time he should have 30 teeth.

You can determine that a cat’s teeth have begun to change by the following signs:

copious amounts of saliva;
the animal’s desire to chew objects (to scratch the gums);
lethargic behavior;
refusal of food;
increased excitability.

In cats, the change from baby teeth to permanent teeth is accompanied by a change in behavior. Owners should monitor their pet even more closely to notice any signs of illness. If you have one or more symptoms, you should consult a veterinarian:

suppuration of the wound at the site of the lost tooth;
inflammation of the gums under the missing milk tooth;
the kitten refuses to eat;
the pet does not go to the toilet for more than a day;
baby teeth have not been completely replaced, and they do not fall out for a long time;
the pet’s behavior is sluggish and apathetic;
presence of bad breath.

When kittens' baby teeth change, they always want to chew on something. And it is better that they gnaw on objects suitable for this purpose, and not your personal belongings. It is advisable to purchase in advance special toys or treats for chewing (dried veins), not tubular boiled bones. These items must be available before you notice any damage to your personal items.

Often, the replacement of baby teeth in kittens with permanent ones occurs without any problems. In some cases, the owners do not even have time to notice this process occurring. However, if you find that your kitten is losing teeth, it is advisable to periodically examine its mouth. In this way, you can track the occurrence of any violation in time. Pay attention to the color of the gums - they should be pink and have an even tone over the entire surface.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations should not be done during the teething period. Kittens' bodies are under significant stress, and vaccinations can be much more difficult to tolerate. If your cat's teeth are changing, postpone vaccination until this process is complete.

Nutrition

During the period of teeth change, the animal needs balanced diet, which contains everything necessary substances. You should discuss your pet’s diet with your veterinarian and choose the most suitable option. You should not overdo it with saturating the animal’s diet with phosphorus and calcium, as this can negatively affect the functioning of the kidneys and other organs.

Help for gums

To relieve pain, the animal begins to chew objects around it. You should prepare special toys and bones or dried veins for him in advance.

You can also help your kitten by lubricating its gums with dental gels. These gels are sold in any pharmacy and are intended for people, but are also suitable for cats. The medication will help relieve painful sensations and calm down a little inflammatory process. However, be prepared for significant resistance from the animal, as well as excessive salivation after applying the gel. To apply the gel to the gums, squeeze a little onto your finger and gently massage the kitten's gums.

Kittens should not be allowed to chew their owner. This habit may continue. The teeth of an adult cat can cause injury to the owner and other people around the animal.

Stress and infections

When cats change their teeth, they experience significant stress. During this period, it is better to reduce the presence of external additional stress. You should not carry out repairs, rearrange furniture, move or transport the kitten to another place. It is also worth reducing his contacts with strangers. Excessive stress can affect your kitten's health now or in the future.

When kittens change teeth, the body becomes highly vulnerable to various bacteria and infections. Especially if we're talking about about an unvaccinated animal. Therefore, when changing teeth, try to protect the cat from contact with objects that are brought from the street (shoes, bags, packages). Do it often wet cleaning in the hall.

If the kitten has already reached the age of 7 months, but the teeth have not yet completely changed, you should contact your veterinarian. Lost baby teeth may need to be removed to allow permanent teeth to grow in.

Cats whose teeth are changing need extra attention, care and attention. Reducing the amount of stress and having special items for chewing will help the animal endure this process more easily. Additional care and tracking your pet’s condition will help you avoid negative consequences for future health.

Kittens often end up with a new owner at a very early age. Therefore, it is necessary to have good knowledge of how these animals develop, the care and characteristics of their body, so that a beautiful and healthy cat. In particular, you need to know at what age kittens change teeth and what symptoms accompany this. This will be discussed below.

Changing teeth is important point in the life of any animal, including the cat family. This process develops in every baby with individual characteristics: some owners may not notice the period of change of teeth in their pet, while others, on the contrary, have to provide their kittens with special care and pay attention to them.

Features of tooth growth

Fluffy pets are born without teeth. The first teeth are cut only at the age of two weeks. At this time, tailed babies are almost like small children - they are also restless and every now and then they scratch their gums on everything that comes their way. Of course, they are not yet so big that they can crawl freely around the house and thereby cause trouble for their owner and things in the apartment. But their own paws and tails of brothers and sisters, or the edges of the bed, as they say, are always at hand and are also suitable for this task.

By the age of two months, kittens have a full set of baby teeth. There are twenty-six of them in total - small and very sharp. With the appearance of all the teeth, the kitten is ready to feed not only with mother’s milk, but also with food that is harder. This period also requires close attention from the owner to his ward.

When do kittens get their baby teeth?

This usually occurs at four months of age and continues for two or three months. In this regard, even after the change of teeth has ended, symptoms of gum irritation may persist as the process of cutting molars begins. What stages it is divided into are discussed below:

First, the incisors are cut; in most cases, this process does not cause any inconvenience to your pet, and the owner may not even notice that the kitten’s teeth have begun to change.
After this, the replacement of fangs begins, first the lower ones are replaced, then the upper ones.
Molars and premolars are replaced in the same sequence. At this time, by the way, there will be various toys that are specially sold for these purposes. You need to take care of buying them, and thus the kitten will not have the desire to attack your hands, other things and objects in your home.

An adult healthy animal has thirty permanent teeth; as already mentioned, kittens have fewer - twenty-six. It is clear that these are four canines, molars, and incisors. IN in good condition they appear white or cream-colored, and the gums appear pinkish. As a rule, all teeth are strong and show no signs of decay or inflammation. To avoid any disturbances in the development of teeth, they must initially receive all essential microelements. All this is ensured by high-quality nutrition of the animal. Timely replacement of teeth plays an important role proper care for the kitten from the owner's side.

When should teeth be replaced?

If the process goes well, then all the kitten's teeth will have changed by the age of seven months - by this time he should have thirty teeth. In total, the upper jaw in cats is represented by six incisors, two canines and eight molars, the lower jaw is in the same proportion, only there are two fewer molars.

During this crucial period protective function The kittens' body weakens, and they become more dependent on various diseases, including those that are not related to teeth. In this regard, it is necessary:

Ensuring that the baby eats only good quality food will help improve immunity.
It is necessary to protect your pet from all kinds of viral infections.
It should be borne in mind that during this period it is not advisable to give any vaccinations, they can play a role negative role for a weakened body, creating extra stress.

This serves as further confirmation that vaccination should always be carried out in a timely manner. It is necessary to inform the veterinarian at the appointment about the change of teeth in the animal if the question of vaccination is raised.

Symptoms of tooth change

As a rule, this important process, like the change of teeth in kittens, goes almost unnoticed by the owner, but there are signs that cannot be ignored. And when they appear, it is best not to hope for “maybe”, but to visit a specialist.

Those who do not have experience in keeping cats, having brought a tiny kitten into the house, often ask veterinarians and online forums about when kittens change teeth? Although attentive owners can, even without a specialist, various forums can understand for themselves when their pet began to change teeth. In order to determine this, you don’t even have to open the animal’s mouth.

Firstly, when a kitten changes teeth, its behavior begins to change greatly. Small furry friend may show anxiety, accompanying all this with a plaintive meow, as if telling its owner that he is not very comfortable. In addition, the kitten becomes a real rodent: be it slippers or the owner’s feet, wires - nothing can escape the itchy cat’s mouth. In a word, at this time he needs an eye and an eye, otherwise, before you even have time to blink, a rag, a book, or a computer mouse will end up in his mouth.

Therefore, when changing teeth, owners will need to be careful. They must monitor the pet's behavior carefully. In addition, the kitten needs good and competent care. And this means quality nutrition, and proper hygiene cat's mouth. Then the permanent teeth will grow beautiful and strong, and there will be no inflammation of the gums and mucous membranes.

Now we should dwell in more detail on the signs that are most typical when kittens change teeth, and what the owner should pay attention to in order to better navigate this situation:

Refusal of food. It is considered quite natural if at certain moments the kitten refuses to eat due to sore gums. This does not appear to be a threat to the animal. However, if such a “hunger strike” continues for more than one day, then it is advisable for the owner to consult a specialist for advice.
Smell from the mouth. You should check your kitten's mouth regularly. An unpleasant odor is not always present when changing teeth, but it may happen that the wound where the lost tooth was located begins to fester, and then a bad odor is possible. In such a situation, you need to contact a veterinarian. Also, you should not ignore it if you notice severe redness or ulcers on the mucous membrane - you should also take care of an examination by a specialist, in otherwise the inflammatory process can become more active and lead to undesirable consequences.
Disorders of tooth change. Sometimes the pet owner doesn't even notice when the kitten's teeth fall out - most kittens can swallow them while eating. But there may also be disturbances in the process of changing teeth. This can happen when, for example, baby teeth have not yet fallen out, but molars are cutting. This happens quite often due to the fact that the molar grows from another hole, unlike baby tooth. That is, one tooth does not push out another. And if this doesn’t last long, then there’s nothing terrible about it.

When baby teeth have not yet fallen out, but permanent teeth are growing, then this problem must be solved. This is done quickly: so that permanent teeth do not have any obstacles to growth, milk teeth are removed. But even in similar situations there is not always a need for such radical way: if the previous teeth do not interfere with the growth of permanent teeth and do not cause injury soft tissues oral cavity, there is no inflammation of the gums, then there is no need to remove them.

Problems when changing teeth

Animals whose teeth are changing require careful care, since this process does not always go as we would like. Therefore, the owner of a small pet must be prepared for any non-standard situations. For example, a kitten may become capricious and refuse food, which it has always eaten with great eagerness. No, he hasn’t lost his appetite, he just finds it difficult to chew food due to discomfort in his mouth. This is a completely acceptable phenomenon when changing teeth.

However, if a kitten refuses food for more than a day, this is already a cause for concern. It is urgent to show him to the veterinarian to prevent problems more dangerous than changing teeth. This is explained by the fact that our furry friends, although domesticated for several centuries, still continue to be predators with a specially designed digestive system. And prolonged fasting, which lasts, for example, more than two days, can affect the work of their gastrointestinal tract, extremely negative.

Every owner must understand that for healthy kitten, suffering from nothing except changing teeth, refusal tasty food more than once, this is not a good sign. If the animal is not burdened with any disease, it will eat even if the food gives it some painful sensations in the mouth. This means there are probably more serious reasons for long-term refusal to eat.

Oral diseases

Some owners of their pets never even admit the thought that both kittens and adult animals have dental problems. Of course, cats, unlike humans, do not smoke cigarettes or eat sweets or coffee, therefore, there seems to be no reason for the development of an inflammatory and destructive process in their mouths. But this is absolutely not true:

Tartar. It is one of the most common problems in the cat's oral cavity. And its favorite place of localization may just be those places where the gums do not fit very tightly to the tooth surface, where there are small wounds, healed ulcers.
Malocclusion. In addition, the presence of a missing baby tooth can cause not only injuries to the soft gums, contribute to the appearance of wounds and ulcers on the mucous membrane, but also provoke other, more serious problems. There may be a malocclusion and even bone tissue cat jaws. And in such a situation, there will be no guarantee for your pet against periodontal disease.

In this regard, it is necessary to remove milk teeth, which in kittens fall out untimely due to some kind of disorder. This operation does not take much time - it is quite simple and is done in the office veterinarian. After it, both the animals feel good and the owners feel better about their pet’s health.

Oral hygiene

One of the important components of caring for a small pet when teeth change is oral hygiene. This kitten needs to start being trained from the very beginning. early age, which will allow you not to experience problems with an adult cat in the future. You can do this in the form of a game - this way the baby will begin to get used to his toothbrush, which is specially designed for cats, and will not feel afraid of it. Most likely, he himself will not mind grabbing the bristly surface of the brush; this is especially true during the period when cutting permanent teeth and there is a release of milk and the gums are very itchy.

The main thing is to carry out such games constantly, then the kitten will be able to get used to this hygienic “gymnastics” and will not interfere with its implementation. This will allow him to soon, when he grows up, avoid serious consequences such as tartar and accompanying inflammation of the gums and periodontitis.

When kittens change teeth: special diet

Sometimes babies refuse to eat during the period of teeth change and eat much less than before. Of course, there is no need to force kittens to eat food, but it is extremely important to take care so that their food is full of all the necessary ingredients. nutrients, in a word, the diet should be complete. In such a difficult time for animals, they simply need good nutrition:

Only if there is a sufficient amount of microelements in the kittens’ food, such as calcium and phosphorus, will the change of teeth proceed normally. They are primarily needed to create strong bone tissue.
Also, a young body needs the necessary set of vitamins. Veterinarians often suggest using an additional special complex of vitamin and mineral supplements for these needs. The introduction of such a complex into the diet of kittens will allow newly erupted teeth to grow healthy and strong. In this regard, it is very important to provide a small pet with good nutrition.
When kittens reach three months of age, a set of fermented milk products and cottage cheese. They need to be fed in small portions, but regularly.
Children's diets must include a variety of lean meats, such as beef, rabbit, chicken or turkey. It is recommended to feed only defrosted and scalded meat. It should not be given to kittens in raw form. Good food is boiled meat, it needs to be cooled to room temperature, cut into small pieces and mixed with cereals and vegetables.
A set of vegetables for kittens should consist of boiled carrots, zucchini, and pumpkin. Kittens should eat them willingly in the mixture. As for cereals, the most suitable food for a kitten would be rice, buckwheat and rolled oats and some other types.
You can give your baby fish. This product is served only boiled, and no more than twice in seven days. Care must be taken to remove the bones so that the small animal does not choke. It is best to give your kitten seafood - cod or hake, they low-fat types. However, despite the fact that fish is rich in calcium, you should not give it a lot, and if possible, you can give fish even less often, or even eliminate it altogether.

Some owners mistakenly believe that it is not recommended to give the kitten dry food during this period. On the contrary, during the period of changing teeth, babies’ gums begin to itch, and food in the form of “crackers” will come in handy. In addition, this particular food contains a large number of minerals, which will be very useful for the kitten at this time.

In addition, as mentioned above, the kitten should be given vitamin complex in the form of tablets or drops, this will significantly increase the body's resistance to infections and avoid any complications.

Education: changing teeth

Caring for small animals during such an important period as changing teeth requires the utmost attention from the owner. After all, your pet’s behavior will often have to be adjusted, since kittens whose teeth are changing will certainly taste everything. And such behavior, when a furry friend begins to chew expensive or dangerous things, is unlikely to please its owner. In addition, when changing teeth, some kittens begin to be capricious and make pitiful sounds. But, of course, you shouldn’t punish animals for such behavior; on the contrary, you need to treat them kindly and kindly, which will help the kittens survive this difficult time for them.

At the same time, it is necessary to strictly correct your pet’s behavior:

It is necessary to strictly ensure that the kitten does not chew on anything that can cause him harm: wires, rags, rubber and plastic toys. All this can greatly harm the cat’s stomach and lead to such serious consequences as intestinal obstruction. Not only can it cost the kitten his life, but he will have to fork out for an expensive and complicated operation.
The kitten should not find a replacement for toys in the hands and feet of the owner. It must not be allowed to acquire the skill of biting human limbs. Of course, this will not cause a tragedy, but the animal may develop a bad habit, and bad habits, as you know, it is not so easy to wean. Soon, when the kitten becomes an adult animal, with strong, formed teeth, it will also begin to plunge its claws and fangs into your arms and legs with pleasure. This, of course, will no longer be news to you, but guests are unlikely to react to it favorably.

Based on the above, you should prepare in advance for such an important time in your kitten’s life. Buy him toys that are not dangerous, you can find them at the pet store. Let the kitten lick, gnaw and bite them, thereby giving himself relief during the period of changing teeth. For example, dried sinews and ears are very good for such a situation as a delicacy.

Finally

To summarize, it must be said that animal care needs to be organized competently. Cats' teeth are a formidable weapon of the wild feline and helpers for adequate nutrition for your pet. In order for them to always serve properly, owners who care for their furry pet must keep them under supervision from the very first day the kitten appears in the house. And this means teaching the kitten to hygiene, providing everything necessary for this.

When a kitten's teeth change, the owner should first of all not forget about the babies' nutrition. Feed pet must contain calcium and phosphorus. Since, if the baby’s body lacks these substances, this can provoke a softening of the tissue of the teeth, which are already growing permanently, and their subsequent damage by various dental diseases. In addition, a kitten’s teeth may grow uneven, and this in the future will affect the ability to chew food well and lead to problems in the digestive process.

With scanty daily food baby and the lack of microelements and vitamins it needs, owners should take care of purchasing special supplements containing all necessary complex vitamins and minerals. They can always be found in specialized pet stores.

Cat owners have a lot of questions about raising and keeping purrs at home. Today we will discuss one very important topic, it concerns teeth. So, let's begin...

When kittens are born, there is not a single tooth in their mouth. At two weeks of age, the first incisors erupt. By the tenth week, a set of teeth appears. Many people are interested in how the teeth change in kittens, the age when babies become the most biting.

At ten weeks, purrs already have a full set of baby teeth. By the way, how many of them does the kitten have? There are twenty-six in total. Around the third week of life, the incisors appear, after seven to ten days the canines appear, and the premolars erupt later than all of them. As a rule, they appear painlessly. At this time, no one worries: neither the kitten nor the owners. After this, the kittens begin to change their teeth. It is impossible to name the exact period when this happens, since everything is individual. Usually, by the age of seven months, kittens have all their teeth.

The shift period brings a lot of trouble. At about three to four months, kittens begin to change to permanent teeth. The incisors are replaced first, followed by the canines. The last ones are premolars and molars.

By the way, how many permanent teeth do cats have? The purrs have exactly thirty of them. There are two canines and three incisors on the lower and upper jaws. The upper jaw has four (one molar and three premolars), and the lower jaw has three (two premolars and one molar). Note that every third molar is the largest.

Here is an adult cat: three incisors, one canine, three premolars, three incisors, one canine, 2 premolars.

In what order do they change? First, the incisors erupt (at four months), then the canines emerge after two or three weeks, and then approximately the premolars and molars (at four to six months).

Changing teeth in kittens: symptoms of the process

As a rule, everything happens asymptomatically. But still, let us highlight one sign of this phenomenon - excitability. The animal may be in this state while eating or drinking liquid. Maybe also Weakness and lethargy are also signs of changing teeth. Sometimes there is also drooling and soreness in the mouth.

What can be done to prevent the change of teeth in kittens from developing into a tragedy? We need something to occupy their teeth. Special toys are suitable for this. They are simply irreplaceable during this period. To make the toy better soothe your gums, freeze it first. The more such things, the better.

Questions

What kind of feeding should be done during this difficult time? Changing teeth in kittens is enough difficult period, both from the owner and from the kids themselves. In principle, you don’t really need to change your diet. You just need to add phosphorus. You can purchase special fertilizers that contain these substances. On any special food There is no need to switch, since this process is completely natural.

Is it true that kittens develop an unpleasant odor from their mouths when they change their teeth? Yes it is. But the smell will disappear after a couple of months (one or two).

When kittens change teeth, you should not treat them leniently. Don't let them bite or scratch your hands. This behavior can remain in adult cats (then scratches and bites will become much more painful); during puberty, their fun develops into aggression. Therefore, immediately put a taboo on human hands and let the kids chew on special toys.

Is it possible to vaccinate an animal during the period of teeth change?

Here the opinion of experts is divided. Although many believe that it is still not worth vaccinating at such a time. It is better to do this earlier (at two to three months) or later (at about eight months), since teeth change various changes in the body (hormonal, by the way, too). Vaccination is an additional burden; it can cause complications and other side effects.

Is it necessary to remove baby teeth from kittens?

If you don’t do this, then what will happen next? If no fangs injure the gums, and new teeth grow smoothly, then there is no need to worry. Now try to gently loosen the kittens' milk teeth. This way you can speed up their loss. You need to start worrying if the old fangs do not fall out by six months. Then they need to be removed (although cats rarely have such problems). It will be necessary to pull out the baby fangs. An excessive number of teeth can lead to trauma to the soft tissues in the mouth, the development of periodontal disease and changes in the bite.

Why do violations occur?

The main cause of tooth replacement disorders is genetic predisposition. Therefore, the owner should examine his pet starting from three and a half months. If any deviations are detected, consult a doctor immediately.

Help from a veterinarian-dentist

If you notice a double row of teeth on your pet, be sure to contact your veterinarian. Let us note that even with such a pathology, cats behave well, eat well, and play. Availability similar problem can lead to tartar, as well as more tragic consequences, for example, osteomyelitis.

The only way to solve the problem associated with a double row of teeth is to remove the interfering ones. Of course, such a manipulation can be carried out by a doctor in a veterinary clinic. This is because such operations should be carried out under anesthesia in order to avoid significant stress on the animal, as well as to carry out the procedure for removing a baby tooth correctly.

A little conclusion

Now you know how teeth change in kittens, the symptoms of which we have described in detail. We hope everything is clear to you. You understand what is needed during this period. In addition, if you notice any problems with your purr at this time, be sure to show it to the veterinarian. By looking, he will be able to identify the problem. If you carry out diagnosis and treatment in a timely manner, you will be able to protect yourself from more serious issues related to teeth and oral cavity animal. In general, experts advise visiting a veterinary dentist at least once a year (preferably twice). Keep an eye on your pet's health, then everything will be fine.