Is this normal??

**moosmom** · 10-20-2010, 08:11 AM

I was sitting on the couch with Shortie in my lap. I happened to notice that one of her top canine (top "fang") teeth was missing.

It doesn't seem to bother her. I'm a little concerned that the gum where the tooth was a little irritated. She's only 11 years old. Do cats start losing teeth at any certain age? I've never had any of my other cats lose major teeth.

Any advice would be appreciated.

**moosmom** · 10-20-2010, 08:22 AM

Just got off the phone with the vet and he said that an older cat losing teeth is common. As long as the gums aren't red, inflammed, and she's eating, they told me to just keep an eye on it.

**aTailOf2Kitties** · 10-20-2010, 09:37 AM

check it daily to make sure no food gets in the socket if it is still open. If it's healed over no biggie. Havoc had a tooth pulled and it ended up getting infected cuz he kept gettin' food stuck in there.

I was looking at Toby's mouth the other day and noticed that half of his upper incisors (the little tiny ones between the pointy teeth) were missing. He only had the ones on the left side. Gums were smooth and pretty. Now I'm wondering if he ever had those teeth to begin with. I don't recall him missing any when I got him but I don't know that I even looked at them.

**Karen** · 10-20-2010, 10:21 AM

Maybe this thread should be a reminder for everyone with senior kitties to check their teeth every now and then, just in case!

**GILL** · 10-20-2010, 10:41 AM

We have several older cats and they do lose teeth. Diabetic ones will lose teeth earlier. Our Patch lost hers at about 8-9 it did not slow her eating down and she lived to 16.
Just keep an eye on them to make sure there are no infections.

**krazyaboutkatz** · 10-20-2010, 11:50 AM

Yes, I'd say it's pretty normal for older cats. When Storm went in for his last dental cleaning, they found that he'd lost several of his small teeth. I didn't even notice this. Hopefully she'll be okay.

**katladyd** · 10-20-2010, 01:18 PM

I've just recently had Ming's teeth checked and the vet said they were perfect for a cat 7-years-old. I haven't checked Mac's in a while, but he's probably going in to the vet's next week for a checkup anyway, so I will have his teeth checked then.