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Do cats change teeth?
Yes, cats do change teeth. Like humans, the growth and development of cat teeth also undergo two stages: the deciduous stage and the permanent stage. In the deciduous stage, cats have 26 teeth. In the permanent stage, they will have 30 teeth, with an additional two molars on the upper and lower jaws. The growth and tooth replacement of cats are quite regular, and the age of the cat can be roughly estimated by observing their teeth.
Do cats change teeth?
Yes. Usually, cats around 2-3 weeks old will begin to grow deciduous incisors, and at about 3.5-4 months, they will start to change teeth. At this time, the grown incisors will replace the deciduous ones. The deciduous canines will grow out at about 3-4 weeks, and the canines will replace the deciduous ones at 5 months. The deciduous molars will start to grow out after about 2 months, but only the upper jaw will have molars at this time. The molars will gradually replace the deciduous ones from 4-6 months, with an additional two molars on the upper and lower jaws.
What do cats eat during tooth replacement?
During the tooth replacement period, a cat's appetite will significantly decrease. Owners need to provide cats with food that is easy to chew. If it is found that the cat has difficulty chewing, the cat food can be appropriately softened before feeding, or the main dish can be replaced with cans, which contain more balanced nutrition and sufficient moisture. Eating this kind of food will make the cat's mouth more comfortable and the taste better. This not only increases the cat's food intake but also protects the newly grown small teeth.
Precautions for cat tooth replacement
During tooth replacement, check the condition of the deciduous tooth falling out. If the deciduous teeth have not fallen out, the erupting permanent teeth can cause crooked or misaligned teeth, easily accumulating food residues. It is best to brush teeth regularly. Toys and harder cat food can help clean teeth and assist the cat in tooth replacement. During the tooth replacement period, owners should prepare some easy-to-chew food for cats to protect the newly grown teeth and also pay attention to calcium supplementation to prevent calcium deficiency during the tooth growth process.