Background

Kittens show their first teeth from three weeks of age and a total of 26 deciduous teeth will erupt. It is also around this time that kittens start to wean onto solid food. 

At 3 months of age the permanent adult teeth start to erupt and this teething is usually complete by 7 months of age where they will usually have 30 permanent teeth. 

How can I tell if my kitten is teething?

Some signs that may indicate that your kitten has entered the teething stage include: increased vocalising, chewing, drooling and mild bleeding from the gums. In some cases you may notice  bad breath due to gum inflammation and a reduced appetite or speed of eating.

Most of these symptoms should not be a cause for concern. However, you should still monitor your kitten. It is a good idea to contact your vet if your kitten loses weight and while mild bleeding in the gums is normal, you should contact your veterinarian if there is excessive bleeding as this could be a sign of more severe dental issues. Discomfort is usually mild and should resolve itself but make sure to contact your veterinarian if there are signs of persistent pain. Never give your kitten medications formulated for older cats or other pets! Always consult your vet before administering any medication.

What can I do to make my teething kitten feel better?

Offer soft food; either a canned diet or kibble soaked in warm water.

Make sure your kitten gets plenty of interactive playtime with you.

Make ice cubes of low-sodium chicken broth or diluted tuna juice for your kitten to play with and chew on. The ice will soothe irritated gums. This is an especially popular item during hot weather!

Provide soft toys to chew on.

Provide pet-safe cat grass for snacking.

Do the teeth show how old my kitten is?

If you are unsure how old your kitten is then there are a few elements of the teeth development that can be used as a rough guide. 

Since kitten teeth begin coming in at around 3 weeks, a very young kitten under that age will have no teeth at all. Once their tiny needle-like kitten teeth have erupted, then it can be challenging to tell how old the kitten is, just from looking at their teeth. However, once they begin losing their kitten teeth you can assume that your kitten is about 3 months old.

At about 14 weeks your kitten's first permanent middle incisors should begin to appear, followed closely by the second incisors at around15 weeks and the third incisors at around 16 weeks of age.

To more accurately estimate the age of your kitten it is important to consider other factors such as how open their eyes are, how much they weigh and whether your kitten has begun playing.

Your kitten's health and wellbeing are a priority and preventive care including early checkups is essential. If you have a young kitten and you aren't sure how old they are it's time to head to the vet. Your veterinarian will be able to give your kitten a thorough examination looking for signs of worms or other parasites that could affect their long-term health and be able to best advise you on when its vaccinations are due.