How to Help a Teething Kitten

Do kittens have a lot of pain when teething? There's bound to be physical discomfort when pointy teeth are poking through sensitive gums but, according to the PDSA, most cats don’t appear to be too bothered by this.

Your kitten will, however, look for ways to relieve the soreness and irritation associated with teething. They may try to use you as a chew toy, which is never good for either of you. Here, as with other acts of aggressive cat play, redirection is the way to go.

Commercially available kitten chew toys are an option, including rubber or soft plastic-based toys that are easy to chew and toys that you can put in the refrigerator. To keep your kitten safe, you should stay with them while they play with it, always follow the toy's directions, keep an eye out for damage, and immediately discard damaged toys.

Your kitten may try to chew on furniture legs or electrical cords. This behaviour can be damaging to your belongings but, more importantly, may put your cat in harm's way. To prevent accidental injury from destructive chewing, the PDSA recommends keeping any hazardous objects covered or out of reach.

Teething kittens may prefer canned food or dry food soaked in water if their gums are sore. Once they reach adulthood you can consider feeding them cat food formulated to promote good oral health depending on your veterinarian’s recommendations.

The Importance of Good Oral Hygiene for Kittens

Just like us humans, cats are vulnerable to dental and gum diseases. Unless you are looking in your cat’s mouth every day, the signs that are likely to signal a problem with gum or dental disease are the following according to experts at the Cats Protection and PDSA :

• Bad breath
• Pain (your kitten might be pawing at their mouth, vocalising, or finding it hard to eat)
• Compensatory eating habits, like chewing on one side or preferring soft food
• Reduced appetite
• Weight loss
• Drooling
• Visible tartar
• Red, sore, swollen or bleeding gums
• Wobbly teeth
• Swelling around the face, jaw, or cheeks
• Lack of interest in grooming
• By investing in your kitten’s oral health when they're young, you can help prevent some of these issues down the line.

You can also help to prevent dental problems by establishing a dental care routine with regular checkups and teeth brushing. This may keep healthcare costs down and issues like gingivitis, periodontitis and tooth resorption at bay.

Your kitten may not handle the teething process well, so make sure you show them lots of love, support and patience as these new teeth settle in place.