Cat Teething: When Kittens Lose Teeth and Get Adults
By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD ·
This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.
Kittens are born with no visible teeth, then grow a full set of baby teeth, lose them, and grow a full set of adult teeth, all within about the first seven months of life. So when do cats teeth change over? Most cats start losing baby teeth around 3 to 4 months of age and have their adult teeth by 6 to 7 months [1]. Finding a tiny tooth on the floor or a spot of blood on a toy is usually normal, but a few patterns do need a veterinarian's eyes.
Quick Answer
- Kittens have 26 baby teeth and adult cats have 30 permanent teeth [1].
- Baby incisors come in at 2 to 4 weeks of age and baby premolars at 5 to 6 weeks [1].
- Permanent teeth start appearing around 4 months and are usually complete by 7 months [1].
- Loose teeth, mild drooling, and chewing on everything are normal signs of teething.
- Baby teeth that are still there at 6 to 7 months, or any broken tooth, need a veterinary exam.
The Full Kitten Teething Timeline
Knowing the normal schedule helps you tell a harmless loose tooth from a problem. Here is what happens and when.
Weeks 2 to 4: First teeth appear
The baby incisors (the small front teeth) push through the gums at 2 to 4 weeks of age [1]. At this stage kittens are still nursing, and you may not see much. Some kittens get slightly fussy or drool a little.
Weeks 5 to 6: Baby premolars arrive
The deciduous premolars erupt at 5 to 6 weeks of age [1]. By about 6 to 8 weeks, a kitten has a full set of 26 baby teeth [1]. These teeth are small, sharp, and thin. They are built for a kitten's small jaw, not for a lifetime.
Months 3 to 4: Baby teeth start falling out
This is when most owners notice something. The incisors are usually the first to loosen and drop. You might find a tiny tooth in the bedding, on the carpet, or stuck in a toy. Many kittens swallow their baby teeth, and that is fine.
Months 4 to 7: Adult teeth come in
Permanent teeth usually begin to appear at around 4 to 7 months [1]. The adult incisors, canines, premolars, and molars come in over these months. By the end of this window, your cat should have 30 permanent teeth [1].
What about the big canine teeth?
The adult canine teeth (the long fangs) are the ones owners watch most closely. In cats, the permanent canines come in during the same 4 to 7 month window as the rest of the adult dentition [1]. If a baby canine is still sitting next to a new adult canine, that is a retained tooth and needs a veterinary check.
What Normal Teething Looks Like
Teething is uncomfortable, and kittens show it in predictable ways.
- Chewing on fingers, cords, furniture, and toys
- Mild drooling
- Slightly red or swollen gums
- Eating a bit less for a day or two
- Fussiness or disrupted sleep
- A small amount of blood on a chew toy
- Bad breath during the transition
These signs come and go as each tooth moves. They should not last for weeks at a time.
A Month-by-Month Checklist for Owners
| Age | What is happening | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| 2 to 4 weeks | Baby incisors erupt [1] | Keep kittens with the mother, handle gently |
| 5 to 6 weeks | Baby premolars erupt [1] | Start gentle mouth handling so exams are easy later |
| 6 to 8 weeks | Full set of 26 baby teeth [1] | First veterinary visit, ask about oral exam |
| 3 to 4 months | Baby teeth loosen and fall out | Offer safe chew toys, check the mouth weekly |
| 4 to 7 months | Adult teeth erupt [1] | Watch for retained baby teeth, keep checking |
| 6 to 7 months | Adult dentition should be complete [1] | Veterinary oral exam to confirm all teeth are normal |
| 7 months and older | Adult teeth only | Start a home dental routine |
Step-by-Step: How to Check Your Kitten's Mouth at Home
You do not need special equipment. You need good light, a calm kitten, and two minutes.
- Sit on the floor with your kitten facing away from you, or wrap them gently in a towel.
- Lift the lip on one side with your finger. Look at the front teeth and the side teeth.
- Count roughly. You are not looking for an exact number, just for gaps, doubled teeth, or broken teeth.
- Look at the gums. They should be pink, not deep red, white, or bleeding heavily.
- Check for a baby tooth sitting right beside an adult tooth. This is the most common problem owners spot.
- Smell the breath. Mild "kitten breath" is normal. A strong rotten smell is not.
- Repeat on the other side. Do this once a week during teething months.
If your kitten will not let you look, do not force it. Ask your veterinarian to do the exam at the next visit.
Supplies That Actually Help
You do not need much, but a few items make teething easier and safer.
- Safe chew toys. Rubber or fabric toys made for kittens. Avoid hard plastic, antlers, hooves, and bones, which can fracture baby or adult teeth.
- A soft kitten toothbrush or finger brush. Starting early makes adult brushing easier. Ask your veterinarian which pet toothpaste to use. Never use human toothpaste.
- Washable bedding. Blood spots from loose teeth wash out easily.
- A small flashlight. Helps you see the back teeth.
- A notebook or phone note. Track when you see a loose tooth, a retained tooth, or a change in eating.
For a broader routine you can build over time, see Prevent Dental Problems In Cats and How To Prevent Dental Problems In Cats.
Signs That Something Is Wrong
Most teething is uneventful. These findings are not normal and need a veterinarian.
Retained baby teeth
A retained deciduous tooth is one that stays in place while the adult tooth comes in beside it. In one review of 305 deciduous canine extractions in dogs and cats, 58.4% were done because of persistent deciduous teeth [2]. Retained teeth crowd the adult teeth, trap plaque, and can lead to malocclusion. They are also a hallmark of a congenital bone condition in cats called patellar fracture and dental anomaly syndrome (PADS), in which cats have multiple persistent deciduous teeth and impacted permanent teeth [3]. If your kitten still has baby teeth at 6 to 7 months, book a dental exam.
Broken teeth
A fractured tooth with the pulp exposed is painful. In the same extraction review, 6.6% of deciduous canine teeth were removed because of a fracture that exposed the pulp [2]. Broken baby teeth and broken adult teeth both need assessment. Do not wait for your cat to stop eating, because cats often eat through dental pain.
Tooth resorption
Feline tooth resorption is a common dental disease in cats, and it gets worse with age [4]. Lesions are most often found on the third and fourth upper premolars and the lower molars [4]. There is no reliable link between how severe the resorption is and how obvious the signs are, so a cat can have significant disease with few visible symptoms [4]. This is one reason regular veterinary dental exams matter for the rest of your cat's life. For more on how dental disease develops, see Dental Disease In Dogs And Cats.
Other problems seen on dental screening
A large screening study of 775 cats used labial and buccal photographs to identify dental abnormalities [5]. It found that calculus, discoloration, fractured teeth, gingival recession, gingivitis, malocclusion, missing teeth, persistent deciduous teeth, and tooth resorption could all be spotted this way [5]. The study also found that brachycephalic cats (flat-faced breeds) had a significantly higher prevalence of some dental abnormalities [5]. If you have a flat-faced cat, dental checks are even more important.
Common Mistakes Owners Make
- Pulling a loose baby tooth. Let it fall out on its own. Pulling can break the root and cause infection.
- Assuming a missing tooth is fine. A missing adult tooth can mean it never formed, is impacted, or was knocked out. A veterinarian should check.
- Waiting on retained teeth. By 6 to 7 months, baby teeth should be gone [1]. Waiting longer makes extraction harder and can shift adult teeth.
- Using human toothpaste. It contains ingredients cats should not swallow.
- Giving hard chews. Bones, antlers, and hard plastic can fracture teeth.
- Skipping the adult dental exam. The transition from baby to adult teeth is the best time to catch problems early.
- Ignoring bad breath. Persistent bad breath is a sign of dental disease, not a normal cat trait.
When Do Cats Teeth Fall Out, and When Should You Worry?
Baby teeth fall out on their own between about 3 and 7 months as the adult teeth push through [1]. A little looseness, a missing tooth, or a tiny bit of blood is expected. What is not expected is a baby tooth that stays put next to an adult tooth, a broken tooth, swelling around the jaw, or a kitten who stops eating. Those need a veterinary visit.
Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian
This article covers normal teething. It cannot tell you whether your individual cat has a problem. Only a veterinarian who examines your cat's mouth, and often takes dental radiographs, can do that.
Contact your veterinarian the same day if you see:
- A baby tooth still firmly in place beside an adult tooth at 6 to 7 months
- A broken tooth, especially one with a pink or red center
- Bleeding from the mouth that does not stop
- Swelling of the jaw or face
- Drooling that started suddenly
- A kitten who has not eaten for 24 hours
Go to an emergency clinic now if you see:
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe facial swelling that is getting worse quickly
- A jaw that looks broken or misaligned
- Collapse or extreme weakness
Book a routine visit if you see:
- Persistent bad breath
- Tartar or brown buildup on teeth
- Red or bleeding gums
- Chewing on one side of the mouth
- Dropping food while eating
- Any missing adult tooth
Dental care in cats often requires anesthesia for a full exam, radiographs, and treatment, and pain management is a standard part of that care [6]. If your cat needs a cleaning or extraction, ask about the risks and how pain will be managed. You can read more about that in Cat Dental Cleaning Risks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all kittens lose their baby teeth?
Yes. Every kitten loses the 26 baby teeth and replaces them with 30 adult teeth, usually between 4 and 7 months of age [1]. Some kittens lose teeth so gradually that owners never notice.
Is it normal to find a tooth in my kitten's bed?
Yes. Finding a shed baby tooth is normal and nothing to worry about. Many kittens swallow their teeth, so finding one is simply good luck.
Can a kitten break a tooth while teething?
Yes. Chewing on hard objects can fracture a baby tooth and expose the pulp, which is painful. Fractured teeth with pulp exposure are a common reason deciduous canine teeth are extracted [2].
What happens if a baby tooth never falls out?
The adult tooth may come in beside it, causing crowding and malocclusion. Persistent deciduous teeth are one of the most common reasons these teeth are surgically removed [2]. Your veterinarian will likely recommend extraction.
Do adult cats ever lose teeth?
Adult cats can lose teeth from trauma, severe dental disease, or tooth resorption. Tooth resorption becomes more common and more severe as cats age [4]. Any missing tooth in an adult cat deserves a veterinary exam.
Does teething change my kitten's behavior?
Yes. Teething kittens often chew more, drool a little, and eat less for a day or two. These signs should be mild and brief. Call your veterinarian if your kitten stops eating or seems painful.
Should I brush my kitten's teeth during teething?
You can start gentle brushing early, but be careful around loose teeth and sore gums. Ask your veterinarian when to start and which products to use. A full home dental routine is worth building, and you can start with the basics in How To Prevent Dental Problems In Cats.
Related Articles
- Prevent Dental Problems In Cats
- How To Prevent Dental Problems In Cats
- Dental Disease In Dogs And Cats
- Why Is My Cat Losing Hair?
- Cat Dental Cleaning Risks
- Cat Neuter Age
References
- Dental Development of Cats - Cat Owners. Merck Veterinary Manual.
- Closed Extraction of Deciduous Canine Teeth Required Less Surgical Time Without Increased Complication Rate Compared to an Open Technique in Dogs and Cats. Journal of veterinary dentistry, 2026.
- Characterization of Oral Pathology in Cats Affected by Patellar Fracture and Dental Anomaly Syndrome (PADS). Journal of veterinary dentistry, 2023.
- Feline Tooth Resorption: A Description of the Severity of the Disease in Regard to Animal's Age, Sex, Breed and Clinical Presentation. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2023.
- Initial screening for dental abnormalities identified by labial and buccal photographs in dogs and cats. American journal of veterinary research, 2024.
- 2025 FelineVMA feline oral health and dental care guidelines. Journal of feline medicine and surgery, 2025.