- Cats have 12 incisors (6 each on the upper and lower jaws)
- Located between the canines, in the front.
- Used for holding or grasping food, keeping tongue inside the mouth, and grooming.
- First of the adult teeth to form
(Credit: Pictures of Cats.org)
- Located beside the incisors. It very prominent and notable as it is longer than other teeth.
- Used for hunting (biting and killing prey) holding or grasping food & keeping tongue inside the mouth.
- Adult canines emerge at about 5 months
- Located behind the canines and in front of the molars
- Used for chewing food and breaking it into smaller pieces
- Emerge at about 4-6 months of age
- Located at the very back of the mouth
- Used to chew tougher material like bone
- Kittens donāt have these, only adult cats do.
(Credit: Banning Veterinary Hospital)
Like many baby animals, kittens have less teeth than their adult counterparts, and grow new ones over their lifetime.
26 teeth in total (these are often called milk teeth)
During teething, kittens often drool, or their tongues hang out slightly.