Kittens are born toothless. After a couple of weeks, their incisors begin to erupt, and at the age of two or three months a full set of milk teeth already appears in the mouth (there are 26 of them in kittens). And then the teeth begin to change to permanent ones.
When kittens have permanent teeth
Teeth change in kittens usually begins between three and five months of age and lasts about 12-16 weeks.
The first to erupt are the permanent front teeth - the incisors. This usually occurs between 3-5 months of age. Then, at 4-6 months, the kitten's sharp fangs change. Following them, at the age of 4-6 months, premolars (molars) and molars (analogous to "wisdom teeth" in humans) begin to grow. It is believed that a healthy six-month-old kitten should have all its teeth erupted. By the age of 9 months, the permanent teeth should have grown and formed.
The kittens most often swallow the fallen milk teeth.
Cats have 30 permanent teeth - 4 more than milk teeth. Both the upper and lower jaw have six incisors and two long canines. And the number of molars above and below is different: there are four premolars and two molars on the upper jaw, and six premolars and two molars on the lower jaw.
How to care for a kitten during a change of teeth
In most cases, kittens change teeth without any problems. Sometimes the owners may not even notice that their pet's milk teeth fall out and permanent ones grow. However, at this time, it is better to regularly examine the kitten's oral cavity: its gums should be pink and even, there should be no visible broken teeth.
If you notice wounds or suppuration in the kitten's mouth, or if the animal behaves unnecessarily restlessly, you should contact your veterinarian.
One of the symptoms of changing teeth can be the desire of a kitten to gnaw everything that gets into his eyes, including furniture. This is normal, but it is better to take good care of the kitten at this time, otherwise it can harm not only your things, but also your own health. You can buy special toys and treats at the pet store that will serve as a "trainer" for your pet's teeth. But to try the strength of the fangs by biting the owner's hand is unacceptable. Most likely, the kitten will try to do this. He must be severely suppressed, otherwise the habit of biting may persist for his whole life.
And, of course, during the period of tooth growth, you should follow the kitten's menu: its diet should contain a sufficient amount of calcium and phosphorus. In pet stores, you can buy vitamin complexes and mineral supplements, which contain all the substances necessary for a kitten.
