Feline Dentistry & Oral Health

Dental disease is the most common source of unrecognized pain in Cats.

By age three, most Cats show signs of dental disease. By age five, most have some degree of painful oral pathology. Because Cats rarely show obvious pain, it goes undetected for months or years until diagnostics reveal what behavior never could.

Schedule a Dental Evaluation

What Is Standard at CatsOnly

Full-mouth digital dental radiographs with every COHAT
Isoflurane inhalant anesthesia with dedicated monitoring
Regional nerve blocks before every dental extraction
Multimodal pain management before, during, and after
Comprehensive oral exam under anesthesia every case
No anesthesia-free dental cleanings. Ever.

The Reality

Why oral health cannot wait.

Dental disease in Cats is not cosmetic. Periodontal disease, tooth resorption, and oral infections create chronic systemic inflammation that contributes to kidney disease, cardiac disease, and immune dysregulation. The mouth is not separate from the body.

Most Cats with significant oral pain do not stop eating. They eat differently, eat less, or eat only certain foods, but they adapt. By the time a Cat Parent notices behavioral changes, the underlying disease is usually well advanced.

Annual oral examination as part of every wellness visit, and full dental radiographs under anesthesia when indicated, are how we find and address what your Cat’s stoicism is hiding.

70%

of Cats over age 3 show signs of dental disease at annual exam

50%

of dental pathology is invisible without full-mouth radiographs

Most common source of chronic pain in adult Cats seen at wellness visits

What We Do

The CatsOnly COHAT.

What is a COHAT?

COHAT stands for Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment. It is the proper term for a professional dental cleaning under anesthesia in veterinary medicine. A COHAT is not just a cleaning — it includes a full oral examination, full-mouth digital radiographs, probing of every gingival pocket, and treatment of all pathology found. It is the only type of dental care that can meaningfully address what is happening below the gumline, where most dental disease in Cats actually lives.

Every dental procedure at CatsOnly is a COHAT. Full-mouth digital radiographs are included with every case, without exception.

Full-Mouth Digital Radiography

Included with every COHAT. Approximately 50% of dental pathology is found below the gumline and is completely invisible without X-rays. We do not proceed without them.

Comprehensive Oral Examination

Under anesthesia, every tooth surface, gingival pocket, mucosal surface, and bony structure is systematically examined and charted. A thorough exam is not possible in a conscious patient.

Scaling & Root Planing

Removal of supragingival and subgingival calculus using ultrasonic scaling and hand instrumentation. Polishing to reduce plaque adhesion. Subgingival scaling in every affected area.

Extractions When Needed

Routine and surgical extractions performed with species-appropriate technique, regional nerve blocks for every tooth extracted, and multimodal pain management before, during, and after the procedure.

Tooth Resorption Management

Feline tooth resorptive lesions (FTRLs) are unique to cats and are a major source of chronic oral pain. We identify, stage, and treat every resorptive lesion found during the COHAT.

Oral Surgery

Complex extractions, alveoloplasty, and mucosal flap closure when indicated. Feline oral anatomy requires technique that differs significantly from canine dentistry. Every case is approached accordingly.

Important: Anesthesia-free dental procedures (AFDC) are not offered at CatsOnly and should not be performed at any practice. They are cosmetic only, cannot address subgingival disease, and cause significant patient stress. They are not a safe or effective alternative to professional dental care under anesthesia.

Pediatric & Developmental

Starting right from the first visit.

Oral examination at every kitten wellness visit
Dental assessment at 6 months for retained deciduous teeth
Retained deciduous tooth extractions
Missing adult tooth radiographic evaluation
Dental home care coaching beginning at the first visit

Home Dental Care

The most impactful thing you can do at home.

Daily tooth brushing is the gold standard for home dental care and has the most evidence behind it. Our team will teach you a low-stress technique that works with your Cat’s temperament.

Daily toothbrushing instruction, low-stress technique
VOHC-accepted dental product recommendations
Individualized home care plans based on your Cat’s history and risk
Dental diet and water additive guidance where evidence supports it