Kitten Teething: A Guide for New Cat Owners

Kittens, like human babies, go through a teething phase where they lose their baby teeth and develop their permanent adult teeth. This process can cause some discomfort for kittens, but with a little understanding and guidance from their owner, kittens can sail through teething without much trouble.

Kittens begin teething early, with their first set of teeth erupting around 3-4 weeks of age. These are their baby teeth, also known as deciduous teeth or milk teeth. The full set of baby teeth will typically be in place by 6-8 weeks old.
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Around 3 months of age, kittens will start losing their baby teeth to make way for their permanent adult teeth. This process usually continues until the kitten is around 6 months old, at which point they will have their full set of 30 adult teeth.

Signs of Kitten Teething
While teething is a natural process, it can be uncomfortable for kittens. Here are some signs that your kitten may be teething:

• Increased Chewing: Kittens will chew on anything they can get their mouths on to soothe sore gums. This is why it's important to provide them with plenty of safe chew toys.
• Drooling: Like human babies, kittens may drool more than usual when they are teething.
• Loss of Appetite: Chewing on hard kibble can be uncomfortable for teething kittens, so they may eat less than usual. If your kitten loses their appetite entirely or there seems to be another reason for the loss of appetite, consult your veterinarian.
• Irritability: Discomfort from teething can make kittens cranky and grumpy.
• Pawing at Mouth: Kittens may paw at their mouth to try to dislodge loose teeth.

Teething Tips
Here are some tips to help your kitten through teething:

• Provide Safe Chew Toys: Provide your kitten with plenty of safe chew toys made from materials like rope or rubber. This will help them satisfy their urge to chew and soothe their sore gums You can find a variety of kitten teething toys at your local pet store.
• Chilled Teething Toys: Chilled teething toys can be especially soothing for sore gums. You can dampen a washcloth and freeze it for a DIY teething toy.
• Wet Food: If your kitten is having trouble eating kibble due to sore gums, you can try switching them to wet food for a while.
• Massaging: I usually massage my kittens chin and jaw line, while I cuddle them. If they stop and allow you to do this, then you can bet that it feels very relieving to them.

Teething is a normal process, With a little care and attention, you can help your kitten through teething and ensure they develop healthy, strong adult teeth.

Here is an example of some great teething toys that you may choose to get your kitten. It could save your hands and fingers from getting chewed up.