Gum Disease in Cats: Symptoms

Inflammation of the gums in cats, also known as gingivitis, is associated with different symptoms depending on the progression of the disease. It is important to recognize them in good time so that they do not develop periodontitis. Therefore, the inflammation should be treated as soon as possible by a veterinarian.

Even before the first symptoms of gingivitis in cats appear, you may notice a harbinger of the disease: plaque or tartar has formed on your cat’s teeth. These dental problems often result in inflammation and should be treated as early as possible.

Gingivitis in Cats: Recognize Symptoms in Good Time

You need a bit of luck to recognize the onset of gingivitis. It is helpful if you regularly check your pet’s teeth so that you can quickly identify any changes. These symptoms may indicate gingivitis:

• Reddening of the gums
• Changed eating behavior (eating less and/or faster)
• Increased salivation
• Bad breath

If gingivitis in cats is more advanced and periodontitis has already developed, the following symptoms can appear.

• Bleeding gums
• Receding gums • Tooth
loss

Recognize Changes in Eating Behavior

The changed eating behavior is often the first sign for cat owners to recognize that something is wrong in the cat’s mouth. If the gums are inflamed, the cat suddenly stops eating as well as usual, even though it appears to be hungry. Even if she runs to the bowl in a hurry, she eats little and hesitantly. If she has a choice between wet food and dry food, she will probably choose wet food and skip the dry food because the wet food causes her less pain when eating. It is also possible that your velvet paw suddenly eats much faster than usual in order to get rid of the pain as quickly as possible.

If your cat is exhibiting the above symptoms, you should take her to the veterinarian. If your kitty suddenly eats poorly or eats differently than usual, you should always have this checked out by a veterinarian, because gingivitis in cats and periodontitis are just two of the many different cat diseases that can be associated with these symptoms.