Cat guide ·
Kitten Teething: Signs, Timeline and How to Help
By the Brus Crew, a family with a house full of cats
Kitten teething happens in two rounds. Baby teeth come through in the first few weeks of life, then adult teeth push them out from around three or four months. Most kittens get through it with nothing worse than an urge to chew everything in sight. Here's what to expect, how to help a teething kitten safely, and the signs that mean it's time to see your vet.
The kitten teething timeline
Kittens are born without any teeth. Every kitten is a little different, but this is roughly how it goes:
| Age | What's happening |
|---|---|
| Around 2–4 weeks | The first baby teeth come through: the tiny incisors at the front. |
| Around 3–6 weeks | The baby canines (fangs) and the premolars further back follow. By around 6 weeks most kittens have their full set of 26 baby teeth. |
| Roughly 3–4 months | Adult incisors start pushing out the baby ones. This is when teething proper begins. |
| Roughly 4–6 months | Adult canines, premolars and molars come through. |
| About 6–7 months | Most kittens have their full set of 30 adult teeth. |
The first round usually passes without anyone noticing, because kittens are still with mum. The second round, from roughly 3–4 months to about 6–7 months, is the one owners notice, as it lines up nicely with your kitten's discovery of phone chargers. Teething is just one part of growing up: our guide to kitten growth stages covers the rest.
Signs your kitten is teething
- Chewing more than usual: toys, furniture, fingers, shoelaces, cables.
- Gums that look a little pink or red where new teeth are coming through.
- Finding tiny teeth on the floor, in bedding or stuck in a toy. Plenty of owners never find a single one, because kittens often swallow them. That's harmless.
- A little drooling.
- The odd tiny spot of blood on a chew toy.
- Being a bit fussy at mealtimes for a day or so, or chewing on one side.
- Being less keen than usual on having their mouth touched.
All of these should be mild. Teething is a normal part of growing up, not an illness, so a kitten who is clearly unwell isn't "just teething". There's more on that further down.
How to help a teething kitten
Give them the right things to chew
Chewing is how kittens soothe their gums, so give them something better than your sofa. Look for chew toys made for kittens: soft rubber or tough fabric, too big to swallow, with no small parts that can come off. Keep a few on the go and swap them around so they stay interesting. Our guide to safe cat toys covers what to look for and what to avoid. Skip very hard dog chews, which can be tough on small teeth.
Redirect with play
If your kitten grabs your hand, stop moving, go still and offer a toy instead. A wand toy, or a long, soft kicker toy they can grab and bunny-kick, keeps teeth and claws well away from skin. Try not to use your hands or feet as toys, however cute it is at 12 weeks. A kitten who learns that hands are for biting grows into a full-sized cat who still thinks so.
Wand toys turn up on the profiles of two of the crew, Irn Bru and Zendaya. They're great for this kind of play, as long as you put them away afterwards so nobody chews the string.
Make your home chew-proof
- Protect cables with cord covers or tidy them out of reach, and unplug chargers when you're not using them.
- Put away string, hair ties, elastic bands and anything else long and thin. If swallowed, these can cause serious internal damage and need urgent vet care.
- Keep houseplants out of reach and check they're safe for cats. Lilies are extremely toxic to cats (even the pollen), so it's best not to have them in the house at all.
- Tidy away shoelaces, earphones and small objects that could be chewed up and swallowed.
Keep mealtimes easy
If your kitten seems a bit sore, wet kitten food is usually easier to manage than dry for a few days. There's no need to overhaul their diet. The aim is simply to make it easy for them to keep eating well.
Never give human pain relief
This one really matters. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are toxic to cats, and even a small amount can be life-threatening. Don't use human or baby teething gels either. If you think your kitten is in pain, call your vet. They can prescribe something that's safe for cats if it's needed.
When to see a vet about kitten teething
Most teething needs no treatment at all, but call your vet if you notice any of the following:
- Retained baby teeth: two teeth crowded into the same spot, most often a baby fang sitting next to the adult one. Baby teeth that don't fall out can push adult teeth out of line and trap food, so your vet may need to remove them.
- Bleeding that's more than the odd tiny spot, or that keeps happening.
- Not eating, or eating much less than usual. Kittens shouldn't go long without food, so don't wait this one out.
- Bad breath that persists. Breath that stays unpleasant can be a sign of gum problems.
- Very red, swollen or sore gums, a swollen face, heavy drooling, or lots of pawing at the mouth.
- A broken tooth, or a kitten who seems lethargic or generally unwell.
Your kitten's vaccination and neutering appointments are a handy time to ask the vet to have a look in their mouth too.
Start tooth-brushing habits early
Kittenhood is the best time to get a cat used to having their teeth cleaned. It's much easier to build a habit with a kitten than to introduce one to an adult cat with strong opinions, and dental disease is very common in adult cats, so it's worth the effort.
- Use cat toothpaste only. Never use human toothpaste: it isn't made to be swallowed and can contain ingredients that are harmful to cats. Cat toothpaste comes in flavours cats tend to like, such as poultry or fish.
- Start small. Let your kitten lick a little toothpaste off your finger, then reward them.
- Touch the teeth and gums. Gently run a finger along them for a few seconds at a time.
- Introduce a brush. Move on to a finger brush or a soft, kitten-sized toothbrush.
- Keep it short and calm. Stop before your kitten gets fed up, and finish with praise or a game.
Gums can be tender while the adult teeth are coming through, so during teething focus on getting your kitten comfortable with the routine, and save proper brushing for when the adult teeth are in. Your vet or vet nurse can show you how.
Questions people ask
How long does kitten teething last?
The part you'll notice, when adult teeth replace baby teeth, runs from roughly 3–4 months to about 6–7 months old.
Is it normal for kittens to lose teeth?
Yes. Kittens lose all 26 baby teeth as their 30 adult teeth come in. You might find the odd tiny tooth, but many get swallowed, which is harmless.
Do kittens bleed when teething?
A tiny spot of blood on a toy can be normal. Regular or heavier bleeding isn't, so get it checked by your vet.
Can I give my kitten anything for teething pain?
Not without speaking to your vet first. Never give human painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, which are toxic to cats. Safe chew toys and plenty of play are usually all a teething kitten needs.
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