A Tail of Tooth Kitties: When Baby Teeth Overstay Their Welcome

Kittens grow up fast—one minute they’re tiny fluff balls, and the next they’re sprinting across your apartment at 2am. Along with all that growing comes teething… and sometimes, a few tiny complications along the way.

At Tribeca Veterinary Dentistry, one of the more common things we see in young cats is retained deciduous teeth—or, more simply, baby teeth that just don’t know when to leave.

Yes, Kittens Have Baby Teeth Too

Just like us, kittens start out with a set of baby teeth. These begin to come in around 2–6 weeks of age (those little needle teeth you’ve probably felt), and are typically replaced by adult teeth by about 5–6 months.

Normally, it’s a smooth transition: baby teeth fall out, adult teeth move in, everyone’s happy.

But occasionally… the baby teeth decide to stick around.

When Baby Teeth Don’t Get the Memo

When a baby tooth doesn’t fall out and an adult tooth erupts right next to it, it’s called a retained deciduous tooth. Instead of a clean swap, your kitten ends up with a “two-for-one” situation.

Cute? Maybe. Ideal? Not so much.

This can lead to:

Crowding and misaligned teeth
Increased plaque and tartar buildup
Early gum disease
Oral discomfort (even if they don’t show it)

Cats are very good at hiding pain, so even if everything seems normal at home, these extra teeth can quietly cause issues.

What Should You Look For?

Retained baby teeth can be easy to miss, but here are a few things that might stand out:

A small tooth sitting next to a larger adult tooth
Red or irritated gums
Bad breath in a young kitten
Subtle changes in eating or chewing

Often, though, these are found during a routine exam—especially during that 4–6 month teething window.

So… What Happens Next?

If a baby tooth is overstaying its welcome, the best solution is simple: we remove it.

At Tribeca Veterinary Dentistry, these extractions are performed under anesthesia to keep your kitten comfortable and to allow us to:

Safely remove the entire baby tooth (roots included)
Protect the developing adult tooth
Take a thorough look at the rest of the mouth

We may also recommend dental radiographs to make sure everything below the surface looks as it should.

The Good News

Kittens tend to bounce back very quickly after these procedures. Most are back to their normal routines—eating, playing, and causing a little chaos—within a day or two.

Addressing retained baby teeth early helps adult teeth come in properly and sets your cat up for better long-term oral health.

A Quick Note from Our Team

Teething can be a busy (and slightly awkward) phase, but it’s also an important time for monitoring your kitten’s dental development.

If something looks a little crowded in your cat’s mouth—or if you just want peace of mind—we’re always happy to take a look.

At Tribeca Veterinary Dentistry, we’re here to make sure those tiny teeth stay on the right track… so your kitty can keep doing what they do best.