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Is your cat having trouble eating? Losing weight? Drooling a lot? They could have one of the most prevalent cat gum diseases: gingivitis. But often it is only picked up at a routine vet check, especially if you don’t regularly look at your cat's teeth at home.
Cats can develop gingivitis for a number of reasons, and the disease often leads to more serious periodontal conditions. Fortunately, gingivitis can sometimes be prevented and by learning more about it, you could spare yourself and your cat trips to the vet.
To help you better protect your furry friend, let's delve into the key details of feline gingivitis, including its causes, symptoms, and the importance of treatment.
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What’s feline gingivitis?
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Gingivitis means a cat’s gums are inflamed. It’s mainly a result of plaque and tartar buildup, but it can have numerous causes. It’s something you’ll want treated as soon as possible, as it can soon turn from bad breath and red gums to tooth loss..
It’s also a symptom of some troublesome conditions, so it’s worth getting your cat to give the vet a smile if you notice symptoms.
Is it gingivitis? The symptoms
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The most common symptoms of feline gingivitis are:
Changes in eating habits, like messy eating
Excessive drooling
Pain and discomfort eating
Red and inflamed gums
Weight loss
The above list isn’t exhaustive, and some cats may display less pronounced symptoms of gingivitis. If you think your cat might have gingivitis, or any feline disease, it’s best to take them to a vet to have their symptoms checked.
Some pet parents don’t realise that their cat has gingivitis until it has been pointed out at a routine health exam with the vet. It is a good idea to get into the habit of checking your cat’s gums regularly yourself at home, so you can spot changes more quickly.
Causes of gingivitis in cats
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Ageing: Older cats are more likely to suffer from plaque build-up, and so are more likely to develop gingivitis.
Breed: Certain cat breeds with tightly spaced teeth or very short noses, such as Persians or Siamese cats, are more prone to plaque formation. This, in turn, makes them more susceptible to gingivitis.
FCV (Feline Calicivirus): FCV is strongly associated with gingivitis.
FeLV (Feline Leukaemia): FeLV causes significant, chronic and severe dental problems in cats, namely oral inflammation like gingivitis.
FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus): This is a lifelong infection that weakens the immune system, and one of the symptoms can be gingivitis.
Immune-mediated causes: In rare cases, cats can develop a condition classified as feline gingivostomatitis. While the cause is still technically unknown, it’s suspected that these cats’ immune systems overreact to local tartar buildup and bacteria, leading to extensive and painful inflammation of the gums and mouth.
Poor dental hygiene: Cats often develop gingivitis when their regular dental care is neglected. The primary cause of gingivitis in cats is plaque accumulation on the teeth. This subsequently causes irritation and inflammation of the nearby gingiva.
Is it gingivitis or stomatitis?
Gingivitis is early-stage inflammation that’s just in the gums, while stomatitis is more severe, generalised inflammation.
Gingivitis is reversible and usually caused by lifestyle, while stomatitis is harder to deal with and caused by an immune response.
| Feature | Gingivitis | Stomatitis |
|---|---|---|
| Primary cause | Plaque and tartar buildup on the tooth surface. | An overreaction of the immune system to oral bacteria. |
| Area affected | Inflammation is limited to the gum line (gingiva). | Widespread inflammation involving the gums, back of the throat (fauces), and tongue. |
| Pain level | Mild to moderate; may cause bad breath. | Severe and debilitating; cats may "paw" at their face, struggle to eat, or drool excessively. |
| Reversibility | Often reversible with professional cleaning and home brushing. | Rarely reversible; usually a lifelong chronic condition. |
| Primary treatment | Scale and polish (cleaning). | Often requires partial or full-mouth tooth extractions to remove the source of inflammation. |
| Underlying causes | Can be worsened by aging or breed physiology, as well as poor dental hygiene. | Strongly linked to Feline Calicivirus (FCV). |
What does feline gum disease look like?
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The four stages of feline periodontal disease
| Stage | Appearance | Symptoms | Clinical status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1: Gingivitis | Redness and mild inflammation along the gum line. | Slight bad breath; gums may bleed when touched (e.g., during brushing). Gums are still attached to teeth. | Reversible with professional cleaning and daily home care. |
| Stage 2: Early periodontitis | Moderate red, swollen gums; visible plaque and tartar (calculus) buildup. | Gums begin to pull away from the tooth, creating "pockets" (>1mm deep) where bacteria hide. | Early permanent damage; some loss of gum attachment occurs. |
| Stage 3: Moderate periodontitis | Severe inflammation, significant gum recession, and heavy tartar coverage. | Noticeable pain, drooling, foul breath, and potential tooth movement (wobbling). | 25% to 50% loss of the bone and ligament structures holding the tooth. |
| Stage 4: Advanced periodontitis | Deep, severe inflammation; gums may look severely receded or ulcerated. | Intense pain, and chronic oral infections. Teeth often appear loose or "long." Some cats may have a reduced appetite but not all. | Irreversible; >50% attachment loss. Extraction is usually the only treatment. |
Why it’s important to get feline gingivitis diagnosed
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Vets will diagnose feline gingivitis after a thorough examination and consideration of the cat’s symptoms and medical history. The process may include blood and urine tests to check for underlying disease, like FIV, FeLV or FCV, which may need additional management. Dental x-rays are often used to check if there is wider dental damage.
As pet parents, we can’t always assume what our pets are going through; the keen eye of a professional can spot things we can’t.
Gingivitis in cats cure: how treatment works
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To treat feline gingivitis, a vet will typically remove built-up plaque and tartar with the cat under general anaesthesia. After the effective removal of plaque, the gingivitis will usually subside.
Many vets recommend that cats have regular professional teeth cleaning to address plaque build-up. The exact frequency of this will vary between pets.
In more advanced cases of gingivitis or periodontal disease, vets may have to deal with tooth and gum damage. In the case of damage, vets may need to extract loose, infected or crowded teeth.
Following gingivitis treatment, vets may prescribe antibiotics and/or anti-inflammatory medicines. For cases of gingivostomatitis, full mouth dental extractions may be offered as a treatment option.
How to prevent gingivitis in cats
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Other than visiting the vet for clinical treatment, there aren’t really any cat gingivitis remedies which owners can buy and apply themselves. But you can slow the progression of plaque buildup and gingivitis with a few simple measures.
The best way of preventing feline gingivitis is to address the plaque build-up in your cat’s teeth by brushing them regularly. You can purchase a cat toothbrush and toothpaste from your local pet store or from your vet. It is important to approach this slowly and patiently, using positive association techniques.
Additional measures that may help to prevent the disease include cat treats for gingivitis, drinking water additives, and antibacterial rinses. Certain specially formulated dental cat foods may also reduce the accumulation of plaque. A list of veterinary dental specialist approved products can be found via the Veterinary Oral Health Council.
Cat gingivitis treatment cost
Cat gingivitis treatment costs in the UK vary by a range of factors, including the age, size, and breed of your cat. It will also depend on whether your pet needs extractions, medications, or other things, like intravenous fluid therapy, during their procedure.
It’s important to remember that preventative measures, such as regular teeth cleaning and vet check-ups can help to bring down the cost of treatment. Similarly, many pet insurance plans can help you manage the cost of necessary dental treatments.
| Procedure | Average cost* |
|---|---|
| Routine vet check-up | £55 |
| Dental cleaning including anaesthetic and day patient hospitalisation | £300 |
| Dental x-rays (full mouth) | £100 |
| Teeth extraction (exact costs depend on complexity and number of teeth removed) | £120 |
| Antibiotics | £30 |
| Pain management drugs | £15 |
*These prices are averages, and highly variable based on a range of factors, including individual veterinary practice, and your cat's age, size, and breed.
Prevent gingivitis, protect your cat
Feline gingivitis is a very serious disease but it can be prevented, and reversed, with some simple, preventative steps. Preventative care is a foundation of good cat health: by looking out for problems and addressing them before they become severe, we can improve our cats’ lives and make sure they stay happy and healthy.
For more tips, read our ultimate guide on pet teeth cleaning.
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Frequently asked questions
Can cat gingivitis be cured naturally at home?
While gingivitis is reversible through regular dental cleaning, we wouldn’t recommend treating it entirely yourself. Once hardened into mineralised tartar, we can’t remove plaque easily with a toothbrush alone. It’s also best for a vet to check if there’s anything else going on alongside gingivitis symptoms too.
Home remedies for cat gingivitis do exist, but get everything checked out properly and speak to your vet for their recommendations.
Is cat gingivitis contagious to other cats (or humans)?
So, is cat gum disease contagious?
No, it’s not. But sometimes the underlying cause of gingivitis, if it’s something like Feline Calicivirus (FCV), can be contagious. It’s why it’s important for a vet to take a look at things.
How long is the recovery time after a cat dental cleaning?
Cats are often a little subdued after a dental cleaning and anaesthetic, which is normal. They’ll get back to their regular energy and personality between one and two days. But if a vet has performed an extraction, it may take a week or two for them to heal, so during this time they could require soft food and medication to keep them comfortable.
Why do my cat's gums still bleed when I brush them?
If routine brushing always leads to bleeding and inflamed gums, it’s likely due to tartar build-up. Get your vet to check it out, as this is an early warning sign of feline gum disease.
Can a cat live a normal life with no teeth?
Sometimes, a cat will need to have all of their teeth removed due to conditions like stomatitis. But yes, cats can still live a full, healthy and happy life without teeth.
You’ll need to make some changes to their nutrition and food choices, but your vet can guide you through this.
Although your cat may be lacking teeth, they will actually be much happier than before, free from dental pain!
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