My cat lost a tooth is this normal???

**lgw** · 01-14-2008, 08:02 AM

Does his breath smell more than normal? We had a cat whose breath got progressively worse, finally to the point where I could smell it from several feet away. Turned out he had some serious dental issues and several of his teeth needed to be removed. I'd definitely check with your vet to see if there's not something else going on.

**shortcake** · 01-14-2008, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by lgw

Does his breath smell more than normal? We had a cat whose breath got progressively worse, finally to the point where I could smell it from several feet away. Turned out he had some serious dental issues and several of his teeth needed to be removed. I'd definitely check with your vet to see if there's not something else going on.

So far his breath is still normal. When I took his tooth out I checked for infection and I pressed on the gum to see if any bad stuff would come out and there was only a little blood. There was no bad odor either, so I don't think it was infected. He also lets me touch it without any problems so that leads me to beleive there is no infection also. In the past when he has had pain somewhere I have to fight with him to check it out.

**bRATmom** · 01-14-2008, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by shortcake

Did your cat loose his teeth due to age or a health problem? I said he was eight but now that I think of it he is between 9 and 10. We have had him 9 years and he was approx 9 to 12 months when we addopted him. We don't know his exact date of birth because he was a stray cat that was born outside that we took in.

probably more so age then health, tho, to be honost, skeeter was a stray we adopted at 9 months, and he was malnurished before my time. He never did ever have a full set of "baby teeth", those are the tiny tiny teeth in between the fangs. So that stemmed back from kitten hood.

My other cat Missy (RIP) had teeth issues and had to have several pulled. She was also a stray we adopted, she was about 2 when we got her. Both came from a no kill shelter.

As for his food, he gets a mix of both wet and dry perscription food perscribed by the vet. He had bladder stones and surgery, and has been on the food ever since. We have only started the wet this year, becouse he is so old and sees it as a treat. (microwaved 10 sec for a little warmth....)

**MirandaK** · 01-14-2008, 08:56 AM

One of our Cats, Tasha, is around 11 years old. She lost both of her canine teeth this year but she eats both dry food and the 'wet' food I make for her (eggs, ground chicken, broth) just fine.

**shortcake** · 01-14-2008, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by MirandaK

One of our Cats, Tasha, is around 11 years old. She lost both of her canine teeth this year but she eats both dry food and the 'wet' food I make for her (eggs, ground chicken, broth) just fine.

I didn't know I could make my own catfood. Can you give me more info on how you do it? Is it healthier for them? How do you know how much to feed them with homemade?

**MirandaK** · 01-14-2008, 10:07 AM

Well, cats don't need nearly as much food as we feed them daily. In the wild they often only eat every other day. Now, just like people, it takes a few weeks for them to adjust to a new amount of food...their stomachs need to shrink up a bit is all. I say all that because I only feed my cats once/day and it's not a huge amount.

At the beginning of each week, I bake 1 large chicken breast (any type of boneless chicken meat will work) and grind it up in the food processor.

Egg yolks are full of nutrients (more than cats get in pet food). So I usually fry 2 eggs but leave the yolks as runny as possible. I remove the whole yolk and mash up the cooked part and spread the runny yolk around.

Then I add 2-3 spoonfulls of ground chicken and a few sprinkles of chicken broth (i use canned). 1 can will last 2 weeks and I only use 1 chicken breast / week.

Sometimes I break up small pieces of bread and soak those with broth too.

Last night BF and I made sushi at home (his mom bought us some super expensive yellowtail tuna and salmon) and I used the scraps that we trimmed off the meat instead of chicken. I also use pork if that's what we eat for dinner and I have some left.

The egg yolks are fantastic. Since we started feeding them this mix, my cat with digestive issues has stopped throwing up and our other cat who had major kidney issues years ago and can't gain any weight is finally adding a bit of weight. Now when you run your hand along her sides you can't feel every rib.

I also leave out a small amount of Iams digestive health dry food every day but since I started feeding them this other stuff there is always dry food leftover.

My exhusband (and I used to) feeds the 2 cats he has shrimp. Sounds extravagant I know but he buys those big bags of salad shrimp (the super small shrimp) at sam's club and he gives each cat 5 or 6 at night. (they have dry food out all day) He can feed 2 cats for weeks for 7 bucks. Maybe more than some people wanna spend but IT'S SO MUCH HEALTHIER THAN PET FOOD. Our vets (mine and the exes adn now mine and BFs) have all said that it's great to feed them as much natural food as possible and their coats are in really good shape.

Hope this helps!!

**shortcake** · 01-14-2008, 10:24 AM

Thanks MirandaK that was very informative, I didn't know. I don't have any chicken left right now cause I used it all up in recipes last week. The next time I buy some I will definetly give it a try.

Thank you!

**Critter** · 01-14-2008, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by shortcake

I have to say he is such a happy camper this morning that I think he is happy it is out. He is eating and playing and his joyful self. If I go by past behaviour when he was sick we could tell by the way he was acting. I will still inquire to make sure everything is OK.

Critter the middle cat on your picture looks exactly like our Oreo. The only difference is that Oreo has a bit more white on his face. Oh and mine is a bit chubbier, ha! ha!

Here is a picture of him playing in the Xmas paper, he loves bags, paper and boxes.

Thanks everyone for your answers.

The middle cat is Felix the bottom one is smokey and the top one is my dear Critter I miss him terrbily. It is funny because we got Critter 1st, Felix 2nd and Smokey last and that is how they are on the cat tree I didn't even put them like that they got up there on there own. I thought it was so cute I had to take a picture.

**annertak** · 01-14-2008, 10:54 AM

My 12 year old cat had four really long fangs in the front, and now she only has one. lol She's lost three of them over the last several years, and the vet said it's normal and a part of the aging process. Hers were abnormally long, too. She looks pretty funny now, though, but we still tell her she's a pretty kitty!

**Sari** · 01-14-2008, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by shortcake

Thanks MirandaK that was very informative, I didn't know. I don't have any chicken left right now cause I used it all up in recipes last week. The next time I buy some I will definetly give it a try.

Thank you!

Standard recommendation, just check with your vet before switching to a homemade diet. Cats require specific nutrients and if you are feeding only or mainly homemade stuff it can be difficult to supply all they need.

**mom2bobsarah** · 01-14-2008, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Sari

Standard recommendation, just check with your vet before switching to a homemade diet. Cats require specific nutrients and if you are feeding only or mainly homemade stuff it can be difficult to supply all they need.

I was about to say the same thing. They need Taurine for eye function as well as other reasons I cannot recall right now because I am too tired. If you get a feline dietry supplement that will be sufficient to supplement a natural diet. My old kitties (they are all deceased now) used to eat a natural diet and they loved it, I had a holistic vet that just mentioned the supplement. good luck.