posted 08-17-2003 09:32 AM         

I live with my parents and 7 cats. Last week, my boyfriend and I went away for the week. When we left, the cats were all fine. When we cam back on Friday, we noticed that one of them (Alaska) was holding her top lip in a snarl position. She had lost one of her bottom teeth about 2 years ago, so we thought that her lip was getting caught on it as it had done in the past.

Yesterday, while unhooking her lip, my boyfriend noticed that her lip looked all inflammed. So we thought that she had maybe bitten it or her tooth had been rubbing on it.

Today while we were sat watching TV with her sat with us, she yawned and my boyfriend said that it looked like she had no teeth. So I had a look inside her mouth to see that all her Big pointed teeth had some how fallen out!!! Before we left last week she had all of her teeth besides the one that had previously fallen out a couple of years ago.

Now naturally, we are panicing. We don't understand how she could have lost all her big teeth. She isnt ill (although she is undergoing low dosage Steroid injection treatments for Eczema) and she appears to be eating fine.

Will she be Ok only having her little teeth? Should we take her to the vet and ask them to examine her? What could have caused this? Is there anything life threatening we have to worry about as this has happened?

I am sorry for this long winded question, but I love my cats dearly and I guess I am looking for some kind of reassurence

posted 08-17-2003 08:23 PM         

Cats can live fine even with no teeth as long as you make sure they get food they can handle ok.

As nern said its unusal to lose them so quickly though. Was there any smell in the mouth? Any pain? You mentioned inflamation so I wonder if there was a gum infection. I suggest getting your cat checked out (not just the mouth but have the vet check the heart beat too). If its an infection then antibiotics may be needed to save the other teeth. And if your cat has heart trouble then it can get complecated (infections spread).