Double Incisor Teeth in a Kitten

If Tabby's around three months old, she's probably shedding her baby teeth. Also known as milk teeth or deciduous teeth, these guys popped up when Tabby was less than a month old. She doesn't keep them too long; after about two months, they usually make way for her permanent teeth.

  1. From 26 to 30

    • Though born toothless, by about six weeks of age, Tabby should have 26 baby teeth. While she's busy getting steady on her feet, enjoying her first bites of cat food and learning about play, she has "tooth buds" developing beneath her baby teeth. These buds are what will become her permanent teeth, and if all goes according to plan, she'll have a full set of 30 teeth by about seven months of age.

    Growing Up and Out

    • Tabby's full set of adult teeth will include a dozen little incisors in the front, four canine teeth -- commonly referred to as "fangs" -- 10 pre-molars and four molars. When her permanent teeth grow in, they'll press against the roots of her baby teeth, stimulating her body to absorb the baby teeth roots; this is also called "resorbing." Normally the baby teeth roots will weaken and disappear and the crown of the baby teeth will fall out. Tabby may swallow her little husks when she's eating or you may find them in her bedding or on your floor.

    Too Many Teeth

    • If you think you're seeing double when you look in Tabby's mouth, don't worry. Sometimes a baby tooth sticks around after its permanent replacement has arrived, which is referred to as a retained tooth. Most times, this happens when something went awry in the root absorption process, forcing the new tooth to come in at a strange angle or abnormal position. Usually the upper canine teeth are the most likely candidates to be retained, followed by the lower canines and the incisors. Premolars can also be retained, but not as often as the canines and incisors.

    More Isn't Better

    • In this case, a few extra isn't a good thing. Though this isn't a dangerous condition, it can cause Tabby dental problems. Her teeth will crowd and increase the chance of debris getting caught between her teeth -- after all, flossing is difficult for Tabby without thumbs -- potentially causing cavities, gingivitis and periodontitis. The remaining roots of the retained tooth can become abscessed. In most cases, a simple extraction will do the trick for Tabby. The sooner the extra tooth is removed, the greater the chance her teeth will line up properly as they grow into place.