How to Help a Teething Kitten: 8 Ways to Soothe Sore Gums 🐱🦷

Is your kitten suddenly chewing everything in sight?

Your fingers. Their toys. Cardboard boxes. Furniture. Maybe even a phone charger they absolutely should not be touching.

Your little chewing machine may be teething.

Teething is a completely normal part of kitten development. As baby teeth fall out and permanent teeth begin growing in, your kitten may experience tender gums and a strong urge to chew.

Some kittens barely seem bothered by it. Others make it very obvious that something is happening inside that tiny mouth.

If you're wondering how to help a teething kitten, there are several simple things you can do to make this stage more comfortable while keeping your kitten—and your belongings—safe.

Let's look at when kitten teething happens, the signs to watch for, what you can safely give your kitten to chew, and when it's time to call your veterinarian.

When Do Kittens Start Teething?

Cats actually go through two sets of teeth while growing up.

Kittens are born without visible teeth. Their first baby teeth, also called deciduous teeth or milk teeth, begin appearing at around 3 weeks of age.

Eventually, kittens develop 26 baby teeth.

Then comes round two.

At approximately 3 to 4 months old, those tiny baby teeth begin falling out as the permanent adult teeth start coming in.

By around 6 to 7 months, most kittens have their complete set of 30 adult teeth.

Kitten Teething Timeline

Don't worry if you never find tiny kitten teeth around your house.

Kittens frequently swallow their baby teeth while eating, and you may never even notice when one falls out.

What Are the Signs of Kitten Teething?

Every kitten is different.

Some sail through teething with very few obvious symptoms, while others suddenly seem determined to test their teeth on everything they encounter.

Here are some of the most common signs.

1. Chewing Everything

This is often the easiest sign to spot.

Your kitten may suddenly start chewing:

• Toys
• Cardboard
• Blankets
• Furniture edges
• Your fingers
• Household objects

Rather than punishing your kitten for chewing, give them appropriate alternatives and redirect them when they choose something unsafe.

2. Tender or Red Gums

Your kitten's gums may look a little sensitive while adult teeth are erupting.

However, significant redness, swelling, bleeding or obvious pain shouldn't automatically be dismissed as normal teething.

Dental problems can cause similar symptoms, so contact your veterinarian if something doesn't look right.

3. Eating Differently

A tender mouth can make crunchy food temporarily less comfortable.

You might notice your kitten:

• Eating more slowly
• Hesitating before eating
• Dropping food
• Preferring softer food
• Seeming less enthusiastic about crunching

If your kitten stops eating, contact your veterinarian rather than assuming teething is the cause.

Young kittens need consistent nutrition, and loss of appetite can have many causes.

4. Drooling

A little extra drooling may happen while your kitten is teething.

However, excessive or persistent drooling can also indicate oral pain, injury, dental disease or something lodged inside the mouth.

If the drooling seems excessive or is accompanied by other symptoms, have your kitten checked.

5. Irritability

Your normally playful kitten might seem a little grumpier than usual.

Think about how uncomfortable a sore tooth can make us feel.

Give your kitten opportunities to rest and don't force mouth handling or rough play when they clearly aren't interested.

6. Tiny Baby Teeth Around the House

Occasionally, you may discover a tiny tooth on the floor, in your kitten's bedding or near a favorite toy.

You just found a baby kitten tooth!

But finding none is completely normal too.

How to Help a Teething Kitten

Now for the part most kitten parents actually came here for.

You can't stop the teething process, but you can make it safer and more comfortable.

1. Give Your Kitten Safe Things to Chew

Your kitten already wants to chew.

The goal isn't necessarily to stop that instinct. It's to redirect it.

Offer kitten-appropriate toys that are soft enough not to damage developing teeth but durable enough that pieces won't easily break off.

Try keeping several textures and shapes available so your kitten has appropriate options when the chewing urge hits.

Cats Ace Tip 🐾

Rotate your kitten's toys rather than leaving every toy out all the time.

Sometimes the toy your kitten ignored yesterday suddenly becomes THE MOST IMPORTANT OBJECT IN THE HOUSE when it reappears a few days later.

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2. Try Softer Food If Their Mouth Is Tender

If your kitten seems uncomfortable crunching their normal food, a softer texture may be easier on a tender mouth.

If your kitten already eats wet kitten food, they may naturally prefer it during this stage.

The important thing is that your growing kitten continues eating a complete and balanced diet formulated for kittens.

Teething isn't the time to replace their normal kitten diet with homemade foods or treats.

If your kitten is having trouble eating or refuses food, contact your veterinarian.

3. Make Playtime Gentle

Your kitten still needs exercise, play and enrichment while teething.

But their mouth may be sensitive.

Avoid games that encourage your kitten to bite hard objects or put excessive pressure on sore teeth.

Instead, use interactive play that allows your kitten to:

stalk → chase → pounce → catch

And remember:

Your hands aren't chew toys.

If your kitten starts biting your fingers, calmly redirect them toward an appropriate toy.

Allowing kittens to regularly attack hands can teach them that biting people is part of play—and those tiny kitten teeth eventually become adult cat teeth.

4. Kitten-Proof Electrical Cords and Dangerous Objects

A teething kitten with an intense urge to chew plus an electrical cord is a combination we absolutely don't want.

Take a look around your kitten's environment and secure or remove things such as:

• Electrical cords
• Phone chargers
• Blind cords
• String
• Thread
• Yarn
• Ribbon
• Hair ties
• Small plastic pieces
• Broken or damaged toys

Cord protectors and cable-management products can be particularly useful during this stage.

Also inspect toys regularly.

If pieces are becoming loose or a toy is starting to fall apart, replace it.

Teething isn't just about soothing your kitten's gums.

It's also about making their environment safer while they're determined to chew everything.

🐾 Create a Kitten-Safe Space

Electrical cords are only one of the many things curious kittens can get into. If you’re preparing your home for a new kitten—or realizing your teething kitten can suddenly reach everything—check out our Kitten Proof Room: Create a Safe Space for Your Cat guide. It walks you through more ways to create a safer space where your kitten can explore, play and grow.

→ Read: Kitten Proof Room: Create a Safe Space for Your Cat

5. Rotate Their Toys

Instead of putting twenty toys on the floor and leaving them there for months, keep a smaller selection available and rotate them.

A toy that disappears for several days can feel exciting again when it comes back.

This also gives you an opportunity to inspect toys regularly for:

• Loose pieces
• Torn fabric
• Frayed material
• Exposed stuffing
• Damaged attachments

If something could easily break off and be swallowed, retire the toy.

6. Avoid Extremely Hard Chew Objects

Harder doesn't automatically mean better for teething.

Your kitten's mouth is still developing, so avoid giving them extremely hard household objects simply because they seem determined to chew.

Choose appropriately sized products intended for cats or kittens and inspect them regularly for damage.

If you're unsure whether a particular chew item is appropriate, ask your veterinarian.

7. Check Your Kitten's Mouth Regularly

You don't need to become your kitten's dentist.

But the teething stage is a great time to become familiar with what your kitten's mouth normally looks like.

When your kitten is relaxed and cooperative, gently lift their lip and take a quick look at the teeth and gums.

One thing is particularly important to watch for:

Two Teeth in the Same Spot

Sometimes a baby tooth doesn't fall out when the adult tooth begins erupting.

This is known as a persistent or retained deciduous tooth.

You may see what looks like two teeth occupying the same area.

The retained baby tooth can interfere with the adult tooth's normal position and create crowding where food and debris can become trapped.

If you notice what looks like a double set of teeth, contact your veterinarian.

Don't try to pull the baby tooth yourself.

8. Give Your Kitten Extra Patience

Your teething kitten isn't being “bad” because they're chewing.

They're growing a brand-new set of teeth while simultaneously trying to understand why apparently everything in your home isn't a cat toy.

Redirect unwanted chewing.

Provide safe alternatives.

Protect dangerous objects.

Give them plenty of appropriate play.

And remember that this phase won't last forever.

🛒 Teething Kitten Essentials: Toys, Feeding & Kitten-Proofing

Getting through kitten teething is easier when your kitten has appropriate things to chew and your home is protected from those curious little teeth.

We've created a Teething Kitten Essentials Amazon list with useful products for this stage.

What You'll Find on Our List

• Soft kitten chew toys
• Soft rubber cat toys
• Kitten dental toys
• Catnip-free kitten toys
• Small kicker toys
• Soft plush toys
• Interactive wand toys
• Kitten-appropriate food puzzles
• Shallow food bowls
• Silicone feeding mats
• Electrical cord protectors
• Cable-management boxes
• Cord sleeves
• Cat toy storage
• Pet-safe toy cleaning supplies

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What NOT to Give a Teething Kitten

Knowing what to avoid is just as important as knowing what can help.

❌ Human Teething Products

Never give your kitten human teething gels, medications or pain relievers unless your veterinarian has specifically prescribed something appropriate for your kitten.

Human products aren't automatically safe for cats.

❌ Extremely Hard Chews

Very hard objects can potentially damage developing teeth.

Choose appropriately sized toys designed for cats instead.

❌ Loose String, Yarn or Ribbon

Cats may love string, but loose string-like materials can be dangerous if swallowed.

Use interactive string or wand toys only with appropriate supervision and put them away after playtime.

❌ Homemade Broth Ice Cubes

You may see homemade broth ice cubes recommended online for teething pets.

I don't recommend this as a general kitten-teething remedy.

Human broths can contain ingredients such as onion, garlic or excessive sodium that aren't appropriate for cats.

There are easier and safer ways to help a teething kitten.

❌ Forcing Your Kitten's Mouth Open

It's useful to become familiar with your kitten's teeth, but don't turn a quick mouth check into a wrestling match.

Look when your kitten is calm and cooperative.

If you're concerned about something inside their mouth, let your veterinarian examine it.

When Should You Call the Vet?

Teething itself is normal.

But don't automatically assume every mouth problem in a 4- to 6-month-old kitten is “just teething.”

Contact your veterinarian if you notice:

• Your kitten stops eating
• Significant difficulty eating
• Excessive or persistent drooling
• Significant bleeding
• Very swollen or painful gums
• A broken tooth
• Facial swelling
• Persistent or worsening bad breath
• Repeated pawing at the mouth
• Something appears stuck inside the mouth
• An adult tooth and baby tooth occupying the same position
• Teeth growing at unusual angles
• Symptoms that seem severe or aren't improving

Cats can be very good at hiding discomfort.

Changes in eating behavior or obvious signs of mouth pain deserve attention.

What Are Retained Baby Teeth in Kittens?

Normally, a kitten's baby tooth falls out as the corresponding adult tooth comes in.

Sometimes it doesn't.

You may look inside your kitten's mouth and see what appears to be two teeth where there should only be one.

Persistent baby teeth can contribute to:

• Crowding
• Abnormal positioning of adult teeth
• Food and debris becoming trapped
• Dental problems
• An abnormal bite
• Pain or trauma inside the mouth

If you think your kitten has a retained baby tooth, have your veterinarian examine it.

Should You Brush a Teething Kitten's Teeth?

Getting your kitten comfortable with having their mouth handled can help establish good dental habits for life.

But timing matters.

If your kitten's gums are actively sore while baby teeth are falling out and permanent teeth are erupting, don't force toothbrushing on an uncomfortable mouth.

Once the uncomfortable teething phase has passed, you can gradually introduce an appropriate dental-care routine.

Start slowly and positively.

And always use dental products specifically intended for cats.

Never use human toothpaste on your cat.

FAQ: Kitten Teething

When do kittens start teething?

Baby teeth begin appearing when kittens are approximately 3 to 4 weeks old. The process of losing those baby teeth and replacing them with permanent teeth generally begins at around 3 to 4 months.

When do kittens stop teething?

Most kittens have their complete set of 30 permanent teeth by approximately 6 to 7 months old.

Is it normal for a teething kitten to bite more?

An increased urge to chew is common during teething.

Instead of encouraging your kitten to bite your hands, redirect them toward appropriate kitten toys.

Do kittens lose their baby teeth?

Yes.

Kittens lose their 26 baby teeth as their adult teeth erupt.

You might occasionally find a tiny tooth around the house, but many kitten parents never see one because kittens can swallow their shed baby teeth while eating.

Why does my kitten have two teeth in the same spot?

The baby tooth may not have fallen out before the permanent tooth erupted.

This is known as a retained or persistent deciduous tooth.

Have your veterinarian examine it rather than trying to remove it yourself.

What can I give my teething kitten to chew?

Choose appropriately sized, kitten-safe toys that aren't extremely hard and don't contain small pieces that can easily detach.

Inspect chew and play toys regularly and replace damaged ones.

Can teething make a kitten eat less?

A tender mouth can make eating less comfortable, but a kitten who refuses food or has significant difficulty eating should be evaluated by a veterinarian.

Don't automatically assume a loss of appetite is caused by teething.

🐾 More DIY Fun for Your Kitten

Looking for another way to keep those busy paws entertained?

Try our DIY Catnip Mouse & Kicker Toy and make two simple enrichment toys at home.

Make Our DIY Catnip Mouse & Kicker Toy

Always make sure homemade toys are appropriately sized for your kitten, inspect them regularly for damage and supervise play when appropriate.

The Bottom Line: How to Help a Teething Kitten

So, how do you help a teething kitten?

You don't need an elaborate teething routine.

Focus on the basics:

Give them safe things to chew. Protect cords and dangerous objects. Keep play gentle. Make eating comfortable. Check their developing teeth. And know when something doesn't look like normal teething.

By around 6 to 7 months old, most kittens have their complete set of adult teeth.

Until then, you may have a tiny chewing machine living in your house.

At least now you know why. 😹

What did YOUR kitten decide was a chew toy during teething? Tell us in the comments!

📋 Disclaimer

This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Teething can cause temporary discomfort, but mouth pain, loss of appetite, significant bleeding, excessive drooling, swelling, broken teeth or abnormal tooth eruption can also indicate a problem requiring veterinary attention.

Contact your veterinarian if you're concerned about your kitten's teeth, gums, eating or behavior.