Glossary

Carnassial teeth

The large cheek teeth, a cat's upper fourth premolar and lower first molar, that slide past each other like scissors to slice meat.

Also called: carnassials, shearing teeth, cat teeth, premolars

Carnassial teeth are the blade-like cheek teeth that make a cat's bite so good at slicing flesh. In cats they are the upper fourth premolar and the lower first molar. As the jaws close, the two teeth pass each other like the blades of a pair of scissors and cut through muscle and tendon. Cats cannot chew side to side, so food is sliced rather than ground.

A kitten has 26 milk teeth that appear from about two to four weeks old. These are replaced by 30 adult teeth between roughly three and seven months. The carnassials are among the last to arrive.

Because these teeth do so much work, they are often where dental disease starts. Look for bad breath, drooling, dropping food, pawing at the mouth, red gums or a cat that eats on one side. Cats hide pain well, so many dental problems are found only at a check-up. Ask your vet about regular mouth exams and dental cleaning under anaesthetic, and about brushing at home if your cat will accept it.

Last reviewed November 7, 2026

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Related terms

Obligate carnivore An animal that must eat animal tissue to get nutrients its body cannot make for itself, as domestic cats must. Tongue papillae The tiny backward-facing hooks on a cat's tongue that work like a comb for grooming and a rasp for stripping meat from bone. Kitten A cat in its first months of life, from birth until about six months to a year old, a time of rapid growth, learning and vaccinations. Dry food Cat food baked or extruded into small pieces with about 10 percent water, convenient and shelf-stable but low in moisture.

Related guides

Caring for a cat's teeth Why dental disease is common in cats, how to brush or check your cat's teeth, what signs matter, and how often a vet should look.