Hey everyone!
I have a cat who’s an outdoor enthusiast and a pretty successful hunter. He’s around 10-11 years old.
About half a year ago, we found out through dental X-rays that he has FORL/resorptive lesions. Before this, there were a few signs like bad breath and slightly red gums, but we didn’t realize what was going on, and otherwise, he seemed fine.
He’s had several teeth removed, leaving only 4 molars and his canines; the rest are gone. From what I understand, one or two of his canines are also affected, and it’s likely that soon he’ll need all his teeth removed.
He handled the anesthesia really well and was eating with a hearty appetite by the next day. He now chews both his prey and food on the toothless side, which tells me his remaining molars are causing some pain, yet he’s managing just fine without teeth.
What makes me especially sad, though, are his canines. He loves to hunt and brings us gifts almost every evening (sometimes more than one gift!). I’m worried he might stop hunting and that this might take away a part of his identity.
I’d really love to hear from other owners of outdoor cats who’ve gone through something similar. I’ve heard that some cats still continue to hunt successfully—how has it been for you?
Thanks in advance, and I might not be able to reply until later.
I have a cat who’s an outdoor enthusiast and a pretty successful hunter. He’s around 10-11 years old.
About half a year ago, we found out through dental X-rays that he has FORL/resorptive lesions. Before this, there were a few signs like bad breath and slightly red gums, but we didn’t realize what was going on, and otherwise, he seemed fine.
He’s had several teeth removed, leaving only 4 molars and his canines; the rest are gone. From what I understand, one or two of his canines are also affected, and it’s likely that soon he’ll need all his teeth removed.
He handled the anesthesia really well and was eating with a hearty appetite by the next day. He now chews both his prey and food on the toothless side, which tells me his remaining molars are causing some pain, yet he’s managing just fine without teeth.
What makes me especially sad, though, are his canines. He loves to hunt and brings us gifts almost every evening (sometimes more than one gift!). I’m worried he might stop hunting and that this might take away a part of his identity.
I’d really love to hear from other owners of outdoor cats who’ve gone through something similar. I’ve heard that some cats still continue to hunt successfully—how has it been for you?
Thanks in advance, and I might not be able to reply until later.
