You are here:

Cats/Cats long Incisor

Advertisement

Expert: - 7/1/2009


Question
Dear Cat Lover I have a semi feral cat, that lives outside,as I am allergic to it, we have had him for at least 10 years, and I have recently noticed that his top Incisor teeth are now very long and you can see them when he is just sitting with his mouth closed, is this normal? Thanks for your help, as he would be extremely hard to catch and very distressed if I had to take him into a vet, we also have his sister, who has no signs of this (they were both dumped on our garden)
All help appreciated
Kind Regards
Tina

Answer
Christina,

I am not a vet, but incisors appearing to be longer as the cat ages may be perfectly normal, especially for the slinkier body typed cats.

On the other hand, there may be a problem, but I doubt it, so a trip to the vet may be warranted.  However, if the cat will be stressed that much going to the vet, you might want to think twice about it.  You may be able to borrow a Have-a-Heart live trap from your local animal control if there ever is a need to catch this fellow!!!!!

At age 10 this fellow and his sister have done very well being out of doors.

Best regards... Norm.  

Cats

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.