Canine teeth, or lack of.

[Minimammoth]

I have just discovered that minicat has no canine teeth, she is 16 months old, is very outdoorsy ( kept in at night). Vet said she will manage fine, but am a bit concerned about her defending herself. Any experience of this anyone?

Gosh, that's unusual. She's spayed I assume?

Harry lost all his fangs earlier this year and he seems to be coping fine. He's not one of life's fighters (despite what the rescue told us), I think he has perfected the art of running in the opposite direction! He also has very, very sharp claws! He can still eat biscuits but has to have his wet food mashed properly as he has a problem pulling bits off.

If she's a neutered female, I think it's unlikely that she'll need them for fighting - if she finds herself in a confrontation, it will mainly be just yelling. And she should be fine with eating. Heck, she's managed OK so far hasn't she? I think she'll be fine.

Thanks everyone, yes she's managed ok and has developed a style for picking up dried food, she hunts too, and has a good growl and v. big claws. Next door have just got a kitten, so there may be some territorial stand offs. She can flash her gums!

If the kitten's to be neutered before being let out - as it should be - she'll likely lick it into shape just fine without needing teeth.

and has developed a style for picking up dried food

Harry can eat some biscuits without any problems but his favourite James Wellbeloved turkey is round and he struggles. He either scoops them out with his paw and eats them off the floor (presumably he finds it easier to pick them up) and throws them to the back of his mouth where he has teeth!

Seniorboy has one back tooth. ONE. And I still haven't found any remnants from that chicken drumstick that I left lying around, carelessly.

Ollie managed to demolish a raw chicken wing and that was with his canine tooth embedded in his nostril I'm sure she will be just fine :)

hollin