An adult cat usually has 30 teeth. Its permanent dentition consists of 12 incisors, four canine teeth, 10 premolars, and four molars.
Those teeth reflect a cat’s obligate-carnivore lifestyle. The small incisors help grasp and strip meat, while the long canines puncture and hold prey. The premolars and first molars form the carnassial pair, specialized for slicing rather than grinding.
A common mix-up is confusing adult teeth with kitten teeth. Kittens develop 26 deciduous, or baby, teeth, which are gradually replaced as the permanent set emerges. Adult cats can also have fewer visible teeth because of injury, dental disease, or extractions, but 30 is the normal anatomical count.