Your cat most likely has a retained baby tooth sitting right next to the permanent fang that grew in behind it. This is called a persistent deciduous tooth, and it happens when the baby canine doesn’t fall out on schedule as the adult tooth erupts. The result is two fangs side by side, giving that “double fang” or “shark tooth” look. It’s one of the most common dental issues in young cats, and while it can look harmless, it usually needs veterinary attention.
How Normal Teething Works in Kittens
Kittens have a full set of 26 baby teeth by about 2 months of age. Around 3 months, the permanent teeth start pushing through the gums. As each adult tooth erupts, it gradually resorbs the root of the baby tooth above it, loosening it until it falls out. By 6 months, most cats have completed this swap entirely and have their full set of 30 adult teeth.
The canine teeth, those prominent fangs, are the ones most likely to cause a visible overlap. They’re large, deeply rooted, and take longer to transition than the smaller teeth. If the root of the baby canine doesn’t resorb properly, it stays firmly anchored in the gum even as the adult fang pushes through right beside it.
Why the Baby Tooth Didn’t Fall Out
The root of the baby tooth is supposed to dissolve gradually as the permanent tooth moves into position beneath it. When that resorption process stalls or fails, the baby tooth keeps its grip. The permanent tooth has no choice but to erupt alongside it, often at an abnormal angle or in a slightly off position. The exact reason the root fails to resorb isn’t always clear, but genetics and jaw structure play a role.
Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds are especially prone to dental crowding and positioning problems. A study of 50 Persian and Exotic cats found that 72% had malocclusions, 56% had visible tooth crowding, and 64% had malpositioned teeth. Their shortened jaws simply don’t offer enough room for teeth to erupt and shed normally. If your cat is a Persian, Exotic, Himalayan, or similar breed, double fangs and other dental irregularities are considerably more common.
How to Tell It’s a Retained Baby Tooth
If your cat is between 4 and 7 months old and you see two canine teeth on the same side, the smaller, thinner one is almost certainly the baby tooth. Deciduous canines are noticeably slimmer and often slightly translucent compared to the thicker, more opaque adult fang growing in next to them. The baby tooth is usually the one closer to the front of the mouth, with the adult tooth erupting just behind or beside it.
In an adult cat older than 7 or 8 months, two canines on the same side is not normal teething overlap. At that point, the baby tooth is considered persistent and unlikely to fall out on its own. There’s also a less common possibility: a supernumerary tooth, which is a genuine extra tooth rather than a leftover baby tooth. Supernumerary teeth are rare in cats but do occur, particularly in brachycephalic breeds. The distinction matters because treatment differs. A vet can tell the two apart with a quick oral exam and dental X-rays.
Why Double Fangs Aren’t Just Cosmetic
Two teeth crammed into space meant for one creates real problems. The crowding traps food and debris between the teeth, which accelerates tartar buildup, tooth decay, gum inflammation (gingivitis), and deeper periodontal disease. Left long enough, this can lead to premature loss of the permanent tooth you actually want to keep.
The positioning issue compounds things. When a baby tooth forces the adult fang to erupt at a wrong angle, the misaligned tooth can rub against other teeth and wear away their enamel. It can also dig into the soft tissue of the gums or palate, causing chronic pain your cat may not obviously show. Cats are notoriously good at hiding oral discomfort, so the absence of obvious symptoms doesn’t mean everything is fine.
When the Extra Tooth Needs to Come Out
The standard veterinary recommendation is straightforward: a persistent baby tooth should be removed as soon as the permanent tooth’s crown is visible above the gum line. Waiting to “see if it falls out on its own” is not considered appropriate once both teeth are clearly present, because every extra week increases the risk of damage to the adult tooth and surrounding tissues.
The one exception involves supernumerary teeth. According to the 2025 feline oral health guidelines, a genuine extra tooth that isn’t causing overcrowding or other problems can sometimes be left alone and monitored. But this call requires dental X-rays and a professional assessment.
Many vets will time the extraction to coincide with a spay or neuter surgery if the cat is already going under anesthesia around that age, which avoids putting the cat through a second round of sedation.
What Extraction Looks Like for Your Cat
Removing a retained baby tooth is a routine procedure done under general anesthesia. The vet takes X-rays first to see how much root is left and where the permanent tooth sits relative to the baby tooth. If the root has partially resorbed and the tooth is already loose, it can be wiggled free with a dental elevator in a matter of minutes. If the root is still intact, a small incision in the gum tissue allows the vet to access and carefully remove it without disturbing the neighboring permanent tooth.
The whole process is quick, and most cats bounce back fast. Expect to feed soft or moistened food for several days afterward to keep the extraction site comfortable while it heals. Your vet will typically schedule a recheck 7 to 14 days later to confirm the gum is healing properly. Most cats are back to their normal eating habits within a week.
What to Watch for During Kitten Teething
If your kitten is between 3 and 6 months old, some temporary overlap between baby and adult teeth is completely normal. You might see double fangs for a few weeks as the adult canines push in and the baby teeth loosen. During this window, keep an eye on whether the baby teeth are getting progressively looser. You might even find tiny teeth on the floor or in their food, though many kittens swallow them without issue.
If your kitten reaches 7 months and you still see two canines on the same side, or if you notice the adult tooth growing in at an obviously crooked angle, that’s the point to get a vet involved. The earlier a retained tooth is addressed, the better the chance the adult tooth settles into its correct position without lasting damage.