<sod>}}</ref> Compared to other felines, domestic cats have narrowly spaced canine teeth, which is an adaptation to their preferred prey of small rodents, which have small vertebrae.<ref name="Smith1992" /> The [[premolar]] and first [[Molar (tooth)|molar]] together compose the [[carnassial]] pair on each side of the mouth, which efficiently shears meat into small pieces, like a pair of scissors. These are vital in feeding, since cats' small [[molar (tooth)|molars]] cannot chew food effectively.<ref name="Case" />{{rp|37}}<eod>
<sod>}}</ref> Compared to other felines, domestic cats have narrowly spaced canine teeth, which is an adaptation to their preferred prey of small rodents, which have small vertebrae.<ref name="Smith1992" /> The [[premolar]] and first [[Molar (tooth)|molar]] together compose the [[carnassial]] pair on each side of the mouth, which efficiently shears meat into small pieces, like a pair of scissors. These are vital in feeding, since cats' small [[molar (tooth)|molars]] cannot chew food effectively, and cats are largely incapable of mastication.<ref name="Case" />{{rp|37}}  Though cats tend to have better teeth than most humans, with decay generally less likely because of a thicker protective layer of enamel, a less damaging saliva, less retention of food particles between teeth, and a diet mostly devoid of sugar, they are nonetheless subject to occasional tooth loss and infection.<ref name="Carr1978">{{cite book|author=William H. A. Carr|title=The New Basic Book of the Cat|date=1 January 1978|publisher=Scribner|isbn=978-0-684-15549-4|page=174|authormask=|trans_title=|format=|origyear=|oclc=|doi=|bibcode=|id=|quote=|laysummary=|laydate=}}</ref><eod>