Final answer:
The dental formula for an adult cat is 3.1.3.1 for the upper half of the mouth and 3.1.2.1 for the lower half, which in total amounts to 30 teeth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dental formula for a cat represents the number and types of teeth a cat has. In adult cats, the dental formula is 3.1.3.13.1.2.1 for one half of the mouth. This translates to 3 incisors, 1 canine, 3 premolars, and 1 molar on each side of the upper jaw, and 3 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars, and 1 molar on each side of the lower jaw. When discussing the dental formula, each tooth type is counted only on one side of the mouth, and the upper and lower jaws are considered separately. Therefore, the full set of teeth for an adult cat, when combining both sides, is 30 teeth in total: 12 incisors, 4 canines, 10 premolars, and 4 molars.