Cats have a notoriously unique ability to conceal their illness signs, and there is a valid reason behind it. Even though cats are predators, other larger animals or predators will still prey on them. Naturally, an ill, inactive or elderly animal (who can’t escape swiftly) is an easy target for any predator.
Any noticeable sign of ailment will attract predators toward it. So in the wild, during the evolutionary journey spanning centuries, cats have learned to mask their illness signs so that predators are not attracted to them, considering them an easy target.
Cat’s instinct to mask their disease symptoms is also found in domestic cats. Due to this habit, many cat parents (especially novice parents) can’t notice that there is something wrong with their feline friend or he is ill.
When most cat owners realize their cats are not feeling well, the situation can be considerably worse. Even your local vet will confirm that most cats visiting their clinics are in the latter stages of the disease.
Naturally, no cat lover will like to remain ignorant of the state of his feline friend. That’s why we have made a comprehensive guide on cat sickness signs to help cat parents.
After reading the points below, you will know how to detect if something is wrong with your cat. Early detection means timely treatment and early recovery, thus ensuring the well-being of your feline friend.
1. Change In Physical Appearance
Changes in physical appearance can be subtle or evident depending on the severity of the condition. However, whenever your feline friend is sick, there will be changes (more or less) in normal physical appearance.
Such changes in physical appearance or body gestures can help you understand that your cat is not good. Like the eyes and coat of a healthy cat are glossy, he moves elegantly with his head up and grooms himself frequently.
If your cat’s eyes are dull, its coat is less shiny and matted, or your cat has an abnormal head or tail position, it could mean it is not feeling well. Other alarming signs include your cat sitting in a more hunched-up position, walking differently, or not grooming itself as frequently as it usually does.
2. Changes In Social Behavior
Cats are generally known for their friendly and social nature. They love to interact, play, and spend time with their owners, other family members, and even other pets in the house.
At the same time, cats are amazingly good at hiding their pain and ailments. So if your cat is less playful, avoids interaction with you, or prefers to spend more time resting, it indicates something amiss with your feline friend.
So if you notice a sudden change in your cat’s personality, playfulness, and behavior, it could mean your cat is not feeling well.
3. Not Using Litter Box
Cats are clean animals by nature and love to follow sanitary habits. So if you have adequately trained your cat to use the litter box, they will always prefer to use their litter box.
If your cat suddenly starts doing his business outside the litter box, it signals there could be a medical condition. Most common conditions include UTI (urinary tract infection) or obstruction, kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, or arthritis.
All these issues can be fatal if not treated timely. So keeping an eye on the elimination behavior of your feline friend is vital.
4. Increased Or Decreased Food And Water Intake
We become cautious immediately as soon as we observe our feline pet eating or drinking less than usual and try to look for its causes and cure. However, most of us don’t care if our cats suddenly start eating more than they usually eat or drink. Yes, both increase and decrease in feed or water intake is a matter of concern.
Lowered feed or water intake can be due to fever, infectious diseases, stomatitis, teeth issues, etc. In contrast, increased thirst and hunger can be due to diabetes, hyperthyroidism, etc.
5. Change In Sleeping Routine
Undoubtedly, it’s perfectly normal if your cat sleeps for 16-18 hours daily. However, remember that, unlike humans, cats don’t sleep too long continuously. Most of the time, they sleep in short intervals called “catnips,” during which they may appear sleeping. Still, their hearing and smelling senses are fully active, and they will respond immediately to any external stimuli.
In comparison, deep sleep (when they sleep like humans) is only ¼ of their total sleep time. So if your cat’s sleeping time is increasing or he is having difficulty lying down or getting up, it can indicate some underlying problem.
6. Unexpected Weight Loss or Gain
Both situations are problematic, like food and water intake and losing or gaining weight. However, some diseases cause both losses of appetite and weight. Many medical issues like diabetes and hyperthyroidism can make your cat lose weight despite having a good appetite and feed intake.
In addition, if your cat lunges for food but turns back without eating, that means he is hungry but unable to eat due to nausea or oral or dental issues.
On the other hand, gaining weight or obesity will increase the chance of your cat developing cardiovascular, diabetes, and joint problems.
7. Changes in Vocalization
Understanding the sound that cats make in different situations is crucial in discerning what your feline friend is trying to communicate. When the cats are in pain, feeling scared, or uncomfortable, they produce certain sounds (with different pitches and frequencies for different situations) to ask for help.
These sounds differ from the sounds cats usually make when they are happy or just calling you to play with them. Even if you can’t comprehend a cat’s sounds, any change in your feline friend’s normal vocalization should make you call a vet.
8. Showing Stress Signs
Generally, cats love to follow a routine, and sudden changes in the feeding, outdoor walk, playtime, or surrounding environment can stress your cat.
A stressed cat can develop many health issues. So you should also look for signs of stress or depression and remove the cause as soon as possible.
9. Abnormal Discharge
Healthy cats’ natural openings (like ear, nose, and anus) are dry except for the eyes (where slight moisture is present to protect the cornea). Any discharge oozing out of the ears, nose, or eyes can signify infection in that particular body part.
10. Bad Breath
If you notice that the breath of your feline friend smells terrible, it is a clear indication of oral or dental issues. Data collected from vet clinics shows that around seventy percent of cats suffer from oral and dental problems. So never ignore if your pet’s breath smells bad, and visit your nearest vet as early as possible.
Final Words
Thank you for reading! We hope our article will help you understand the signs of cat illnesses better. If you notice that your cat is showing any of these signs, don’t ignore it and contact your vet.
We wish you and your feline friends health!
My friends cat has had very loose stool for months…. Always has a dirty butt. Sigh