A dog that is feeling unwell usually makes it obvious. A cat, not so much. By instinct, they tend to hide pain and weakness, so many times the only thing we notice is that “something is a bit off.” Learning to spot those small changes is the best way to catch problems early.
Changes in eating and drinking
This is one of the first things you’ll notice if you pay attention:
- Eats less or stops eating. In cats, this is not something to leave for several days: when a cat stops eating, especially if it is overweight, it can develop liver problems. If it hasn’t eaten anything in a day, call the vet.
- Drinks much more than before. If you see that it empties its bowl or looks for water in taps and sinks when it didn’t before, mention it. In older cats, this can be caused by common problems such as kidney disease, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism, and all of these are better managed if detected early.
- Loses weight even though it eats well. This is another sign that warrants a check-up.
The opposite can also happen: many cats drink very little, and that has its own risks. If this is your case, you may be interested in why your cat drinks little water and how to encourage it to drink more.
The litter box says a lot
Cleaning it daily gives you very valuable information:
- More volume or more urine balls than usual.
- Goes many times and urinates very little, or urinates outside the box when it didn’t before.
- Diarrhea, bloody stools, or constipation lasting more than a couple of days.
One case that is always an emergency: a cat, especially a male, that strains in the litter box and nothing or almost nothing comes out. It may have a blocked urethra, and that cannot wait until tomorrow.
When should you worry if your cat vomits?
A cat vomiting a hairball once in a while can be normal. What is not normal is:
- Vomiting frequently, several times a day or several times a week.
- Blood or vomiting accompanied by lethargy.
- Trying to vomit without succeeding or being unable to keep even water down.
Changes in appearance and behavior
Here are the most subtle signs, the ones only someone who lives with the cat will notice:
- Stops grooming itself and its fur looks dull, greasy, or matted, especially along its back.
- Hides more, stops greeting you, or seeks out places where it normally doesn’t go.
- Is more irritable and hisses or pulls away when you touch it in a specific area.
- Stops jumping to high places it used to use, or climbs with difficulty. Very often, this is joint pain, which is very common in older cats and easy to confuse with “it’s just getting old.”
- Hunched posture, sitting curled up like a ball, with squinted eyes and its head down.
- Sneezing, runny nose, or discharge lasting more than a few days.
- Bad breath or drooling, which usually point to a problem with the mouth.
When should you go to the vet without delay?
There are situations in which you should not book an appointment for a few days away, but call the clinic or emergency services immediately:
- Breathes with its mouth open or with great difficulty. In cats, this is never normal.
- Cannot urinate or strains without success.
- Has eaten or licked something toxic: lilies, human medications, cleaning products, or dog dewormers.
- Has suffered a blow or a fall, even if it seems fine.
- Drags its hind legs or cannot stand up.
- Is very lethargic, cold to the touch, or has pale gums.
How to make things easier for the vet
The more information you bring, the better. Note down when you first noticed the change, what it eats and drinks, how its urine and stools are, and if you have made any changes at home. A short video of the symptom (limping, coughing, how it breathes) helps a lot, because many cats stay still at the clinic and do not show it.
And do not wait until it is sick to get it used to the carrier. If you leave it open at home, with a blanket inside, it will stop being “the box that takes it to the vet.” In our cat walking and transport section, you will find carriers and backpacks to take it comfortably and safely.
You may also be interested in: cat water fountains.