Signs your cat might be sick

How to understand if your cat is sick? There are some fairly obvious clinical symptoms and signs to keep an eye out for. If you notice these symptoms, start contacting your vet

It’s not uncommon for veterinarians to encounter cats in obvious distress, with owners claiming they hadn’t noticed any of the apparent problems. To be fair, cats are often adept at hiding signs of illness, so it can be challenging to determine when something is wrong. However, some unmistakable signs can indicate a problem, even for the most inattentive owner.

Is your cat sick? Here are some clear signs:

Here are some of the most common and visible signs that your cat may be suffering from an illness or some other issue:

• Changes in Appetite:
  If your cat is eating less, more, or not at all, this can be a sign of various health issues. A reduced appetite could be linked to almost any type of feline illness (or simply a dislike for the food). It’s important to distinguish whether the cat seems hungry but doesn’t eat (often a sign of oral problems) or if it has lost its appetite altogether. If your cat completely stops eating, you shouldn’t wait a week before seeing a vet; it should be taken immediately to avoid hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) and jaundice. Conversely, a sudden increase in appetite could indicate intestinal parasites, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or gastrointestinal diseases.
• Drinking Excessively:
  While owners often worry when a cat drinks too little, that’s typically normal behavior. What’s abnormal is when a cat drinks too much. This could point to diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hypercalcemia from tumors, or kidney failure.
• Abnormal Vocalizations:
  If your cat suddenly starts meowing excessively or in a different manner, it could be a sign that something is wrong.
• Unusual Litter Box Habits:
  If your cat is going to the litter box frequently, producing only small amounts of urine each time, or if you notice blood in the urine, this is never normal. If your cat is not urinating, you must take it to the vet immediately — do not wait until after your day at the beach or shopping. This could indicate a bladder obstruction.
• Vomiting and Diarrhea:
  While a single episode of hairball vomiting or mild diarrhea that resolves on its own can be normal, frequent vomiting or persistent loose stools clearly indicates a problem.
• Lack of Grooming:
  If your cat’s coat looks unkempt, dirty, or matted and the cat is not grooming itself, there is an issue. Conversely, excessive grooming may indicate itching or anxiety.
• Bad Breath:
  Often points to gingivitis, stomatitis, tartar buildup, abscesses, pharyngitis, or eosinophilic granuloma.
• Behavioral Changes:
  Sudden changes in behavior, whether the cat becomes calmer or more irritable, are never normal.
• Uneven Pupil Size (Anisocoria):
  Check your cat’s pupils. If they are of different sizes, this always indicates a problem, ranging from eye issues to brain tumors.
• Excessive Hiding:
  If your cat suddenly starts hiding excessively and becomes withdrawn or lethargic, it may be signaling a problem.
• Weight Fluctuations:
  Significant weight loss or gain is a sign that something is wrong.
• Sneezing, Coughing, or Breathing Difficulties:
  Unlike dogs, cats do not pant frequently. Unless the cat has just been running around, rapid open-mouth breathing suggests heart or lung disease.
• Eye Discharge or Ear Wax:
  Excessive discharge from the eyes or excessive ear wax is never normal. They always indicate a problem, such as conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers, viral diseases, or otitis.
• Hair Loss (Alopecia):
  If the hair loss is widespread, that’s one thing, but if there are patches of missing fur, there is likely a dermatological issue.
• Limping or Inability to Jump:
  Cats are generally very agile. If your cat starts limping or can no longer jump, it could have arthritis or may have fought with another cat and developed an abscess.
• Seizures:
  Seizures are never normal. Contact your veterinarian immediately.

When is it urgent to take your cat to the vet?

While conditions like alopecia or bad breath aren’t typically veterinary emergencies (they don’t require after-hours visits, 2 a.m. phone calls, and can usually wait until regular office hours), some symptoms demand immediate attention:

• The cat is not urinating.
• The cat is immobile and comatose.
• Continuous vomiting or diarrhea in a short period (not just one episode yesterday and another the day before, but frequent, unyielding vomiting).
• Difficulty breathing.
• Seizures.