A dog that is feeling unwell usually makes it clear. A cat does not. By instinct, they tend to hide pain and weakness, so often the only thing we notice is that "they're acting a bit strange." Learning to read those small changes is the best way to catch problems in time.
Changes in food and water
It's one of the first things you notice if you pay attention:
- Eating less or stopping eating. In cats, this is not something to let slide for several days: when a cat stops eating, especially if it is overweight, it can suffer from liver problems. If it hasn't taken a bite in a day, call the vet.
- Drinking much more than before. If you see it emptying the bowl or looking for water in faucets and sinks when it didn't do so before, mention it. In older cats, it may be linked to frequent problems such as kidney disease, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism, and all are controlled better if detected early.
- Losing weight despite eating well. This is another sign that warrants a check-up.
The opposite also happens: many cats drink little, and that has its own risks. If that's your case, you might be interested in why your cat drinks little water and how to encourage it to drink more.
The litter box tells a lot
Cleaning it daily gives you very valuable information:
- More urine clumps or a larger amount than usual.
- Going often and doing little, or doing it outside the box when it didn't do so before.
- Diarrhea, blood in stool, or constipation that lasts more than a couple of days.
A case that is an emergency no matter what: a cat, especially a male, that strains in the box and produces nothing or almost nothing. It may have an obstructed urethra, and that cannot wait until tomorrow.
Vomiting: when to worry
A cat vomiting a hairball once in a while can be normal. What is not normal is:
- Vomiting often, several times a day or several times a week.
- There is blood or the vomiting is accompanied by lethargy.
- Trying to vomit without success or not keeping even water down.
Changes in appearance and behavior
Here are the more subtle signs, the ones only those living with them notice:
- Stopping grooming and the coat looks dull, greasy, or matted, especially on the back.
- Hiding more, stopping greeting you, or looking for places it doesn't normally get into.
- Being more irritable and hissing or pulling away when you touch a specific area.
- Stopping jumping to high places it used to use, or climbing with effort. Often it is joint pain, very common in older cats and easy to confuse with "it's just gotten old."
- Hunched posture, sitting in a ball, with eyes half-closed and head low.
- Sneezing, runny nose, or eye discharge that lasts more than a few days.
- Bad breath or drooling, which usually point to the mouth.
When to go without waiting
There are situations where it is not advisable to make an appointment for a few days later, but rather to call the clinic or emergency services immediately:
- Breathing with mouth open or with a lot of effort. In cats, this is never normal.
- Cannot urinate or strains without result.
- Has eaten or licked something toxic: lilies, human medications, cleaning products, or dog flea treatments.
- Has suffered a blow or a fall, even if it seems fine.
- Dragging its hind legs or unable to stand.
- Is very lethargic, cold to the touch, or has pale gums.
How to make it easy for the vet
The more information you bring, the better. Write down when you noticed the change, what it eats and drinks, how the urine and stool are, and if you have made any changes at home. A short video of the symptom (a limp, a cough, how it breathes) helps a lot, because in the consultation many cats sit still and don't show it.
And don't wait until it's 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 me to the vet." In our section on cat walking and transport, you have carriers and backpacks to take it comfortably and safely.