7 Signs There's Something Wrong With Your Cat

Cats are great pets to keep, but you need to keep a close eye on them to make sure they’re happy. If a cat is unwell, the changes can be subtle. This makes it imperative you know what to look for before it’s too late.

We have two cats, and they are both very young, under 3 years old. However, illness can occur at any age. So, on a recent trip to our veterinarian's office for regular check ups, I asked him what to be on the look out for since signs of illness are often subtle and can be mistaken for some other issue.

He recommended that I be aware of these 7 signs and suggested to always contact your pet care provider if you suspect that your cat could be suffering.

1. They Sleep More

Is your cat sleeping more than usual? This could be a big sign that there’s something wrong. This might be the only sign or come with a number of other signs, so monitor your cat’s sleeping pattern to see.

2. They Are Eating More/Less

Pay attention to your cat’s feeding schedule. Are they eating more? Eating less? A sick cat will probably go one of two ways; they’ll either gorge or starve. Take them to the vet ASAP to be sure of what’s wrong with them.

3. They Look Slimmer

Pay attention to your cat’s silhouette. Do they look skinnier to you? Perhaps they look bonier than normal? If they look slimmer, it can be confusing because they might still be eating the same amount of food. If this is the case, you should take them to the vet to see what’s causing the sudden weight loss.

4. Their Coat is Dull and Messy

Sickly cats can't be bothered to groom themselves, so their coat begins to look dull and messy through lack of grooming. It might not be anything to worry about, but you should take them for a check up to be sure. It may just be a simple case of getting some medication from a site like www.365vet.co.uk. Don’t panic at the first signs of this, just make sure you don’t procrastinate.

5. They Have Bad Breath

We all know that cats don’t have particularly nice breath anyway, but if it’s really bad this could be the sign of a problem. They might have something wrong with their kidneys, for example. Even if the cat’s breath doesn’t smell ‘bad’, if it smells different, this could be a sign of a problem developing.

6. They’re Clinging on To Your or Shunning You

Perhaps your cat is normally very clingy, but now they are shunning you. Maybe they aren’t usually too bothered about having a fuss, but they’ve become a bit of a ‘velcro cat’ and can’t leave you alone. Either of these behaviors should be considered abnormal, and you should take them to the vet to see what’s wrong with them.

7. Their Litter Box Habits Have Changed

Nobody likes the litter box round as it is, but it’s a good way to see if your cat is as healthy as they once were. If their litter box habits have changed quite a bit, this could mean there’s something seriously wrong. This is cause for concern and you should get them checked out straight away.

I hope everything is well with your cat and you don’t spot any of these signs. However, if you do, take them to get checked out ASAP.