How to Identify a Sick Cat

Observe your cat’s sleep time. When sick, they often sleep more. If your cat shows no signs of illness, such as vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or swelling, you should still keep an eye on them. When these symptoms appear, you need to take your cat to the vet.

• If you don’t notice any other symptoms, you need to monitor your cat for 24 hours (of course, you should take him to the doctor first if you are really worried). In case the fatigue persists into the second day, it’s time to take them to the doctor. ^[1]

Check your cat’s body temperature to determine if she has a fever. Use a rectal thermometer to measure their body temperature. However, if the cat is uncomfortable, you should not take the measurement and let the doctor do it. Normal body temperature ranges from 37.5 to 39.2 degrees Celsius. If above 39.2 degrees Celsius is elevated, and above 39.5 degrees Celsius means the cat has a fever. Then you need to take them to the vet. ^[2]

• Cats with fever often sleep deeply, skip meals, and their coat is no longer shiny but becomes messy. The nose and ears may be dry and warm to the touch with a finger at normal body temperature. While ear touching is not an accurate way to check temperature, if your cat’s ears are cool, they are unlikely to have a fever.

Watch for signs of a change in toilet habits. You need to look out for the following: how often your cat uses the litter box, if they are having trouble, or if the urine is bloody or mucusy, and the stools are solid and look like ore. ^[3] If your cat has diarrhea, but continues to exert herself or is constipated (a sign of hard, dry stools), then you need to see a doctor. When you notice that your cat is exerting herself repeatedly and is unable to urinate, or is bleeding, call your veterinarian immediately. ^[4]

• Male cats are more prone to urinary problems when they have difficulty urinating. Signs include frequent defecation, and sometimes squatting outside the tray. Cats may squat for a few minutes or squat and move to another place and continue to squat. If possible, you should check to see if they urinate (dry or wet pads?) and if so, continue to check for blood stains. ^[5]

Observe your cat’s eating habits. If you notice that your cat is not eating much, or is eating more than usual, there may be a problem. In case your cat is not interested in food all day, this could be a sign of some problem such as eating neighbor’s food, feeling nauseous, or having kidney problems. However, if cats eat it wholeheartedly, their health can be affected.

• If your cat hasn’t eaten for more than 24 hours, you need to take her to the vet to detect a potential problem before complications develop. ^{[6] [7]}

Check for signs of dehydration. You need to be aware of changes in your cat’s water-drinking behavior. The amount of water they take in depends on whether they eat liquids (in this case it’s not normal to drink water) or dry foods (it’s normal to drink water). Many diseases cause extreme thirst, such as inflammation, kidney, overactive thyroid, and diabetes. If your cat is thirsty, you should take him to the doctor. ^[8]

• You can conduct a physical exam. Carefully and gently grasp the skin between the shoulder blades. Pull the skin upward away from their body (still be gentle) and then release. If the skin does not return to its original state immediately, then the cat may be dehydrated and should seek medical attention immediately.

Pay attention to your cat’s weight and body shape. Any change in mass is significant and should be investigated. Sudden or even gradual weight loss can be a sign of disease. If in doubt, you should weigh your cat once a week at home. If your cat continues to lose weight, you need to take him to the vet right away. ^[9]

• In the early stages of a disease such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism, cats often appear normal but lose weight. You should seek medical advice in case of persistent weight loss.
• Certain diseases, such as abdominal cancer or heart disease, do not usually affect their weight but lose shape. This means that you can feel the ribs and spine more easily because there is not much fat left over, but the abdomen may be round or bulging. If in doubt, you need to take them to the doctor. ^[10]

Check the cat’s fur. When sick, cats often do not have the strength to groom themselves. Typically, a neat shiny coat will become dark, rough and messy. While stress can contribute to shedding or a change in cleaning habits, your cat does have the disease. Then take them to the doctor. ^{[11] [12]}

• Changes in grooming habits can also be caused by arthritis. Then grooming can be painful if joints and muscles are tight and painful. Again, this is a sign that you cannot ignore and should seek veterinary help.