Cats are very good at keeping a straight face. A small animal that looks weak can quickly become someone else's dinner, so cats have evolved to hide pain and illness. By the time a cat looks obviously sick, the problem has often been going on for a while.
The good news is that you know your cat better than anyone. Small changes in their routine are usually the first clue, and you are the person most likely to notice them.
1. The quiet signs that are easy to miss
The early signs of many different illnesses look much the same: changes in eating, drinking, toileting and activity. Keep an eye out for:
- eating less, eating more, or suddenly turning fussy
- drinking noticeably more water
- litter tray changes: bigger or more clumps, fewer, or going outside the tray
- sleeping more, hiding, or wanting less company
- a scruffy or greasy coat, because grooming has slipped
- weight loss you feel before you see it, often along the spine
- no longer jumping up to favourite spots, or taking the stairs slowly
One of these on its own for a day may mean nothing. A change that sticks around, or several at once, is worth a call to your vet.
2. Signs that need a vet the same day
Some things shouldn't wait until Monday:
- straining in the litter tray and passing little or no urine, especially in a male cat
- breathing with the mouth open, or breathing fast and with effort while resting
- repeated vomiting, or vomiting together with lethargy
- not eating at all (cats don't cope well with going without food, so don't wait it out)
- collapse, a seizure, or sudden weakness in the back legs
- pale, grey or yellow gums
- any chance they have eaten something toxic, including any part of a lily
Lilies deserve a special mention. Every part of the plant, including the pollen and the water in the vase, can cause kidney failure in cats. If in doubt about anything on this list, ring your vet or an after-hours clinic and describe what you see. They would much rather hear from you early.
3. Common conditions and what they can look like
You don't need to work out what is wrong yourself. That is your vet's job. Knowing the usual patterns simply helps you describe what you have noticed.
- Dental disease: bad breath, dropping food, chewing on one side, pawing at the mouth.
- Kidney disease: drinking and weeing more, weight loss, a smaller appetite. More common in older cats.
- Overactive thyroid: weight loss despite a big appetite, restlessness, more yowling at night. Mostly seen in older cats.
- Diabetes: drinking and weeing more, weight loss, sometimes walking flatter on the back legs.
- Arthritis: less jumping, stiffness after a sleep, accidents outside the litter tray, a scruffier coat. International Cat Care calls it very common in older cats, and easy to miss.
- Urinary problems: frequent small wees, straining, blood in the urine, weeing in odd places. Stress can play a part.
Several of these share the same signs. That's why a vet check, often with a blood or urine test, is needed to tell them apart.
4. Prevention that really helps
- A yearly check-up, or every six months for older cats. The vet weighs your cat and checks teeth, heart, joints and more, which catches slow changes early.
- Vaccinations. In New Zealand the core cat vaccine, usually called F3, covers feline enteritis (panleukopenia), herpesvirus and calicivirus. Most catteries ask for it to be up to date.
- Flea and worm control, using products your vet recommends. Never use a dog flea treatment on a cat. Some contain permethrin, which is poisonous to cats.
- Weigh your cat every month or two. Weigh yourself holding your cat, then without, and note the difference. A slow loss is very hard to see by eye.
5. Keep a simple health note
When something seems off, jot down when it started, what you noticed, and how eating, drinking and the litter tray have been. A short phone video of a limp, a cough or odd breathing is often more useful to your vet than a description.
It also helps to know what normal looks like. How much does your cat usually eat? How many clumps are in the tray each day? Where do they like to sleep? These details make changes much easier to spot.
Looking out for them together
At Nelson Cat Hotel we ask about your cat's normal routine when you book in, because a change in eating, drinking or toileting is often the first sign that something isn't right. The cattery is vet-owned, with veterinary oversight on site. If a guest needs treatment, it's arranged through Nelson Vet Clinic and charged separately, as it would be at home. You can read more about what happens if a cat gets sick while boarding, or about our extra care for elderly and special-needs cats.
