Common health problems in cats: warning signs

This guide is for general guidance: its aim isn't for you to diagnose your cat, but for you to learn to recognise the warning signs of the most common feline problems and get to the vet in time. In cats this is especially important, because they are masters at hiding that they're unwell.

Cats hide pain

By instinct, a sick cat hides its weakness. It doesn't complain like a dog; it withdraws, stays still, reduces its activity. By the time the symptoms are obvious, the illness has usually been progressing for a while.

That's why, rather than looking for dramatic symptoms, the useful thing is to know what's normal for your cat and notice the changes: how much it eats and drinks, how it uses the litter tray, where it sleeps, how it moves, its mood. A sustained change in any of these is a reason to seek advice.

Urinary problems

The urinary tract is one of a cat's weak points, especially in males, overweight cats or stressed ones. Watch for:

• Straining in the litter tray, going in and out several times, crying while urinating.
• Urinating outside the litter tray, in odd places, or drops of blood in the urine.
• Persistent licking of the genital area.

A cat that strains and does NOT manage to urinate is an immediate life-threatening emergency (urinary blockage): don't wait even a few hours. For other urinary symptoms, book an appointment with the vet as soon as possible. Good hydration, a healthy weight and reducing stress all help to prevent it.

Hairballs and digestion

While grooming, a cat swallows hair. Normally it passes without any problem; sometimes it forms a ball that gets brought back up. An occasional one can be normal, but frequent retching, repeated vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation are not. Regular brushing—daily in long-haired cats—greatly reduces the problem. Persistent vomiting or digestive changes always warrant a vet visit: they can indicate anything from an intolerance to something more serious.

Dental health

Dental disease is very common and greatly underestimated. Tartar and gum inflammation cause pain and can affect other organs. Signs: marked bad breath, drooling, difficulty eating or chewing only on one side, dropping food, red gums. Check your cat's mouth now and then and mention it at check-ups; the vet will advise whether a dental cleaning is needed.

Being overweight

Being overweight is one of the most common problems in indoor cats and a risk factor for diabetes, joint and urinary problems and a shorter life. A cat at a healthy weight has a visible waist when seen from above and you can feel its ribs without pressing. If your cat is looking 'rounded', don't treat it as normal: adjust the portions with the vet, use puzzle feeders and increase play. Weight-loss diets in cats are always done gradually and under supervision.

Kidneys: the key thing to watch in older cats

Chronic kidney disease is one of the most common problems in cats from a certain age. It progresses slowly and silently, and is detected earlier with blood tests than with symptoms. The late signs include drinking and urinating far more than usual, losing weight, eating less and an unkempt coat. That's why, in the senior cat, check-ups every 6 months with a blood test are the best tool: the earlier it's detected, the better it can be managed.

Check-ups and prevention

Feline prevention rests on several pillars:

• Veterinary check-up annually (adults) or every six months (seniors).
• Vaccination and deworming according to the plan the vet sets, for indoor cats too.
• Neutering, which prevents diseases and behavioural problems.
• Always-fresh water and, if it eats dry food, encouraging water intake (fountains, wet food).
• Weight management and an enriched environment that reduces stress.

When it's an emergency

Go to a vet immediately, without waiting, if your cat shows:

• Straining to urinate without success.
• Difficulty breathing, open-mouth breathing or panting.
• Not eating or drinking anything for more than a day, or intense, sudden lethargy.
• Repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, especially with blood.
• Suspected poisoning, injury or a fall.
• Seizures, disorientation or very pale or bluish gums.

In short: cats hide illness, so your best tool is knowing what's normal for them and noticing the changes. Watch the urinary tract, the weight, the mouth and, in the older cat, the kidneys. Keep up the check-ups—annual, and every six months for seniors—and, faced with emergency signs, don't wait. This guide is for guidance; the diagnosis is always the vet's.