How to Tell If Your Cat is Sick: Signs & Symptoms

If you suspect your cat may be ill, you'll likely worry and wonder whether you should schedule an appointment with your vet. In today's article, our Orlando vets list signs your cat may be sick and explain how you can care for them. Plus: when to seek professional diagnosis and treatment.

Common Illnesses in Cats 

Similar to people, cats can suddenly find themselves feeling unwell. Cat illnesses range from common and highly contagious cat colds (upper respiratory infections) to hyperthyroidism, diabetes, feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia virus, and even cancer, 

Of course, the symptoms that appear in your cat will depend on the kind of illness they are suffering from. However, several symptoms are common to many health issues in cats. 

Is my cat sick?

Sometimes, our cats fall ill, and it can be challenging to tell what's making them feel sick since it may not be obvious to us. While your vet can detect any developing health conditions during an annual physical exam, issues may happen between visits that can cause your cat to become severely ill. 

If you notice these signs that your cat is sick, seek veterinary medical attention for your kitty:

Since you know your cat best, you'll likely be able to sense if and when they are not acting like their regular selves. Even. you notice these signs of a sick cat but your kitty does not seem to be experiencing pain or discomfort, book an appointment with your vet so they can check for underlying symptoms and the issue can be accurately diagnosed and treated. 

Your vet can run diagnostic bloodwork and other tests to detect more subtle symptoms of illness, like dehydration, inflammation, anemia, abnormal blood sugar levels, or infection.

Signs of a Veterinary Emergency 

While you should contact our vets if your cat is displaying the symptoms of illness listed above, the symptoms listed below are much more serious. If your cat exhibits any of the following symptoms, urgent or emergency veterinary care is needed. 

If you are unsure whether your cat's symptoms indicate an emergency, call us or your nearest emergency animal hospital, and a vet can help you decide.

Potential Causes of Cat Illnesses 

The symptoms above can be caused by any number of conditions or issues. Though it’s normal for cats' health and behavior to change over time as they age into their senior years, the sudden appearance of litter box issues could indicate anything from a urinary tract infection to bladder stones or kidney disease.

Extreme weight loss could be due to cancer, while noticeable weight gain can result in obesity, which may cause many long-term issues such as diabetes and cancer. These diseases reduce your cat’s quality of life, and can even cut it short, so it’s imperative to get them medical attention.

Other issues may be caused by dental diseases. Upper respiratory infections can cause breathing problems, while arthritis or injury can result in a drop-off in your cat’s acrobatic activities. Keep an eye on their fur while you’re petting them. Any abscesses that are hot to the touch or aren’t healing are also cause for concern.

Helping Your Sick Cat

It can be distressing to see signs that all is not well with your cat, but the sooner you can get them to a vet, the sooner you can get them back to feeling healthy, happy, and limber. Because some illnesses or injuries can trigger subtle signs and symptoms, even the most doting pet owner may be unsure if serious health issues are occurring. These issues may require a dental exam and cleaning, urgent medical attention, surgery, or even emergency care, so it’s imperative to seek professional advice for an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. 

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.