How to tell if your cat is feeling unwell

19th December 2022

Cats tend to mask discomfort or pain, making it difficult for other cats but also humans to tell when they’re feeling weak. Therefore, observing a cat’s appearance, body language and behaviour is important – not just for spotting the signs that something is wrong now but also to gain an understanding of their usual behaviour so you’re able to tell when something changes in the future.

dis·com·fort | /disˈkəmfərt/ | noun | slight pain

There are many reasons why your cat may feel discomfort or pain. This article is intended to create awareness of the importance of long-term monitoring of your cat rather than an exhaustive list of signs to look out for. If you feel that your cat’s physical appearance or behaviour has changed, it’s best to consult your vet. A good preventative measure is to check-in with your vet annually.

Things you may want to be look out for:

Pay attention to your cat’s weight and fur. Your cat’s coat should be glossy and their body well-proportioned with a waist and only minimal fat round the ribs and tummy. Weight changes as well as a matted or thinning coat can be an indicator of a range of issues. Monitoring their appetite relative to their weight can be another useful indicator. Being able to track and check your cat’s eating habits long-term will also allow you to spot seasonal changes or subtle changes occurring as your cat’s age progresses. Just like behavioural changes can slowly creep in, changes in appearance can do so too. So, if visitors suddenly mention changes in your cat’s appearance, then this should be seen as a friendly wake-up call.

As a first indicator: Your cat’s body-posture and activity can tell you more about their wellbeing. When cats experience pain, they may start resting more. You may observe them holding their head below their shoulder level with their ears flattened, a wrinkled forehead and tilted eyes. Overall, they may also become less active to preserve their energy or to avoid causing themselves more discomfort.

If your cat is using a SureFlap™ Microchip Cat Flap Connect or SureFlap™ Microchip Pet Door Connect, then you can use the Sure Petcare App to monitor your cat’s outdoor activity levels and patterns for sudden or more gradual changes.

Your cat’s food preference or eating habits can be an early indicator of problems such as poor oral or dental health. If your cat’s food preference changes from crunchy to soft or if they’re suddenly gobbling instead of chewing, then this could be caused by tooth ache. Even the time and frequency at the food bowl or feeder can be affected by your cat experiencing oral discomfort. With the SureFeed™ Microchip Pet Feeder Connect you can track your cat’s feeding habits long-term.

Constant licking of a body part may indicate that your cat is either experiencing stress or discomfort. As the constant licking can cause hair loss and inflammation, it’s important for your cat to receive treatment immediately.

Should your cat suddenly become unclean and do their business outside their litter tray, then they may be stressed or feel poorly. Your vet can check your cat for any underlying conditions before seeking advice from a behaviour specialist.

Diabetes as well as kidney disease are illnesses that can affect your cat too. These often present themselves through increased drinking. If you want to be sure to track your cat’s drinking, even when you’re not around, you can use Felaqua™ Connect.

The Sure Petcare range of connected pet products help you monitoring your cat’s behaviour, so you’ll find it easier to spot unusual changes in their routine and wellbeing.

If you’d like to share your own pet care tips with us, why not send us a message on social media, get involved in the conversation using the hashtag #DoYouSpeakCat or give @SurePetcare a mention.

You can read more about the feline body language here.

Always make sure to consult your vet, should you have concerns about your cat's wellbeing.