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Common Signs of a Healthy Cat

Behavior & Appearance

Staff Author

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When you visit your veterinarian, be sure to bring up any questions or concerns regarding your cat's health. To help you determine abnormalities you need to discuss with your veterinarian, please review the following lists.

What's Normal

  • Eyes: Should be bright and clear. Report any discharge to your veterinarian.
  • Ears: Should be clean and free of discharge, odor and redness. Untreated ear problems are painful and can cause hearing loss.
  • Mouth: Should smell fresh. Gums should be pink. Teeth should be free of tartar or plaque. Mouth and lips should be free of sores or growths.
  • Coat: Should be shiny and clean.
  • Weight: Active cats are rarely overweight. Ask your veterinarian for advice on providing the right cat food to maintain your cat's healthy weight.
  • Litter Box Habits: Report changes in litter box habits such as frequency or consistency of your cat's urine or stool to your veterinarian immediately.

What's NOT Normal

  • Diarrhea: This common ailment can be caused by many factors including bacteria, viruses, internal parasites, toxic substances, too much food or psychological upsets. Call your veterinarian if stools are bloody, if there is a large volume of watery stools, if your cat is thin or potbellied, or if the diarrhea continues for more than 24 hours.
  • Constipation: Like diarrhea, constipation can be caused by many factors, including ingesting substances such as hair, bones or foreign materials, or because of disease or insufficient water intake. Your veterinarian may recommend blood tests, radiographs or perform other tests to find the cause.
  • Vomiting: It is not uncommon for a cat to vomit occasionally, but frequent or persistent vomiting is not normal. Call your veterinarian if vomiting occurs more than five times in a few hours, large volumes are vomited, vomit contains blood, or is accompanied by diarrhea or abdominal pain.
  • Abnormal Urination: Straining to urinate or bloody urine may indicate a painful infection of the urinary tract. Contact your ,veterinarian immediately.

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