How do I know if my cat is healthy? Coat, stools, behavior, here are 10 signs that show that your cat is happy and comfortable. Note that these signs are also the same for kittens.
Regardless of how old they are, our cats will forever be our little babies. They're part of our family and it's no surprise that we love them unconditionally. All we wish is for them to be healthy so they can live happily alongside us for as long as possible. But if they find themselves in distress, unlike human children, cats can have little way of letting us know. This can make it really difficult for parents to detect any health problems their cat could be experiencing. How can you tell if your cat's healthy?
Certain signs may alert you. Coat, stool, behaviour. Here are 10 signs that show your cat is healthyIt's important to note that this is not a comprehensive list, and only your vet can truly evaluate your beloved pet's health.
10 signs that show your cat is healthy
1/ Its coat is soft and silky
The appearance of your cat's coat and skin is an important indicator of your cat's health. A cat with oily or dull fur, shedding a lot of hair, or with flaky patches may be suffering from an allergy, skin disease, or a nutritional deficiency.
As explained in our article on cat's coat, several nutrients have a direct impact on the appearance of our felines' fur. These include proteins, from which skin and fur are largely composed, fatty acids such as Omega 3 and 6, vitamins A, E, and B, as well as trace elements like copper and zinc. Black cats deficient in copper can result in reddening of their fur with their coat becoming reddish in places.
Excessive and prolonged hair loss, accompanied by abnormal symptoms (itching, bumps, crusts, patches) may also be a sign of a parasitic infection. External parasites like fleas and mites or internal parasites such as intestinal worms can cause infections and skin lesions that need to be treated promptly.
If you detect a change in the appearance of your cat's skin and coat you may want to check that it's not suffering from a parasitic infection, and above all, check its diet. Its current diet may not cover all its nutritional needs.
It's essential to provide your cat with a diet rich in quality proteins and fatty acids (notably Omega 3 and 6) to keep its coat soft and silky. At Ziggy, our grain-free dry food and wet food for cats provides the perfect dose of these nutrients in the right quantities. And to fill up on Omega 3, discover our Omega Boost, a fish oil for cats concentrated in EPA & DHA Omega 3.
2/ An optimal weight
A healthy cat is one that's at its , or healthy weight, meaning it's neither too thin nor too fat.
Let's keep in mind that being overweight or obese can have serious consequences on a cats' health. An obese cat may develop diabetes, respiratory issues, or urinary disease such as cystitis or kidney problems like renal failure (one of the three leading causes of death in our beloved pets).
Another risk: arthritis.This condition, characterised by progressive destruction of the bony cartilage, primarily affects senior or elderly cats, but it can occur much earlier in overweight or obese cats as their joints wear out faster due to carrying excessive weight.
How can you tell if my cat's at its ideal weight?
Only your vet can tell you. However, a quick touch test can tell you whether or not your cat needs to lose weight.
A cat has an optimal weight if you can make out its waist. You can feel its ribs by just touching him, without pressing. On the other hand, an overweight cat has a more rounded stomach. You have to press to feel its sides. And an overweight cat has a stretched stomach. This mean you can't feel its ribs even when pressing on its sides.
Only a special diet can help your little friend get back to its ideal weight. Their diet should be low in carbs, low in fats, and rich in quality proteins. Read all about in our article on how to feed obese cats.
An optimal AND stable weight!
Having an optimal weight is important, but you also need to make sure that your furry friend maintains it. Losing or gaining weight rapidly is not always a good sign for cats. Weight loss may indicate renal failure or another equally serious illness in our furry friends.
3/ Perfect digestion
Another way to see if your cat is healthy is to check its litter. If he goes to the loo regularly and has well-formed, brown stool he is likely to be healthy.
Conversely, if its stool is soft and light in colour, your furry friend may be suffering from diarrhoea, caused by a sudden diet change, an unsuitable diet, or in the most severe cases, an illness. Several conditions can cause diarrhea, such as viral diseases (FIV, FeLV, typhus) and certain parasitic diseases of the digestive tract (giardia, coccidia, worms).
In addition to diarrhea, you need to look out for constipation in your cats. When their stool is not regular, hard, dry, and very dark in color. Your cat has a dull coat, taut belly and is lethargic, meowing in the litter or tries to relieve himself outside his tray…
Among the causes, poor nutrition is often the cause. Too dry, low in fiber, too high in ash (minerals). Accompanied by other symptoms such as vomiting, fever, and anorexia, it may instead be a sign of an intestinal blockage or indicate another serious condition.
To know more, check out our infographic on cat stool.We'll explain how to distinguish healthy from abnormal stool.
4/ Your cat is urinating normally
Your cats' urine is not concentrated. If they show no discomfort when going in in their litter, your cat's urinary tract is working as it should.
It should be noted that our cats are easily prone to urinary problems, such as cystitis, a condition characterized by inflammation (with or without infection) of the bladder wall. Among the symptoms are trouble urinating, plaintive meows when trying to pee, or even traces of blood in the urine... The causes of this remain quite unclear, but stress and especially a lack of water could play an important role.
A water-deficient diet can lead to chronic dehydration, resulting in concentrated urine and the development of urinary stones. Keep in mind that the less a cat drinks, the more his urine is concentrated in minerals.
Keep your cat hydrated and healthy!
5/ Your cat has a good appetite
Just like us, our furry friends can be greedy. Meals are one of their favourite moments of the day. A healthy cat eats its dry food or wet food with gusto (purring all along).
Therefore, you should be concerned if your cat suddenly stops eating. This behaviour may indicate a health problem, such as an oral health issue (gingivitis, abscess, broken tooth) or intestinal issue due to a foreign body (string, plastic) or a hairball stuck in the digestive tract.
A loss of appetite can also be a sign of intestinal parasites, chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), pancreatitis, or kidney failure, accompanied by other symptoms such as excessive thirst (your cat drinks a lot of water), vomiting, excessive fatigue, and oral ulcers causing bad breath.
Read all about it in our article: my cat stopped eating, why and what can I do?
Note that being greedy is also not a sign of good health in a cat. A cat that eats too quickly, gobbling down its bowl may be stressed, have an unsuitable diet, or even suffer from illness. Several conditions can lead to an increased appetite in our cats. It could be a parasitic disease (intestinal worms), diabetes, or hyperthyroidism.
6/ Kissable breath
Our cats can sometimes have bad breath, especially after eating or licking their little bottoms. However, bad breath in cats, also known as halitosis, should not be taken lightly, especially if it is persistent or abnormal (smell of ammonia or rotten fruit). It may be a sign of a serious condition.
Your cat may suffer from an oral health problem such as gingivitis or periodontitis. In the case of gingivitis, your cat's gums will be very red, with possible bleeding and excessive salivation. If your cat has bad breath, check his gums. Gingivitis is a fairly common oral health problem in our little felines.
Another condition characterized by bad breath is kidney failure. The breath of severely affected cats can have a strong smell of ammonia or urine.
Finally, if your cat has bad breath, it might be that they're having a little digestive issue. Their dry and/or wet food may contain ingredients they cannot digest effectively. This is often the case with cat food containing low-quality proteins and/or starch, a type of carb found in grains, tubers, and legumes.
At the slightest doubt, call your vet. If you don't suspect or identify any particular condition, take a look in their bowl.
At Ziggy, all our wet food for cats and kittens are grain-free, starch-free, and contain highly digestible premium proteins for perfect digestion and kissable breath!
7/ His eyes and nose are clean
Are your cat's or kitten’s eyes clean, bright, and sparkling? Is his little nose fresh and slightly moist? Then your furry friend is absolutely fine. You can continue to cuddle (if that's fine by them) and make a fuss of them.
If we ask you to check their eyes and nose, it's because our cats (especially kittens) often suffer from calicivirus, an upper respiratory infection also known as “cat flu.” Caused by feline calicivirus (FCV) or feline herpesvirus (FHV), calicivirus is a serious condition that, if not treated in time, can be fatal. Symptoms include watery eyes, repeated sneezing, a runny nose, fever, tongue, palate, and cornea ulcers.
If in the slightest doubt, call your vet, especially if your cat is not vaccinated against calicivirus and chlamydia, a bacterial infection that also affects cats' respiratory tract and ocular sphere.
8/ Your cat grooms regularly
Cats are experts when it comes to grooming. A lick here, a lick there. This meticulous and precise grooming allows them to untangle their coat, remove dead hair, dead skin cells, and dust. Their tongue acts like a little brush. By licking themselves, our furry friends also analyse the odors left on their fur, such as the scent of your hand.
A healthy cat devotes time to its personal hygiene. Cats like to take care of themselves. It makes them feel happy.
However, do keep an eye out. While cats can certainly spend a long time grooming, excessive grooming may indicate distress: your cat may be bored or anxious. They may be trying to comfort themselves and keep busy by licking excessively. In some cases, they may even start pulling out their fur and injure themselves.
Your furry friend may be bored, or have insect bites or a parasitic infection such as ringworm or mange. In such cases, cats have been known to pull out their fur, resulting in exposed skin.
9/ Tip-top shape
Your cat likes to play, jump or run around in your house, climb the curtains and your furniture… No doubt, your cat is in great shape! And this great energy is a sign of good health!
As they age, our furry friends may of course lose a bit of vitality, and that's completely normal. But as long as they remain curious and playful, everything is fine. 💛
10/ Your cats are true to themselves
As long as they keep being themselves, you can be safe in the knowledge that they're happy. Whether that means they cuddle, chat, or purr - whatever comes naturally to them.
A sudden change in behavior often means something's wrong.If your usually clingy furry friend start isolating himself, no longer wanting to cuddle, it’s possible that he's not doing so well. The same goes for cats that are normally solitary and suddenly seek attention. They are trying to let you know that something is wrong…
A question or doubt about your cat's diet? Feel free to contact us at hello@ziggyfamily. Our amazing Cat Moms will answer all your questions!
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