Most pet owners can tell when their cat is feeling well. If they’re engaging in their usual activities such as playing, perching, and eating nutritious food, it’s likely a signs of a healthy cat.

However, cats are adept at concealing discomfort, making it essential to recognize specific indicators of a healthy cat. Understanding these signs can help you detect any potential signs of illness or discomfort early.

While your veterinarian can provide a personalized wellness assessment for your pet.

However, here are some common signs to look out for if you’re wondering about your cat’s health.

What are the Signs of a Healthy Cat?

If you want to know if your cat is healthy, look out for these key indicators:

1. Digestive Healthy Cat

A healthy cat employs the litter box 1 to 3 times in a day, bowel movements should be firm, small, and color from tan to dark brown; sometimes it may be green or orange. Soft or watery bowel movement or no bowel movement for one whole day means there is problem with the digestive system.

Surprisingly, constipation is relatively common in cats as reported by the American Veterinary Medical Association with statistics showing that 1-2% of the cats may suffer from it.

2. Weight

This should be a healthy weight for a cat and should ideally be in proportion to the breed and sex of the cat. Their abdomen should be somewhat defined where you can even touch their sternum and observe that they have a bit of a thin waist. In case all these do not work, talk to your veterinarian if your cat is over weight. Special dieting cat food and additional movement may assist your cat lose some pounds.

3. Eyes

The cat eyes should be a bright, clear and there should be no signs of discharge. Added to that, clouding or discharge could mean other diseases of the organ. However, do not delay consult with a veterinarian.

4. Ears

The healthy cat ears should be inside light pink with little to no dirt or debris. A little of the earwax is usually formed in the ear but excessive formation of the earwax may mean an infection.

5. Skin & Coat

Skin and coat quality gives the perception of health in your cat. If the skin is healthy, the coat is smooth, has a sheen, no loose hair, or dirt, and is suitable colored. The dog’s coat should be brushed frequently to ensure it is clean so as not to be home to various infections.

6. Energy Levels

There are signs which indicate that a cat is healthy and these include the fact that it plays and is more active. Brief play-spells during a day are common Children aged between two and five years are allowed to play for a short duration of time during the day. If your cat is less energetic than usual, bring in new toys or games that it has not played with before.

7. Dental Health

Cats are obligatory dental clean animals, and therefore the teeth of a healthy cat are white and do not have any signs of dental plaque or tartar formation. Gums should not be black or have a foul smell, they should be pink and free from disease. Healthy gums may be pink or pale pink; other signs that need veterinary care are teeth that are discolored, smell foul, or have fallen out.

Daily brushing is good and sufficient for your cat but you should take your cat to the vet for examination and cleaning at least once a year. 

Spotting Signs of Cat Illness

Not all cats are healthy, that’s why it’s important to know the sign of illness in your cat.

But, how do you tell your cat is suffering from any illness? Well, Below I mentioned some signs that might mean your cat needs a vet visit:

• Big Changes in Eating or Drinking: Is your cat eating a lot less or a lot more than usual? Are they drinking from the water bowl way more often? This could be a sign of illness.
• Acting Different: Did your playful kitty suddenly become grumpy or sluggish? Or maybe a normally shy cat is now extra clingy? A change in personality could signal a health problem.
• Bathroom Troubles: Is your cat having trouble using the litter box, going more or less often than usual, or having diarrhea? These are all reasons to see the vet.
• Breathing Problems: Is your cat coughing, wheezing, or having trouble catching their breath? This could be serious and needs a vet check right away.
• Skin and Fur Issues: Is your cat losing more fur than usual, scratching a lot, or have any lumps or bumps? These could be signs of allergies, infections, or other problems.
• Limping or Weakness: Did your cat hurt their leg or seem wobbly on their feet? Weakness can also be a sign of illness.
• Runny Nose or Eyes: Is your cat sneezing a lot or have goo coming from their nose or eyes? This could be an infection.
• Throwing Up: Vomiting sometimes happens, but if your cat throws up a lot, it’s best to see the vet.
• Weight Loss: Cats shouldn’t lose weight without a reason. Sudden weight loss needs a vet check.

If you experience any of these signs in your cat, it is advisable to take the cat to a vet immediately. Depending on the situation, some of the outside symptoms might signal more severe problems; for this reason, it is always wise to consult a veterinarian and provide your cat with the highest level of attention and care. Bear this in mind, your cat is not a nuisance but a friend that needs, attention and should be attended to when sick.

Last Words

You can’t feed or give medicine to the cat properly if you don’t know it’s healthy. That’s why knowing the signs of a healthy cat is important. Sometimes you will see changes in their activities, type of food they eat or the frequency they use the litter box and this might be a sign that they need to see the vet. These are the signs that will assist you in determining whether your kitten is healthy or not.