In the wild, a cat that looks weak is a cat that gets caught. So cats evolved to carry on as normal for as long as they can, even when they’re ill or in pain. It’s why the signs are so easy to miss, and why small changes are worth taking seriously.
The most useful thing you can know about any cat, yours or one on your street, is what’s normal for it. Then you’ll notice when something isn’t.
Go to a vet now if a cat…
- is struggling to breathe, or breathing with its mouth open
- keeps straining in the litter tray and little or no pee comes out, especially a male
- has been hit by a car or had a fall, even if it seems fine
- may have eaten something poisonous, like lilies, antifreeze or human painkillers
- has a seizure, collapses, or can’t stand
- is bleeding heavily or has a deep wound
If you’re not sure whether it’s an emergency, phone a vet and ask.
Why those ones can’t wait
Breathing. A cat breathing with its mouth open isn’t panting like a dog. Cornell’s feline health centre says that when there’s any question about a cat’s breathing, get it to a vet right away.
Straining to pee. It looks like constipation, so people wait. Male cats can get a blocked urethra, and once they can’t pee at all, death can follow in less than 24 to 48 hours.
Poisons. Lilies can cause kidney failure in tiny amounts. Human painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen are a common cause of poisoning, and so are flea treatments made for dogs. Never give a cat medicine meant for people or dogs.
See a vet soon if a cat…
These aren’t emergencies on their own, but they’re how most illness in cats first shows. The charity Cats Protection lists similar general signs:
- Stops eating. More serious in cats than in dogs. After a few days without food, a cat can develop fatty liver disease, which can kill. A cat off its food for more than a day or two needs a vet, and a kitten sooner.
- Drinks or pees a lot more than it used to.
- Loses weight without trying.
- Vomits often, or has diarrhoea that lasts more than a day.
- Hides more, sleeps more, or stops coming for food or a fuss.
- Stops grooming, so the coat looks greasy or messy.
- Sneezes with runny eyes or nose, or has a cough.
- Limps, or doesn’t want to jump.
- Drools, has bad breath, or chews on one side.
Pain shows in the face
In 2019, vets at the University of Montreal published the Feline Grimace Scale, a way of scoring pain from a cat’s face. It looks at five things. A cat in pain tends to have:
- ears flattened and turned out to the sides
- eyes squeezed or half shut
- a tense, tight muzzle
- whiskers straight and pointing forward
- its head held low, below its shoulders
A cat sitting hunched, tucked up and still, with that face, is very likely hurting. It’s worth learning, because it works from a distance, which helps with street cats.
When it’s a street cat
You often can’t pick up a street cat, and many won’t let you near. Watch instead. A cat that misses its usual feed, sits hunched in the same spot for hours, has an open wound, or has thick discharge from its eyes needs help.
Call a local cat rescue or a vet. They can lend a humane trap or come and catch it safely. Don’t try to grab a frightened cat. You’ll both get hurt, and it’ll be harder to catch next time. If you’re not sure what you’re looking at, our guide on finding a street cat can help.
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. It can’t diagnose a cat. If you’re worried, call a vet. They would always rather see a cat that turns out fine than one that came in too late.
Every cat you catch lands on the map, so someone keeps an eye on it.
