It’s not always easy to tell when your cat is sick.
Cats may be predators, but that doesn’t mean they’re at the top of the food chain. They can be hunted by larger animals, like coyotes or hawks. For this reason, cats instinctively hide their pain—they don’t want to appear weak when they are vulnerable, because it might attract larger predators.
Some signs of illness in cats are more obvious, like vomiting and diarrhea. Others are more subtle, like the changes in behavior we’ll review below. Here’s how to tell if your cat is sick.
Is Your Cat Doing One of These Five Things?
- Hiding All the Time
- Not Eating as Much
- Meowing in the Litterbox
- Coughing or Hacking
- Wobbling When Walking
All five of these behaviors are good reasons to take your cat to the vet! It might be something minor, like the new laundry detergent you’re using, or something more serious, like a tooth infection. Let’s go over each of these symptoms in more detail.
Five Signs of Illness in Cats
1: Hiding All the Time
All cats like to hide. Hiding makes them feel safe, and allows them to get a good deep sleep once in a while instead of just a “catnap.” However, constant hiding may be a sign that something is wrong. They may be hiding out of anxiety—like after a move to a new home, adopting another pet, or a disruption to their normal schedule.
Hiding can also be a sign of illness—when cats are sick and want to feel safe, they’ll retreat to their favorite hiding place to rest. If your cat has been “missing” for more than a day, you should take them to the vet for an examination.
2: Not Eating as Much
Sometimes cats will refuse to eat if you serve them a new type of food or a brand they don’t like. But most of the time, loss of appetite is a big red flag telling you that your cat is sick.
They may be in pain from a tooth abscess, or feeling nauseous because of an infection. It could be a sign of anxiety, or a symptom of chronic disease. If your cat is refusing to eat, and you haven’t made any changes to their diet, bring them to the vet right away.
3: Meowing in the Litterbox
If your cat is vocalizing when they use the litterbox, there’s a reason for it. Perhaps they’re trying to get your attention by ever-so-subtly hinting that you need to change the litter. However, if they’re meowing every time they go, you should take your cat to the vet.
Meowing in the litterbox could indicate a painful urinary tract infection or—even worse—a bowel obstruction. If your cat swallowed a string or a small object, it could be blocking their intestines and causing internal bleeding. Bowel obstructions can quickly turn deadly, and your cat will need urgent care.
4: Coughing or Hacking
You know that hacking couch that indicates a hairball is on the way? If your cat is coughing and coughing but not producing a hairball, they might be sick. They could have asthma, a respiratory infection, or a number of other health problems. They could also be reacting to the fumes from cleaning products or air fresheners.
Sometimes, a coughing spell just means your cat is having trouble ejecting a hairball. But if your cat keeps coughing, and no hairballs come up, take them to see a vet.
5: Wobbling When Walking
If your cat seems a little unsteady on their feet, or they’re too weak to jump, they may be seriously ill. Ataxia (lack of coordination) and weakness can be symptoms of many illnessess. It could indicate anything from an ear infection to a brain tumor to a spinal injury. It could also be a reaction to ingesting something toxic, like pollen from a bouquet of lilies.
A sudden lack of coordination is definitely cause for concern. If your cat can’t walk straight or seems too weak to move, get them to the vet right away.
Veterinary Care for Cats in Gilbert
If you’re looking for the best veterinarians for cats in Gilbert, Arizona, you found us! Nobody else will give your cat the same loving attention and dedicated care as Anasazi Animal Clinic. If you’re concerned about a recent change in your cat’s behavior, give us a call to make an appointment. Whether the problem is large or small, we can give your cat the care they need.
Photo by Ladislav Stercell on Unsplash used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 3/17/25.