Information About Cat Health

Looking at a few basic features can help you determine if a cat has health problems. A healthy and consistent weight and coat are indications that a cat is healthy. Other features to examine on a cat are the ears, eyes and teeth.

  1. Weight

    • Your cat's weight can be an indication of its health. Weighing a cat regularly is a good way to check for health problems. If the cat gains or loses significant weight quickly, it could be an indication of obesity or of more serious diseases causing appetite changes.

    Coat

    • The sheen and feel of a cat's coat can be another indication of good or bad health. A healthy cat will have a smooth coat that is soft to the touch. An unhealthy cat may have hair sticking up, bald spots or a coat that it scratches often.

    Ears

    • Ear checks are especially important for outdoor cats. They often get in cat fights and may develop infected blood blisters if you don't regularly check for problems. Ears also could be indications of problems if they are too hot, itchy and irritated or have crumbly dark brown wax inside the ear.

    Teeth

    • Tartar can build up in a cat's mouth and cause irritation and bleeding. Brush a cat's teeth at least once a week to prevent tartar buildup. This is especially important if a cat is fed a wet-food diet because moist food does not clean teeth properly.

    Eyes

    • A healthy cat should have clear and moist eyes. Eyes that are swollen or crusty can be cause for concern. If the third eyelid, a thin film, is covering part of the eye, this is an indication of health problems.