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Since your cat can’t tell you where it hurts, you’ll have to be on the look out for problems. Let’s talk about some cat illness symptoms you should know about.

Since a radical change in your cat’s behavior can be a sign of trouble, you’ll want to note your cat’s typical routine. Cats are very good at hiding discomfort and signs of illness, but if you notice a change in behavior, look more closely to see if there’s a physical cause.

Elimination problems — Cats may experience a number of issues involving urination, defecation, and litter boxes.

FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease) is a group of problems and can involve stones, crystals, infection, or inflammation. Some of these urinary tract problems can be life threatening.

Excessive urination can be a sign of cat illness such as feline diabetes. Excessive licking in the groin or anal area can be a sign of problems.

Constipation is fairly common in cats. Treatments are available for this, and include store bought and veterinarian prescribed treatments such as lactulose.

Impacted anal glands my also be a factor which will require treatment. It should be noted that long term constipation may lead to a serious bowel condition known as megacolon.

If your cat is howling or crying out while using the litter box, or makes frequent but unsuccessful trips to the box, she may have some physical problem that needs to be looked at. Also, a common sign of trouble is scooting across the floor while dragging the rear end.

If your cat is not urinating or defecating or is missing the litter box, contact your veterinarian immediately. Inappropriate elimination is common and is the number one cause that adult cats are brought to shelters. It has a number of physical and behavioral causes. You should address any medical problems first.

Diarrhea may indicate intestinal disease and can lead to dehydration, which can be fatal. Other things to look for are evidence of blood in urine or feces, including black tarry stools.

Eye and mouth problems — The haw, or nictating membrane, is a “third eyelid” that you will sometimes see when a cat’s eyes are open. This is often an indication of illness. Check your cat’s eyes for cloudiness, pupils of uneven size, or discharge.

Pallor of the lips and gums is a sign of disease and could indicate anemia. Other possible cat illness symptoms include bad breath, ulcers in the mouth, and obviously, loose teeth.

Skin and hair issues — The skin and coat of your cat can be used as a measure of overall health. Poor coat or problem skin can be a sure sign of cat illness.

Certain cat illnesses will manifest as poor or oily looking coat. In addition, if a cat stops grooming, it’s a sure sign of trouble.

Also look for swelling, hair loss, excessive dryness or flaking, or skin eruption or growths. Check your cat at least once per week for parasites.

These are a few of the major categories of cat health problems. Keeping alert to your cat’s routine, and being sensitive to any of the possible above problems is an essential part of cat care.