Supercats

The Healthy Cat

A healthy cat generally will have a healthy attitude, usually it will purr when stroked for any length of time, also it should not show any signs of bizarre behaviour.

A healthy cat breathes slowly and rhythmically at rest, and increases its respiratory rate when becoming more active.

When a cat becomes ill it doesn't understand what's wrong, and it will not understand that you are trying to help it, please remember this when examining or treating your cat and it scratches you badly in it's attempts to get away from you. In an adult cat his weight will change very little over short periods of time. As it says on the outside of catfood tins, cats (healthy cats) will regulate their own food intake, and this in turn will regulate their weight. Your cat should have a healthy appetite. Sudden changes in weight and or appetite, should be at least noticed by the caring owner and the reasons for the change should be given very careful consideration. If your cat is currently a healthy feline, now would be a good time to weigh it for future reference.

Similarly a healthy cat has regular drinking habits. Some cats never seem to be drinking, others are regularly at the drinking bowl, but your cat will have a routine. It helps if you know roughly how much your cat drinks.

A healthy cat will have clear bright eyes, with no signs of any discharge. If a discharge appears, take your cat to the vet as soon as possible, don't simply wipe away any discharge and assume nothings really wrong.

A healthy cat will have clean and dry nostrils.

A healthy cat should have healthy, regular toilet habits. This is easy to check in cats that use litter trays, but not so easy for outdoor cats. If your cat becomes ill and you do take him to a vet, the vet will almost certainly ask about this aspect of his life. Please don't stand there looking stupid, unprepared for the question.

A healthy cat sleeps quite a bit as you know, but is your cat currently sleeping too much, and perhaps in an unfamiliar place. This could be sign of illness. But as cats get older they tend to sleep a bit longer.

Your cat's fur should be sleek and unbroken, with no patches of missing fur or thin areas, which should be grounds for concern.. A healthy cat will have a constant habit of regularly grooming himself.

When handled a healthy cat should show no signs of pain, or discomfort or any form of irritation. When the cat moves across the floor it will do so in a fluid motion.