Cat Health Checklist | Daily Observation Points and Signs of Illness

Cats are animals that instinctively hide pain and illness. In the wild, showing weakness increases the risk of becoming prey to predators, so cats have an ingrained habit of appearing fine even when unwell. As a result, by the time an owner notices something unusual, the disease is often already quite advanced. This is why daily bonding and observation are your cat's greatest defense against serious illness.

Daily Facial Checks

Eye Checks

The eyes reveal health status very clearly. A small amount of white to pale yellow discharge upon waking is normal, but if there is excessive discharge, dark yellow or green coloration, or sticky discharge, it may indicate conjunctivitis or viral infection.

• Are the eyes red or watery?
• Is the cat squinting or appearing sensitive to light?
• Is the third eyelid (the white membrane visible at the inner corner of the eye) visible?
• If the whites of the eyes appear yellowish, it may be jaundice, suggesting liver or gallbladder disease

Ear Checks

In a healthy cat, the inner ear is pink and clean. Large amounts of black granular earwax may indicate ear mites (ear mange), which if left untreated can lead to severe itching and external ear infections.

• Has the amount or color of earwax changed?
• Are there unusual odors or redness?
• Has the cat been shaking its head more frequently or scratching at its ears with its hind legs?
• If the inner ear is covered with brown, thick debris, external ear infection is possible

Nose and Mouth Checks

Small amounts of clear nasal discharge are normal, but yellow or green discharge suggests upper respiratory tract infection (cat flu) caused by bacteria or viruses. Frequent sneezing occurring multiple times daily is also a cause for concern.

Bad breath can reflect the condition of internal organs. Sweetly fruity breath odor may indicate diabetes, while ammonia or urine-like odor may be an early sign of kidney failure. Always check gum color. Healthy cat gums are salmon pink. If they appear whitish or pale, anemia or poor circulation may be suspected.