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| Reasonably healthy stray cat – photo: Jason Armstrong (Flickr) |
What are the signs of a healthy cat? Good cat caretakers will know when their cat is not right and possibly ill but it can be a bit tricky as cats conceal illness and compensate. I have kept this concise and a summary.
The major reference source for this article is the excellent: The Cat: Its Behavior, Nutrition and Health by Linda P Case.
| Criteria | Sign |
| Skin and fur | We know that a healthy cat that is not overweight has a nice shiny well groomed coat. The skin should be pliable and elastic and free from any abnormaliities. See e.g. Symptoms of Feline Diabetes (new window) |
| Mucous membrane (mucosa1) | Not pigmented these should be light pink and glistening. See e.g. Conjunctivitis in a Kitten and Feline Anemia (new window). |
| Eating | Normal and regular. See e.g. My Cat Has Lost Appetite and Weight with Labored Breathing and Feline Weight Loss (new window). |
| Body condition/weight | Correct weight range for cat of certain type and age. Healthy Cat Weight |
| Body temperature | Correct – see cat temperature |
| Pulse | Correct – see normal cat pulse |
| Respiration | Correct – approx. 20 – 40 inhalations per minute. See e.g. Himalayan Cat With Heavy Breathing and My Cat Has Rapid Breathing |
| Elimination | Urine elimination is regular and stool good. See e.g. Blood in Cat Stool and Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC) |
Note:
1. Mucosa: “the inner layer of mucus producing cells that lines the respiratory, gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts.” (Cat Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook – glossary of terms page 585). They are at several places contiguous with skin: at the nostrils, the mouth, the lips, the eyelids, the ears, the genital area, and the anus. (Wikipedia authors).
