Cats are clever, independent and full of personality. They’re also very good at hiding when something isn’t quite right.
That’s one of the reasons cat health can be tricky. A dog may limp, cry, or come straight over for help. A cat is often more likely to retreat, sleep somewhere unusual, stop jumping as much, or quietly change their routine.
For International Cat Day, we’re celebrating cats by talking about something that really matters: helping cat owners spot the small changes that can tell us a lot about their health.
Because when it comes to cats, asking early can make a big difference.
Why cat care needs to be cat-friendly
Cats aren’t small dogs. They experience the world differently, respond to stress differently, and often show illness in more subtle ways.
Many cats dislike disruption to their routine. A new pet, house move, building work, visitors, a change in litter, or even a new feeding location can affect how they behave. Stress can show up as hiding, overgrooming, toileting outside the litter tray, changes in appetite, or becoming more withdrawn.
Pain can be just as easy to miss. Cats don’t always limp dramatically or cry when something hurts. They may simply stop jumping onto the windowsill, sleep more, groom less, become grumpy when touched, or avoid using the litter tray if climbing in and out is uncomfortable.
That’s why cat-friendly care matters. It means looking at the whole cat, including their behaviour, environment, routine, mobility, appetite, toileting and emotional wellbeing.
At PawSquad, we’re working with iCatCare to continue building a more cat-friendly approach to online veterinary advice, so cat owners can feel confident asking questions early, even when symptoms are subtle or their cat is difficult to examine at home.
And for many cat owners, that matters. If your cat hates the carrier, hides under the bed, or becomes stressed on the way to the vet, it can be easy to put off asking for advice until something feels more serious. PawSquad gives you another way to start the conversation from home.
Some cats will still need a hands-on examination at your local veterinary practice. But for those “is this normal?” moments, a chat or video consultation can help you understand what might be going on and what to do next.
1. We don’t always show pain in obvious ways
Cats are experts at hiding discomfort. In the wild, showing weakness can make an animal more vulnerable, and domestic cats still carry many of those instincts.
Pain in cats may look like:
- sleeping more than usual
- hiding away
- being less keen to play
- becoming irritable or withdrawn
- avoiding being touched
- grooming less, leading to a greasy or matted coat
- licking one area repeatedly
- hesitating before jumping
- choosing lower resting places
- toileting outside the litter tray
A cat who has stopped jumping onto the sofa or windowsill may not be “just getting older”. They could be uncomfortable, stiff, arthritic, injured, or unwell.
PawSquad can help you talk through these changes and decide whether your cat needs monitoring, mobility support, pain assessment, or an in-person vet visit.
2. Drinking more can be an important health clue
Some cats naturally drink more than others, especially if they eat dry food. But a noticeable increase in drinking, or more urine in the litter tray, is worth paying attention to.
Increased thirst can be linked to several health problems, including kidney disease, diabetes, thyroid disease and other medical conditions. These are more common in older cats, but they can affect younger cats too.
Signs to look for include:
- filling the water bowl more often
- drinking from unusual places, such as taps, sinks or glasses
- larger clumps in the litter tray
- needing to clean the litter tray more frequently
- weight loss despite a good appetite
- changes in coat condition
- vomiting or reduced appetite
It’s useful to note when the change started, what your cat eats, whether they’re losing weight, and whether their toileting has changed. These details can really help a vet decide what should happen next.
3. Litter tray changes aren’t “bad behaviour”
When cats wee or poo outside the litter tray, it’s easy to assume they’re being difficult or protesting. In reality, litter tray changes often have a reason.
Possible causes include:
- cystitis or urinary discomfort
- stress
- arthritis or difficulty climbing into the tray
- constipation
- diarrhoea
- kidney disease or diabetes causing increased urination
- dirty trays or tray location problems
- competition in multi-cat households
A very important warning sign is straining to urinate, especially in male cats. If your cat is going back and forth to the tray, crying, producing little or no urine, licking their back end, or seeming distressed, this can be an emergency. They need urgent veterinary care.
For less urgent toileting changes, PawSquad can help you work through what’s changed, what to look for, and whether your cat needs to be seen.
4. Hiding can be a sign something’s wrong
Some cats are naturally shy, and many enjoy quiet hiding places. But a cat who suddenly hides more than usual may be telling you something.
Hiding can be linked to:
- pain
- stress
- fever or infection
- nausea
- injury
- fear
- conflict with another cat
- changes at home
The key question is: has your cat’s normal behaviour changed?
If your sociable cat is suddenly spending most of the day under the bed, or your usually confident cat avoids contact, it’s worth asking for advice. This is especially important if hiding comes with reduced appetite, vomiting, breathing changes, toileting changes, or signs of pain.
Chat can work particularly well here because you don’t have to drag your cat out from their safe place. You can describe what has changed, upload photos or videos if helpful, and get guidance on what to do next.
5. Grooming changes can tell us a lot
Cats are usually careful groomers, so changes in grooming can be a useful health signal.
Overgrooming may show as:
- bald patches
- broken hairs
- sore skin
- excessive licking
- hairballs becoming more frequent
- licking one area repeatedly
This can be linked to fleas, allergies, pain, stress or skin disease.
Under-grooming can also matter. A cat who stops grooming may develop a dull, greasy or matted coat. This can happen if they feel unwell, are overweight, have dental pain, or are struggling with arthritis and can’t comfortably twist to groom.
A change in grooming isn’t something to ignore, especially if it’s new, persistent or linked to skin changes. PawSquad can help you decide whether it sounds like a skin issue, pain, stress, parasites, or something that needs an in-person examination.
6. Appetite changes matter, even if they seem small
Cats can be fussy, but a change in appetite is still worth noticing.
You should ask for veterinary advice if your cat:
- eats much less than normal
- stops eating
- suddenly becomes ravenous
- loses weight despite eating
- seems interested in food but backs away
- drops food
- chews on one side
- vomits frequently
- becomes unusually picky
Cats who stop eating can become unwell quickly, especially if they’re overweight or have an underlying health problem. A reduced appetite can also be linked to dental disease, nausea, pain, fever, stress, kidney disease, thyroid disease and many other conditions.
If you’re not sure whether your cat’s appetite change is significant, PawSquad can help you talk it through and decide how quickly they need to be seen.
7. Not jumping up anymore isn’t always “just age”
Many older cats slow down gradually, but that doesn’t mean stiffness or reduced mobility should be accepted as normal.
Cats with mobility problems may:
- hesitate before jumping
- use furniture as steps
- stop climbing stairs
- sleep in lower places
- play less
- become grumpy when handled
- groom less
- miss the litter tray
- have difficulty getting in or out of high-sided trays
- stop using cat flaps
Arthritis is common in older cats, but it’s often under-recognised because cats don’t always limp. Instead, their world gradually gets smaller.
PawSquad’s mobility support and health trackers can help you notice patterns, talk through changes, and decide whether your cat may benefit from a veterinary mobility assessment or changes at home.
Simple adjustments, such as low-sided litter trays, steps to favourite resting places, accessible food and water, and soft bedding, can also make a real difference to comfort.
8. Vomiting often isn’t “normal cat stuff”
Many cat owners are used to the occasional hairball or vomit, but frequent vomiting shouldn’t be written off as normal.
It’s worth asking for advice if your cat:
- vomits repeatedly
- vomits more often than usual
- brings up food soon after eating
- has diarrhoea as well
- loses weight
- seems hungry but is losing condition
- has a reduced appetite
- seems quiet, painful or dehydrated
- may have eaten string, ribbon, plants or a foreign object
Vomiting can be linked to hairballs, diet, parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, kidney disease, thyroid disease, toxins, foreign bodies and many other causes.
If your cat is otherwise normal and has vomited once, it may not be an emergency. Occasional vomiting can be normal for some cats. But if it’s unusual, they generally have a robust stomach, or if they’re displaying other symptoms as well, it can be a red flag and suggest they need urgent care.
PawSquad can help you decide what level of concern is appropriate and what signs would mean your cat needs to be seen quickly.
Why asking early matters
Cat owners often wait because they don’t want to overreact. They may think a symptom is too small, too vague, or not worth bothering a vet about.
But with cats, small changes can be important.
A change in drinking, grooming, jumping, toileting, hiding or appetite may be the first clue that something is wrong. Getting advice early can help you understand whether it’s something to monitor, something to manage at home, or something that needs a hands-on veterinary examination.
PawSquad gives you a way to ask those early questions without immediately putting your cat through a stressful journey.
Why chat can work well for cats
Some cats don’t cooperate with video calls. They hide, wriggle, freeze, or vanish as soon as they realise something is happening.
That’s where chat can be especially helpful.
With PawSquad chat, you can:
- explain what has changed
- upload photos
- send videos of walking, jumping, breathing or behaviour
- describe appetite, drinking and litter tray patterns
- ask follow-up questions
- get guidance without trying to hold your cat still
For many cat health questions, the story you tell is just as important as what can be seen on screen. When did it start? Is it getting worse? Is your cat eating? Are they drinking? Are they hiding? Are they toileting normally? These details help build a clearer picture.
When your cat needs urgent help
Online advice can be very useful, but some signs need urgent veterinary attention.
Seek urgent help if your cat:
- is struggling to breathe
- collapses
- is unable to urinate or is straining with little or no urine
- has a painful or injured eye
- has repeated vomiting or severe diarrhoea
- has eaten something toxic
- has a seizure
- has been involved in an accident
- is very weak, cold, pale or unresponsive
- is in obvious pain
- hasn’t eaten for a concerning period, especially if they’re unwell in other ways
If you’re unsure, it’s always better to ask.
Cat care, without waiting until it gets worse
Cats don’t always make it easy to know when something’s wrong. That’s exactly why cat-friendly advice matters.
Whether your cat is drinking more, hiding away, vomiting more often, grooming differently, struggling to jump, or simply “not quite themselves”, PawSquad can help you decide what to do next.
Start with chat, send what you’ve noticed, and get vet-led guidance from home.
Because when it comes to cats, the small signs are often worth listening to.