How to tell if your cat is sick or in pain

As pet parents, it can be perplexing to try to interpret whether kitty is not feeling well. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Cats are not likely to vocalize (meow, whimper, etc.) when they are in pain unless you are making direct contact with a wound or broken bone. In the wild, an animal who is obviously hurt or weakened is easy prey, so (unfortunately for the human-pet relationship) it is instinctual for cats to try to hide any disadvantage.

Rather than give a vocal cue that she is hurt or ill, your kitty is more likely to withdraw. Isolating or hiding can be cues that something is wrong, if the behaviors are out of character.

2. Watch your kitty's sense of balance. Normally agile, if your cat's sense of balance is not up to its usual standard, pay attention.

3. Listlessness can be another cue that something is wrong. Try engaging kitty in his favorite kind of play. If he is half-hearted or easily tired, it may be a sign.

4. Some cats will purr if excessively frightened or in pain. It seems to be a self-soothing mechanism when in distress. If you know that all is not well, yet your cat is purring, this may be the cause.

Any time you are worried about your kitty's health, bring her to the veterinarian you trust!