Cat Health

Want to walk into the vet’s office feeling confident and well-prepared? Explore our cat health archives to learn about symptoms, diagnoses, medications, and more.
To ensure that everything you see here is accurate and up-to-date, our health guides are either vet-written or vet-reviewed. Scroll down to start browsing.

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Heavy breathing

Panting

Bad breath

Food allergies

Blood in urine

Blood in stool

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Spaying

Neutering

Vaccination

Heavy breathing

Heavy breathing in cats presents in different ways, including panting, labored breathing, and more. It may indicate a respiratory problem such as infection, inflammation, parasites, trauma, or cancer. It can also occur with pain, stress, heart disease, fever, and metabolic issues. Heavy breathing should always be investigated by a veterinarian.

Learn More: Heavy Breathing in Cats: 3 Types and What to Do

Panting

Panting in cats may occur due to one of many health conditions: pain, stress, fever, lung disease, or heart disease. Panting is a cause for concern in cats and requires emergency veterinary care. Treatment will often involve oxygen therapy, medication, and X-rays.

Learn More: Cat Panting: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment

Bad breath

Bad breath in cats is often a sign of a dental issue, although it could be a sign of another underlying condition.

Learn More: Bad Breath in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment

Food allergies

Food allergies in cats include commonly eaten proteins such as beef, chicken, and fish, which are used in many commercially available cat foods. Food allergy treatment often requires a food trial with a novel protein or hypoallergenic diet for at least six weeks.

Learn More: Food Allergies in Cats: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

Blood in urine

Blood in urine, also known as haematuria, is a serious condition for cats, particularly male sedentary cats. This symptom falls under the umbrella of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) and may be caused by anything from an infection, bladder stones, or cystitis. Cats with blood in their urine must have their urine analyzed to investigate the cause. They will likely need a course of medication and food recommendations from their vet.

Learn More: Blood in Cat Urine (Hematuria): Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment

Blood in stool

Blood in a cat’s stool may vary in amount and color depending on the exact cause. Causes range from stress and diet changes to more serious diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and cancer. Always contact your veterinarian for advice if you see blood in your cat’s stool.

Learn More: What To Do if You See Blood in Your Cat’s Stool?

Vomiting

Vomiting occurs when the cat’s stomach evacuates food through the mouth. Occasional vomiting may not be a cause for concern, but frequent vomiting and additional symptoms can indicate a serious medical issue. Mild cases of upset stomach may resolve on their own or with a temporary bland diet for a couple of days, while more severe cases may require anti-vomiting medication, blood testing, and imaging. Contact your vet for advice if your cat is vomiting frequently, is lethargic, or if there are other concerning symptoms.

Learn More: Cat Vomiting: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment

Diarrhea

Diarrhea, or abnormally soft and unformed stools, is a very common issue in cats. Mild cases are often caused by a diet change or a dietary indiscretion—when cats eat something they shouldn’t have—but more severe cases may indicate parasites, food intolerance, or inflammatory bowel disease. It is sometimes treated with prescribed probiotics and a sensitive, highly digestible diet. More severe cases may require fecal analysis, blood testing, and imaging.

Learn More: Diarrhea in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Spaying

Spaying is a key procedure for female cats designed for population control and cat health. Cats should be spayed to lower the risk of injury, pregnancy complications, infection in their womb (pyometra), and cancer of their reproductive system. It is generally recommended for female cats to be spayed between 4-6 months of age.

Learn More: Spaying and Neutering Cats: A Complete Guide

Neutering

Neutering is a key procedure for male cats designed for population control and cat health. It lowers the risk of pregnancy, behavioral problems, medical conditions, and injury. Neutering is usually a day procedure, requiring general anesthetic at your veterinary clinic. Male cats should be neutered between 4-6 months of age, but your vet will provide an individual timeline according to your cat’s medical history.

Learn More: Spaying and Neutering Cats: A Complete Guide

Vaccination

Cats need vaccinations to protect them against preventable diseases including cat flu, feline panleukopenia, feline leukemia, and rabies. Your vet will tailor your cat’s vaccines depending on what part of the world you live in and your cat’s lifestyle. Kittens require a primary vaccination course and booster vaccinations throughout their life to keep them safe.

Learn More: Understanding Cat Vaccination Schedule & Cost

Recent Articles

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Cat Diseases and Medical Conditions

Cancer in Cats: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

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Cat Diseases and Medical Conditions

Cat Dandruff: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

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Cat Symptoms

Lethargy in Cats: Causes, Signs, Symptoms & Treatment

A cat with little or no energy compared to their usual behavior is a lethargic cat. There are many different causes of lethargy in cats and while sometimes lethargy can signal a behavioral issue, most...

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Cat Symptoms

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Cat Diseases and Medical Conditions

Liver Cancer in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment

A diagnosis of liver cancer, or even the suspicion of liver cancer, is a scary moment for any pet owner. Even as your veterinarian is gathering information, your mind is probably already racing ahead to...

Dr. Cathy Barnette, DVM

An image portraying a cat during a visit to the veterinarian

Cat Diseases and Medical Conditions

Breast Cancer in Cats: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment

Breast cancer in cats is one of the more common cancers, with an incidence of around 17% of tumors in female cats. But what’s scary about feline breast cancer is how serious it is- most of these tumors are malignant, and...

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Cat Health

What to Do If Your Cat Is Sneezing Blood

While a little blood can be harmless, seeing blood consistently or frequently when your cat sneezes can indicate a concerning issue and should be considered an emergency situation. There are many causes of sneezing blood,...

Amanda Jondle, DVM

Cat Diseases and Medical Conditions

Cat Panting: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment

Though dogs pant all the time, panting (rapid breathing with the mouth open) is seen far less frequently in cats. Let’s look at some of the common causes of panting in cats and explore issues that...

Jackie Brown

Cat Diseases and Medical Conditions

Cat Throwing Up Foam: When to Worry

When you find yourself woken in the middle of the night by the sound of a gagging or vomiting cat, it can be difficult to think clearly. You may go stumbling through the house, looking...

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