It can be difficult to tell when your kitty is sick, that’s why it’s so important to learn how to read cat body language. Cats are known for their independence and stoicism, so signs of illness can often be overlooked, even by the people who love them most.

Luckily, there are some common signs and symptoms that indicate when a cat is sick if you know what to watch for.

Healthy Cat Body Language

When cats communicate with one another, they almost exclusively use their bodies. Most of their vocalizations have adapted over time to help them express their needs to humans. For this reason, their unique and complex body language can be difficult for us to interpret. However, it is crucial to recognizing their health status and moods.

The following physical cues can help you appreciate how your cat expresses themself, and give you a baseline for their healthy body language:

Body Posture: When a cat is relaxed, their body posture will be open and loose. Their back may be slightly curved, and they may butt up against you with their head or hips. This happy, content body language is often accompanied by soft meows or chirps.
Tail Position: Happy cats tend to hold their tails high and straight when greeting a human or fellow animal. This posture indicates your cat is feeling confident, content, and ready to engage. If they are feeling playful or curious, the tail may have a slight curve, like a question mark.
Ears: Another important part of a cat's body language is their ears. Slightly tilted, forward-facing ears tend to indicate relaxation and/or curiosity.
Eyes: When your cat is happy and relaxed, their gaze will be soft and gentle with normal pupils and slightly closed lids.

Body Language That May Indicate Your Cat Is Sick

When a cat is feeling ill, the changes in their body language can be subtle or quite obvious. Here, we’ll examine how the appearance of the eyes and ears as well as body posture and tail position can help you recognize that your cat is sick.

Body Posture

Here are some common changes in body posture that can indicate a cat is not feeling well:

Tense or Stiff Body: Your cat’s body language may appear tense or stiff with rigid or clenched muscles when they are feeling sick. This indicates they are bracing against the pain.
Limp or Weak Posture: Alternately, a sick cat may lay limply with little or no tension or resistance in their muscles. This is a serious symptom, indicating your cat should see a vet right away.
Hunched Posture: A cat that is sick may hunch over with their back arched, head low, and legs tucked in close to the body.
Lethargy: While sleeping more is an obvious sign of a cat that is under the weather, you may also notice that their body posture is more slouched or sagging. They may stop playing or moving about the house, preferring to lay in one spot.
Unsteady or Wobbly Gait: A cat that is wobbly or unsteady on their feet is definitely not feeling well. They may sway, stumble, or have trouble keeping their balance. Like the limp and weak posture described above, this is a very serious symptom and requires prompt veterinary attention.

Tail Position

Cat tails are very expressive and can tell you a lot about how your feline friend is feeling, both physically and mentally. A cat that is feeling anxious, fearful, or ill may tuck their tail tightly against the body or between their legs in a protective gesture. The tail may also appear tense and stiff, with a flicking or twitching motion to indicate their unease.

Illness may also make a cat feel cornered or threatened when approached. In this case, the hair on their tail will stand on end, making it look bigger. This is often accompanied by a hunched back, tip-toed stance, and general “puffed up” appearance.

Since the tail is an extension of the spine, a limp or motionless tail could indicate that your cat has suffered an injury or is feeling weak or lethargic.

Ears

A cat's ears can also provide important clues about their health and emotional state. Ears flattened against the head mean the cat is likely feeling threatened, fearful, or aggressive. This is normal during a confrontation, but if this body language is unexpected, it may indicate your cat is not feeling well.

If your cat is suffering from an ear infection, injury, or other ear-related illness, you may notice that they hold their head tilted at an angle. They may scratch at one or both ears with their paw, rub their head and face against the ground, furniture, or even you. Their ears may also be sensitive to the touch, causing them to pull away, cry out, shake their head, or react with discomfort or irritation.

Inner ear infections can affect your cat’s balance-regulation system, causing them to stumble or fall over. Any of these symptoms, with or without swelling, discharge, or foul odor from the ears should be checked out by your vet right away to prevent worsening problems.

Eyes

Your cat's pupils can tell you a lot about how they are feeling. Dilated pupils indicate excitement, fear, or aggression, while constricted pupils may mean your cat is feeling stressed due to illness or injury. If you notice a sudden change in your cat's pupil size, it may be a sign of a neurological issue. See your vet right away.

Additionally, cats often squint or keep their eyes closed when they are uncomfortable or in pain. You may also notice the third eyelid - which appears as a thin white layer extending from the inner corner of the eye to partially cover the eyeball - is more prominent in a cat that is not feeling well.

While not related to feline body language, the following symptoms could indicate an eye injury or infection:

Clear, yellow, or green discharge
Redness or Inflammation
Cloudiness
Marks or scratches on the cornea

Additional Signs Of A Sick Cat

Changes in Behavior

A cat that is sick may display subtle or major behavioral changes. Some become less active and lose interest in things they once enjoyed, such as playing with toys or climbing onto the windowsill to watch the birds. Others stop seeking affection, become less social with other pets in the home, and sleep more than usual. Some cats even search out new places to “hide” in and around the house to ensure they will be left alone.

Changes in Grooming

A cat that is sick may groom themselves less frequently than usual, resulting in mats, dandruff, and/or a greasy unkempt coat. This is common in obese cats and those suffering from joint pain as the reaching and stretching required for self-grooming becomes too much for them.

Changes in Appetite

Sick cats often lose their appetite or become more finicky about their food. They may eat less than usual or refuse to eat altogether. This is one of the most common signs that a cat is sick.

Changes in Water Intake

Some cats drink less when they are ill due to problems with mobility. This is why it is important to ensure senior cats have easy access to water bowls on each floor of your home.

Increased thirst is also a common symptom of illnesses involving the kidneys, urinary tract, pancreas, or thyroid. If you notice your kitty drinking more than usual or appearing thin or dehydrated, see your veterinarian for lab work right away.

Litter Box Changes

A sick cat may have changes in their litter box behavior. They may urinate or defecate outside of the litter box, have difficulty using the litter box, or suffer from diarrhea or constipation. Cats may also suffer from pain or discomfort while using the litter box if they are unable to urinate or defecate properly.

Changes in Vocalization

Your cat may try to alert you to their medical problems by becoming more vocal. Yowling in the litter box is often a sign of a urinary tract infection or blockage, while cats with hyperthyroidism are thought to vocalize more than usual, especially at night.

Some cats purr when they are sick in an effort to comfort themselves. Others may growl or hiss at you to express that they wish to be left alone.

If you notice any of these signs or symptoms in your cat, see your veterinarian as soon as possible. He or she can perform a physical exam, run diagnostic tests, and recommend treatment options to help your cat feel better. Early detection and treatment of illness can help improve your cat's chances of recovery and ensure they receive the care they need to stay healthy

Cat Body Language: How To Tell When Your Kitty Is Sick