7 Signs of a Healthy Cat: What Every Pet Parent Needs to Know

As a devoted pet parent, your cat's health is important to you. You likely know the intricacies of your cat's personality—her habits, favorite things, and her "pet" peeves. While you might think you automatically recognize signs of a healthy cat, it helps to review the basics. Here are the basic indicators of a happy, healthy cat:

• Bright eyes: Your cat's eyes should be clear, alert, free of discharge, and evenly focused. Additionally, her third eyelid should not normally be visible.
• Clean ears: Healthy ears are clean and free of odor, scabs, or discharge.
• Clean nose: Your cat's nose should be clean and free of discharge. Your cat should not be sneezing frequently or have a persistent runny nose.
• Good appetite: Observe your cat's eating habits over a 24-hour period to establish a baseline . If you know the specific amount of food your cat consumes daily, it will be easier to notice if he ever exhibits a decrease or increase in appetite. Similarly, regularly observe your cat's drinking habits to ensure he's staying hydrated.
• Healthy skin and coat: Your cat's skin should be free of scabs, redness, or signs of flea infestation, and his fur should be fluffy and shiny without matting or patches of hair loss.
• Normal behavior and routine: Check your cat's litter box habits. Is he urinating and defecating in regular amounts and at regular intervals? Is he playing and napping normally ? Deviation from a regular routine could indicate a problem.
• Normal temperature and heart rate: The heart rate for a cat can range from 110 to 240 beats per minute, while normal body temperature (taken rectally) in an adult cat ranges from 100 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Regular veterinary exams are the best way to track your cat's vitals.
• Ideal weight: While obesity in cats is unhealthy, a cat that is too thin is also at risk. Talk with your veterinarian about the healthiest weight for your cat’s age, size, and breed, then work together to achieve that goal if your cat is significantly over or under that benchmark.
• Happy disposition: A happy cat is playful, athletic, interested, and alert. As a pet parent, you know your cat's personality better than anyone, so you'll easily recognize any deviations from his regular activities and level of playfulness.

Annual checkups can help detect anything out of the ordinary. If you notice anything unusual , schedule a veterinarian exam.