Common cat ear infection signs include repeated scratching, head shaking, redness, pain, abnormal odor and increased discharge. These changes can occur with inflammation of the outer ear canal, but their presence does not tell you whether the underlying problem is ear mites, bacteria, yeast, allergy, a foreign object, a polyp or another ear disorder. Merck…
Cat itching but no fleas can still be related to flea exposure, but many other problems can also cause scratching, biting, licking or overgrooming. Possible explanations include flea allergy, mites, environmental or food-related allergies, bacterial or yeast-associated skin problems, ringworm, ear disease, irritation, pain and other skin disorders. Itching is a clinical sign rather than…
Why is my cat losing hair? Bald spots or thinning fur can develop when hair is physically broken or removed through licking and scratching, when skin or hair follicles are affected by parasites, infection or inflammation, or when another health problem interferes with normal hair growth. Merck notes that acquired alopecia in cats has many…
A cat losing weight but still eating may simply be receiving fewer calories than expected, but unexplained weight loss can also occur with parasites, digestive or absorption problems, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease and other chronic illnesses. Weight loss may involve body fat, muscle or both, and some cats continue eating normally or even become hungrier…
A cat poop color chart can help you describe what is changing in the litter box, but stool colour by itself cannot tell you what disease, if any, is present. Brown is generally expected, while yellow, grey, green, red or black stool may occur for different reasons. Consistency, frequency, appetite, vomiting, weight and behaviour often…
A cat vomit color chart can help you describe what your cat brought up, but colour alone cannot tell you why the vomiting happened. Clear fluid, foam, bile, food, hair, blood, plant material and other substances can all change the appearance, while the underlying cause can range from a brief digestive upset to gastrointestinal disease,…
Why is my cat not eating? Appetite can fall because of something as simple as an unfamiliar food or stressful feeding environment, but cats may also stop eating because of dental pain, nausea, digestive illness, fever, kidney or liver disease, respiratory illness, medication effects, toxins or a gastrointestinal foreign body. Appetite loss is a clinical…
Why is my cat always hungry? Sometimes the answer is related to feeding routine, portion size, calorie density, food competition or learned food-seeking behaviour. But a genuine increase in appetite—called polyphagia—can also occur with medical problems, particularly when hunger appears alongside weight loss, increased thirst or urination, diarrhoea, vomiting or other changes. Hyperthyroidism and diabetes…
Use this cat calorie calculator to estimate how many calories your cat may need per day based on body weight, body condition, life stage and neuter status. If you enter the calorie density of your cat’s food, the calculator can also estimate an appropriate amount in cups, grams, cans or other supported food units. The…
How to switch cat food safely depends partly on the individual cat, but for many healthy cats the new food is introduced gradually rather than replacing the old diet in one meal. AAHA/AAFP feline nutrition guidance supports allowing approximately 7–10 days for a gradual transition, while cats that are cautious about unfamiliar food or prone…
