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Cat health: symptoms explained

Cats hide illness well, so small changes matter. These guides explain what common symptoms mean, what you can safely do at home and when your cat needs a vet. Start with our guide to cat eye problems, or jump to drooling, cat cold symptoms and what to do if your cat is stung by a bee.

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Vet checking a cat's eye with a small torch to diagnose cat eye problems

Cat eye problems

Squinting, cloudy eyes, discharge, conjunctivitis and third eyelids explained, plus eye drops and when to see a vet.

All cat health guides

Cat pawing at a bee near lavender, moments before a cat stung by a bee needs first aid

Cat stung by a bee or wasp

How to tell if your cat has been stung, remove the sting, give safe first aid and spot an allergic reaction.

Relaxed purring cat on a lap with drool on its chin, answering why is my cat drooling

Why is my cat drooling? Causes and when to worry

Happy drooling vs drooling caused by dental pain, nausea, mouth injuries or poisoning, and when to see a vet.

Owner gently feeling a sleepy cat's ears to check whether the cat's ears are hot or cold

Why are my cat's ears hot or cold?

Why cats' ears feel warm or cold, how to check for fever, and when hot or cold ears need a vet.

Cat with watery eyes curled up under a fleece blanket showing cat cold symptoms

Cat cold symptoms

Sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, coughing and heavy breathing in cats: home care for cat flu and when to see a vet.

Vet gently lifting a cat's lower lip to examine a cat swollen lip

Cat swollen lip

Rodent ulcers, eosinophilic granuloma, chin acne, abscesses, stings and dental problems as causes of lip and face…

Cat sitting in long summer grass with pollen in the air, showing how cats can get hayfever

Can cats get hayfever? Pollen allergies in cats explained

How hay fever shows up in cats, from itchy skin to sneezing, how vets diagnose pollen allergy and what helps.

Vet listening with a stethoscope to check a normal cat heart rate

Normal cat heart rate and blood pressure explained

Healthy heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure ranges for cats, how to check them and when to worry.

Long-haired cat grooming itself on a windowsill, a reason to use cat hairball remedies

Cat hairball remedies

Brushing, hairball paste, cat malt, hairball food and treats compared, plus how many hairballs are normal.

Vet examining a cat's teeth with its mouth gently open to complete a cat dental chart

Cat dental chart

All 30 adult and 26 kitten teeth, the tooth numbers vets use, teething ages and common dental problems.