Cat Health
How Often Should You Clean a Cat Litter Box?
Scooping frequency, full changes, box numbers and what your cat's litter habits can tell you before anything else does.
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Simple At-Home Health Checks for Indoor Cats
Cats conceal illness. The point of a home check is not diagnosis — it is building a baseline so you notice when something shifts.
The Urban Feline EditorialUpdated 7 min read
Health information on this website is for educational purposes and should not replace advice from a qualified veterinarian.
The monthly five-minute check
- Weigh the cat on the same scale and write the number down.
- Run both hands over the body, feeling for lumps, mats or sore spots.
- Look at the eyes and nose for discharge.
- Lift the lip briefly: gums should be pink, not red at the margin.
- Check nails for length and claws for splitting.
- Review the litter box: normal volume, normal stool.
Know your cat's normal
Normal water intake, food intake, sleeping spots and activity vary a lot between cats. What matters is the deviation from your cat's own pattern.
When to contact a veterinarian
- Straining in the litter box or no urine produced — urgent, same day
- Not eating for 24 hours
- Repeated vomiting, or any vomiting with lethargy
- Sudden change in water intake or urine volume
- Difficulty breathing, open-mouth breathing, or hiding away from the household
- Limping, or reluctance to jump up where the cat usually does
Educational information only
This list is not a diagnostic tool. Health information on this website is for educational purposes and should not replace advice from a qualified veterinarian.
Keep a simple record
A note on your phone with monthly weight, vaccination and preventive treatment dates, and any change you noticed gives your vet far better information than memory does.
Frequently asked questions
- How often should an indoor cat see a vet?
- Most healthy adult cats have an annual check, with more frequent visits for kittens, seniors and cats with ongoing conditions. Your vet will advise on the right interval.
- Do indoor cats still need vaccinations and parasite treatment?
- Usually yes — infections and parasites can enter on shoes, clothing and other pets. Discuss the appropriate protocol for your cat and region with your veterinarian.
- Is hiding always a bad sign?
- Not always, but a cat that starts hiding when it never used to is signalling something — pain, stress or illness. Have it checked.
About this guide
We research, write and update every guide on this site. Our articles are general educational information for cat owners and are reviewed against current guidance from veterinary and feline welfare organisations. Read our editorial policy.
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