Every Cat Visit Is a Head-to-Tail Health Assessment
- Kaitlin Saxton
- Aug 1
- 5 min read
When I unlock the door for a cat sitting visit, I'm paying attention long before I refill a food bowl or scoop the litter box. Every visit starts with a quiet wellness check, and those first moments often tell me the most.
Is your cat waiting at the door like usual, or nowhere to be found?
Is she stretched out in her favorite sunny spot, or tucked away somewhere unexpected?
Has breakfast disappeared, or is the bowl still full?
Is she walking normally?
Is her breathing calm and easy?
Those little details paint a big picture.
Years spent working alongside exotic veterinarians taught me to assess an animal within the first few moments of seeing them. I bring that same habit into every cat sitting visit because cats are masters at hiding discomfort.
By the time many cats look obviously sick, they've been feeling unwell for much longer.
The First Things I Notice About Your Cat
Every cat has their own routine. Some march right over to say hello. Others prefer to supervise me from the hallway or peek around the corner. Neither is better than the other. What matters is consistency.
If a cat who usually greets me is suddenly hiding under the bed, I take note. It may be nothing more than a noisy garbage truck outside, or it could be the first sign that something isn't right.
My job is to notice the change, keep watching, and decide when it's time to contact you.
Movement tells its own story. I'm watching for hesitation before a jump, stiffness after a nap, an uneven stride, or a cat who chooses the floor instead of their favorite window perch.
Small changes like these can be early clues that a cat is sore, injured, or developing arthritis.
Breathing is another thing I notice right away. Healthy cats breathe so quietly that you barely notice it. Fast breathing, obvious effort, or open mouth breathing immediately gets my attention.
Food and Water Bowls are Full of Clues
Before I top off a food bowl or refresh the water, I stop and look. How much food is left? Is the water level about what I expected? Those answers matter just as much as replacing them.
Every cat has their own eating habits. Some finish every bite and others prefer to graze throughout the day. What catches my attention is a change from what's normal for your cat.
Appetite changes are one of the earliest signs that something isn't right. Dental pain, nausea, kidney disease, stress, and other conditions often show up in the food bowl before they show up anywhere else. A cat who suddenly refuses to eat is even more concerning.
Water intake can be just as revealing. Drinking much more than usual can point to conditions like kidney disease, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism. Drinking less can also be a red flag.
By paying attention to these patterns from one visit to the next, I can spot changes that might otherwise go unnoticed and let you know before they become a larger concern.
Your Cat's Coat & Behavior Matter
Cats are constantly telling us how they feel. They just don't use words.
Their coat is often one of the first places I look. If your cat suddenly starts licking one area over and over, they might be dealing with allergies, skin irritation, pain, or stress.
A greasy, matted coat or flaky skin can also signal a problem, especially in overweight cats or senior cats with arthritis who might be having trouble grooming themselves.
I also pay close attention to behavior. Maybe your cat usually trots over for a head scratch but hangs back today. Maybe they love chasing a wand toy but suddenly have no interest.
One quiet day doesn't always mean something is wrong, but a noticeable shift in behavior is worth paying attention to.
The Litter Box Provides Valuable Health Data
The litter box is one of the most valuable sources of information in your home. While scooping, I pay attention to what I see, because small changes can reveal a lot about your cat's health.
I'm looking for patterns.
Are there more or fewer urine clumps than usual?
Do they look different from previous visits?
Has your cat been using the box consistently?
I'm also checking stool for changes in consistency, color, or frequency. One unusual bowel movement usually isn't cause for concern, but the same change over several visits deserves a closer look.
Sometimes the litter box offers the first clue that a cat isn't feeling their best. Changes in urination can point to urinary or kidney problems, while ongoing constipation or diarrhea may signal dehydration, digestive issues, or another medical concern.
If I notice blood in the urine or stool, or anything else that seems urgent, I contact you right away so we can decide on next steps together.
I'm also watching for changes in litter box habits. A cat who suddenly starts avoiding the box may be trying to tell us something. Pain, arthritis, stress, illness, or age-related changes can all make the litter box harder to use or less appealing than it once was.
Senior Cats Require Closer Observation
Senior cats are experts at hiding discomfort. It's a survival instinct, and by the time they show obvious signs of pain, the problem may have been developing for months or years.
Research from NC State University found that 90% of cats over 12 show radiographic evidence of arthritis, even though only about 4% of those cats were reported by their owners or veterinarians as having arthritis.
A 2025 review in Frontiers in Veterinary Science noted that arthritis affects an estimated 64% to 92% of cats over 10 years of age. The gap between how common the condition is and how often it's recognized is enormous.
When I care for senior cats, I look for subtle changes that often appear long before a medical diagnosis.
I watch for hesitation before a favorite jump, stiffness after a nap, choosing lower places to rest, eating less or avoiding crunchy food, becoming quieter or less social than usual, and changes in litter box habits that could point to pain or reduced mobility.
One change on its own may not mean much. Seeing the same change over several visits is different. That's why I watch for patterns throughout your trip and contact you if I notice anything that needs attention, instead of waiting until you get home.
Your veterinarian may only see your cat once or twice a year. You see your cat every day, so slow changes can be easy to miss.
While you're away, I can spot those small changes early and let you know before they become bigger problems.
Careful Observation Makes the Difference
Every cat communicates - through their appetite, their litter box, their movement, their willingness to engage. My job is to pay attention, know what normal looks like for your specific cat, and act when something changes.
That's what professional in-home cat sitting looks like when your sitter is trained to notice.
If you're in Hicksville or Central Nassau County and want that kind of care for your cat, I'd love to hear from you.
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