5 signs your cat needs a trip to the vet

1. Loud, persistent meowing

If your cat meows loudly and often—and this is not how she normally communicates—she may be trying to tell you she’s in pain. Even if you don’t see obvious signs of trauma, plan to have your cat receive a complete medical exam.

2. Lingering cold symptoms

Sometimes cats get colds. But two serious viruses mimic cold symptoms: feline herpes and feline calicivirus. If your cat's runny nose, sneezes or cough last more than a week, make an appointment with your vet.

3. Sleeping 24/7

Cats snooze 16 to 18 hours a day, but if your cat won't wake up to eat or drink, that's cause for alarm: Going 48 hours without eating can lead to liver disease.

4. Changes in litterbox habits

If your cat won't use the litterbox, clean it more often. If she still refuses—and especially if she shows signs of discomfort or straining when she tries—she may have an infection, parasite or virus.

5. Fur loss

A certain amount of hair loss is to be expected, but if your cat loses patches of fur it could be a sign of a skin fungus or an allergic reaction. It also could be a sign of internal distress, such as a thyroid condition or Cushing's disease, which is caused by a tumor on the adrenal or pituitary glands.