This time around, we’re delving deep into the world of cats. (Doggos, buddies, we love you, too, but you're usually not as complicated as cattos.) Nina Downing, a vet nurse working with the PDSA, the UK’s leading vet charity, was kind enough to share with Bored Panda how we can recognize if our pets are feeling ill or simply a tad off. In this case, specifically how cats express this through their behavior and body language. Cats hide their weaknesses fairly well, so this is something that is important to keep in mind whether you’re rescuing your first pet or if you’ve been living together with adopted animals all your life.

“Cats are good at hiding when they feel weak, unwell, or have aches and pains, so the illness can be quite well established before we see more obvious signs,” PDSA Vet Nurse Nina warned.

As such, owners need to be able to pick up on subtle hints and sneaky clues. And that means, well, it means keeping your eyes and ears open all the time. Your pets aren’t pieces of furniture that blend into the background: they’re our bestest friends who we have to take care of, who we have to constantly check in with.

“Picking up on subtle changes in your cat’s behavior can give you early warning signs that something is troubling your cat. As their owner, you will know your cat’s personality—some are confident, loving, and sociable while others may be nervous.”

According to vet nurse Nina, owners have to use their knowledge about a cat’s baseline behavior to then figure out if anything’s changed. This is actually why it’s incredibly important to learn as much as you can about a pet before adopting it from a shelter. The more you know, the more info you have access to, the quicker you can figure out if anything’s going wrong.

“If you see a change [in personality], it is important to look at why this might have happened. For example, if your cat suddenly seems less keen to go outside and seems to be staying at home more, this could be an indicator that he or she isn’t feeling 100%,” Nina said.

“When any animal is feeling under the weather, they will feel vulnerable as they’re less able to defend themselves or get themselves out of trouble. Hesitation in jumping up or a change in their favorite sleeping place can also be an indicator that something is amiss. They may have had a fall, or lost their balance and their confidence has been knocked, but equally, they may be feeling pain or discomfort.”

It’s not just sudden shifts in personality that we have to be aware of. Taking a sneak peek at our pets’ eating habits can yield a wealth of information about how they’re feeling. The biggest weapons in any good owner’s arsenal are keen observation (hello, Sherlock) and comparing new insights to past knowledge.

“If your cat starts to spill food when they’re usually tidy eaters, this may be because they’re experiencing discomfort when eating. If they’re choosing wet food over crunchy biscuits, this may indicate jaw, tooth, or gum pain,” PDSA vet nurse Nina gave Bored Panda a few examples of what this could mean.

Just like with eating, sleeping habits can also reveal more than you’d think. “Sleeping positions or resting positions can be telling too,” the animal health expert said.

“If your cat who usually tucks up like a little teapot starts sleeping in an awkward position, ask yourself why. Could they be sore in their usual position and this is relieving the pain?” Nina said that even sleeping positions can be telling.

“You know your cat and very often owners are able to pick up on health problems in their pets well before physical symptoms present themselves just by noticing subtle changes in their cat’s normal behavior.”

Meanwhile, certified cat behavior consultant Ingrid Johnson, the founder of Fundamentally Feline, gave Bored Panda some insights into how cats age and whether there’s anything that we can do to help them stay fit as kittens as time goes on.

According to Ingrid, we shouldn’t have any illusions that our beloved pets will always stay young. The reality is that we all get older, pet and human alike. “Everyone ages and cats are no exception,” she said that we have to face facts. However, the quality of our pets’ lives and whether they age gracefully is still up for grabs.

The main focus should be on keeping our cats’ “brain stimulated” and helping them be as active as they can, both physically and mentally. This way, “they can stay well-muscled and conditioned to maintain their stealth well into their senior years,” Ingrid said. “Twenty-year-old cats can still really move if they need to!” the cat behavior consultant added. This means that with the right care and attention, any pet that you rescue can keep your heart and your home full of light for many years to come. But it takes a lot of effort and energy on the owners’ part. I think they’d say it’s all very worth it.