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Mouth and teeth

Cat grooming less

A cat that grooms less is not being lazy. It is often a sign of pain or illness, and the look of the coat is one of the first things you can notice.

Updated

When this needs emergency care

If you see any of these, contact a vet immediately, day or night.

  • Your cat has not eaten for a day or more
  • Your cat is breathing with its mouth open, or fast while at rest
  • Your cat is limp, will not move or does not respond to you
  • A male cat strains to pass urine but produces little or nothing
  • Sudden weakness, or the hind legs are dragged

What this means

Healthy cats spend a good part of each day washing, so the coat stays clean and smooth. When a cat starts grooming less, the coat begins to look untidy, matted, greasy or flaky, especially where it is harder for the cat to reach: along the back and at the base of the tail. Some cats simply stop grooming and show nothing else.

Cats hide pain and illness, so reduced grooming may be the first or even the only sign. It can come from a sore mouth, pain in the joints or back that makes it hard to twist round, general weakness or another illness. A cat with a painful mouth may groom less because licking hurts, even though it still tries to eat.

So this change should not be put down to age, laziness or character. Note when the coat began to look different and watch eating, drinking, movement, sleeping and litter-box habits, because that helps a vet find the cause.

Possible causes

These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your cat.

  • Mouth or tooth pain

    A sore mouth makes licking unpleasant, so the cat does less of it. Bad breath, drooling or careful eating may come with it.

  • Pain in the joints or back

    If moving or bending hurts, a cat finds it hard to reach its back and flanks. The coat there looks untidy first.

  • General illness or weakness

    Unwell cats often stop caring for their coat because they lack the energy. Appetite or activity may drop too.

  • Skin or coat problems

    Painful or damaged skin can put a cat off licking, and the coat can change for other reasons too. A vet has to find the cause.

  • Extra weight or difficulty moving

    A cat that cannot reach parts of its body often has an untidy coat. But pain or illness must be ruled out first.

  • Stress or changes in surroundings

    Changes at home can alter grooming habits. This is worth considering only after a vet has ruled out illness.

What else to watch for

These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.

  • Since when the coat has looked untidy, and in which places
  • Whether your cat eats as usual or eats carefully
  • Whether its breath has changed or it drools
  • Whether it jumps less, sleeps more or hides
  • Whether drinking and litter-box habits have changed
  • Whether it is losing or gaining weight

When to book a routine visit

Book a visit if your cat is grooming less than usual and its coat looks untidy, even if there are no other signs. If it is also not eating or is very listless, go straight away.

Related conditions

Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.

Body systems: Teeth and mouth