The 5-Minute Cat Grooming Checklist: Eyes, Ears, Paws and Coat

New year, new habits. Most of them ask a lot of you. This one asks for five minutes a week and a cat on your lap.

Here is the idea. Once a week, at a quiet moment, look your cat over from nose to tail. Check her eyes, ears, mouth, coat, paws and the shape of her body. You are not hunting for problems. You are learning what normal looks like for her, so a change stands out.

Most of what you find will be normal. A few things are worth a gentle wipe. A few always go to your vet. Below: how to make the check easy on her, what to look for in each spot, a checklist to print, and one list of vet signs. Most sections link to a full guide.

Pick One Quiet Moment Each Week

A short, regular look helps you notice changes early. PDSA, a UK vet charity, says a home health check helps you spot problems early. That can make them easier to treat. PDSA suggests a quick check at least a couple of times a week. If that feels like a lot, start with once a week.

Home checks don't replace her vet. The cat health newsletter CatWatch says they add to her regular vet visits.

Pick the same day each week. Wait until she's sleepy on your lap or curled up next to you. Sit near a window or a bright lamp, so you can see well.

Go at her pace. International Cat Care (iCatCare) says to build up her comfort with handling bit by bit. Keep each session as short as she likes. End it before she gets uneasy. Reward calm behavior with praise and a little food. A favorite snack at the end works well.

Watch for signs she has had enough. iCatCare lists these, among others:

• Her skin ripples or twitches.
• Her tail swishes or thumps.
• She turns her head sharply toward your hand.
• She freezes or tenses up.
• Her ears flick back.
• She licks her lips, growls or hisses.

If you see one, stop. Try the rest another day. Jot down anything new you notice, with the date.

Look at Her Eyes

Healthy eyes are clear and bright. iCatCare says a cat's eyes should be "clear, bright and free of discharge or inflammation." Look at both eyes in good light. Check that she holds them fully open.

A little dry crust in the inner corner can be normal. Our guide to cat eye boogers explains what's normal and what isn't.

Brown streaks on the fur under the eyes are tear stains. They show most on light fur. For a full routine, see how to clean cat tear stains gently.

Crust and stains are worth a gentle wipe. iCatCare's eye care guide says to wipe from the inner corner outward. Use a separate pad for each eye. Never touch the eye itself.

LitterBond's tear stain wipes are one option. They are soft, pre-moistened pads for a gentle daily wipe, with no rinse. They lift crust. With regular, gentle wiping, they help visibly fade tear stains. Older stains fade over days, not in one wipe. To soften dry crust before you wipe, LitterBond's eye wash helps flush away dust, pollen and debris. It softens crust, so you can wipe it off instead of picking. It's made to be gentle and non-stinging. It's an everyday rinse, not a medicine.

If you notice redness, discharge, swelling, squinting or persistent scratching, stop and see your vet.

Some eye signs skip the wipe and go straight to your vet. iCatCare lists discharge, swelling, redness and squinting. It also lists a cloudy eye, pawing at the eye, and a third eyelid you can see.

Check Her Ears

Healthy ears are pale pink inside, with no smell. The ASPCA suggests checking your cat's ears once a week for wax and debris. CatWatch says the inside should be light pink, unless her skin is darker by nature. There should be no smell and no discharge.

Fold one ear back gently and look inside. Take a quick sniff. Then do the other ear.

PDSA says ears should be free of a wax build-up. A little wax you can see on the flap can be wiped away. How to clean your cat's ears shows how to clean only the part you can see.

Call your vet if her ears are smelly, sore, swollen or very waxy. The same goes if she keeps scratching them. PDSA names all of these.

Run Over Paws and Claws

Pads should be clean and whole, with claws a normal length. Hold each paw lightly in your open palm. Look at the pads, between the toes and at the claws.

Humane World for Animals suggests looking for litter stuck between the toes. It also lists torn claws, cuts and swelling. Redness or a bad smell are signs of trouble, too.

PDSA adds that claws should not be too long. They should be at no risk of growing into the paw pads. CatWatch suggests checking her toes for ingrown claws.

Pads that feel dry or rough in winter have their own guide. Dry, cracked cat paw pads covers gentle care and what never to put on them.

Call your vet for a cut, a swollen paw, a limp, or a claw growing into a pad.

Feel Her Coat and Skin

Run your hands from her head to her tail, and notice what you feel. iCatCare says grooming time is a chance for a quick check. Look for fleas, ticks, and any lumps or bumps. Humane World suggests feeling for lumps, scratches, scabs and swelling. It also says to look for dandruff, oily or missing fur, and flea dirt. Flea dirt looks like tiny black specks.

Part the fur in a few spots, like her back and the base of her tail. Look at the skin, not just the fur.

Some of what you find just needs a little care. A dusty coat or a whiff of the litter box calls for a calm, waterless cleaning routine. White flakes that show up once the heat comes on are covered in cat dandruff in winter.

Older cats may need more help here. The Cornell Feline Health Center notes that older cats groom themselves less well than young cats. That can lead to matted hair and skin odor. If that sounds like your cat, read how to help a senior cat who stopped grooming.

The ASPCA says swellings, lumps or changes in skin color need your vet's attention. So do scabs, bald patches or fleas.

Peek at Her Mouth

Healthy gums are pink, and her breath shouldn't be awful. Don't pry her mouth open. Wait for a yawn. Or gently lift her lip at the side while she's relaxed.

The ASPCA says gums should be firm and pink, not white or red, with no swelling. CatWatch adds that cat breath is never exactly lovely. Still, it shouldn't be disgusting.

PDSA lists drooling, pawing at the mouth, trouble eating and dropping food as signs of dental pain. Teeth should be free of cracks or breaks. Any of these go to your vet. For what different smells can mean, see why your cat's breath smells.

Feel Her Body Shape

Her ribs should be easy to feel but hard to see. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) says you should feel her ribs without pressing too hard. From above, she should have a waist you can see.

PetMD describes a cat at an ideal weight the same way. You can feel her backbone and ribs. But you can't really see them.

Run your hands along her sides and back once a week. Notice if her ribs get harder or easier to feel.

Small changes count. Cornell notes that some cats get too thin as they age. It says weight loss can come from many different health problems. It also warns not to assume an older cat's changes are just old age.

Print the 5-Minute Checklist

Keep this list by the couch, or save it on your phone. Go in the same order each week:

Call Your Vet for These Signs

A home check can't tell you what's wrong, but it tells you when to ask. Call your vet if you see any of these:

Don't wait on weight loss. PetMD's weight guide says any unplanned weight loss calls for a vet visit as soon as possible. That's true most of all for senior cats.

If you notice redness, discharge, swelling, squinting or persistent scratching, stop and see your vet.

Some weeks she'll give you all five minutes. Some weeks you'll get one eye and one ear before she walks off. Both count. What matters is that you keep looking, so you know her normal. By next January, it won't feel like a new habit at all.

Questions this guide did not cover

How often should my cat see the vet?

At least once a year for most adult cats, and every six months for seniors. That is the schedule in the 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines, which call for at least yearly exams for kittens, young adults and mature adults. Bring your weekly notes along.

How often should I brush my cat?

It depends on her coat. iCatCare suggests grooming a shorthaired cat at least once a week. A longhaired cat needs it at least daily.

Does my cat need regular baths?

Usually not. iCatCare says that if your cat is healthy, there is no reason to bathe her. It adds that most cats don't tolerate a bath well.

How can I tell flea dirt from ordinary dirt?

Add a drop of water. iCatCare describes flea dirt as tiny black, comma-shaped bits that run red when wet. It suggests using a flea comb to find them. If you do, talk to your vet about flea control.

Can I weigh my cat at home?

Yes, with a bathroom scale. PetMD says to weigh yourself first, then step on the scale holding your cat, and subtract. A baby or pet scale works too. It suggests weighing her about once a month to track changes.

Related reading

• How to Clean Cat Tear Stains Gently (and When to Call the Vet)
• How to Clean Your Cat's Ears at Home (and When Not To)