When we live with cats long enough, we start to pick up on some of their habits. We know what sort of toys they prefer to play with, where their favorite sleeping spots tend to be, even how they act when falling off tables and such. That's why when their behavior changes it can be so jarring. Still, you may not be paying attention to some subtle but serious indications that your cat is very ill. Here are a few signs to watch for.

While you might not know it, having a wet nose is actually a good indication for cats, just like with dogs. You'll know pretty easily if you cat's nose is wet just by their usual face-rubs onto your chin, but doing a quick feel test can't hurt every so often. If your cat's nose is dry, it could be an indication of something odd going on behind the scenes, such as a fever or illness. If you cat's nose does turn out to be dry, don't instantly assume the worst. It can commonly be caused by just heat or something very basic. Therefore, don't use this as the symptom to jump into diagnoses from. Rather, check this if your cat's already acting strangely.

One huge indicator that things are wrong is if your cat suddenly begins hiding when they were never known to be shy. When cats get sick they tend to prefer to be alone, so they hide where it's dark and away from people, partly not to bother them and partly not to be bothered. Careful not to just assume the worst with this either as sometimes cats just like being alone for a bit. However, if this is completely irregular for your pet, or if he just won't come out unless forced to, call your vet. They'll be able to give further instructions and help you decide what to do next.

Something you may not know is that cats in the end stages of their life (or what they perceive to be the end stages) typically do what they can to remove themselves from any connections and find some secluded place to quietly pass on. This means that if they think they're about to die, there's a high chance they'll try to run away to be alone. If you have an outdoor cat, this can be very difficult to notice, but if you have an indoor cat that suddenly wants to get away (and that has already been acting strangely), go ahead and call the vet or just take them there immediately. It could be something serious.

Be careful not to always assume the worst though. Cats are like people and just have off days. The goal is to be perceptive about your cat's attitude and watch to make sure they're alright. Taking an active role in your cat's life can definitely go a long way to making it a long and happy one.