Cat Quality of Life Scale & Calculator
This free cat quality of life calculator uses the vet-recognised HHHHHMM scale (with a JOURNEYS option) to turn how your cat is doing into a clear score, and doubles as a compassionate checklist for when you're asking "is it time?". Cats hide illness well, so it's built to be repeated over time — the trend reveals what a single day can't. It supports your decisions; it doesn't replace your veterinarian.
The HHHHHMM Quality of Life Scale by Dr. Alice Villalobos. A total above 35 of 70 suggests quality of life is acceptable enough to continue supportive care.
1. Hurt
Is pain managed? Can your cat breathe easily? Cats hide pain well — watch for hiding, hunching, reduced grooming or a change in facial expression.
2. Hunger
Is your cat eating enough? Appetite loss is often the earliest red flag in cats. Note if you're relying on appetite stimulants or syringe-feeding.
3. Hydration
Is your cat drinking enough? In kidney disease especially, at-home subcutaneous fluids are common — note if they're needed to keep hydration up.
4. Hygiene
Can your cat groom, or be kept clean for them? A cat that stops grooming, or can't reach the litter box in time, needs help staying comfortable.
5. Happiness
Does your cat still seek interaction, purr, or show interest in a window, a lap, or play? Persistent hiding and disengagement matter here.
6. Mobility
Can your cat reach food, water and the litter box, and get to preferred resting spots? Steps or a low-sided box can extend comfort.
7. More good days than bad
Bad days mean pain, nausea or distress outweighing the good. A run of bad days in a row is a signal to reassess with your vet.
Score all 7 factors to see your interpretation.
Track trends over timeOne score is a snapshot. The trend is the truth.
A single number can't tell you which way things are heading. SteadyTails logs your pet's quality of life over time and shows the trend — so you, your household, and your vet see the real picture, not just one hard day. Join the waitlist for early access.
How to use this scale
Repeat at intervals
Score every few days — or daily during a decline. A single score is far less useful than a trend you can see moving.
Involve the household
Have each caregiver score independently. It keeps the assessment honest and shares an emotionally heavy job.
Bring it to your vet
Your scores are a conversation-starter. Your vet can weigh them against the diagnosis and comfort options available.
The HHHHHMM factors explained
The HHHHHMM Scale (Dr. Alice Villalobos) rates seven areas of comfort from 0 to 10. Here's what each one means for your cat.
1. Hurt
Is pain managed? Can your cat breathe easily? Cats hide pain well — watch for hiding, hunching, reduced grooming or a change in facial expression.
2. Hunger
Is your cat eating enough? Appetite loss is often the earliest red flag in cats. Note if you're relying on appetite stimulants or syringe-feeding.
3. Hydration
Is your cat drinking enough? In kidney disease especially, at-home subcutaneous fluids are common — note if they're needed to keep hydration up.
4. Hygiene
Can your cat groom, or be kept clean for them? A cat that stops grooming, or can't reach the litter box in time, needs help staying comfortable.
5. Happiness
Does your cat still seek interaction, purr, or show interest in a window, a lap, or play? Persistent hiding and disengagement matter here.
6. Mobility
Can your cat reach food, water and the litter box, and get to preferred resting spots? Steps or a low-sided box can extend comfort.
7. More good days than bad
Bad days mean pain, nausea or distress outweighing the good. A run of bad days in a row is a signal to reassess with your vet.
Prefer a different framework? The calculator above also offers the JOURNEYS Scale (Dr. Katie Hilst), an 8-factor alternative scored out of 80.
Frequently asked questions
When is it time to put your cat down? (checklist)
Work through the seven HHHHHMM factors above as a checklist: uncontrolled pain or laboured breathing, not eating or drinking, dehydration, inability to stay clean, withdrawal from the family, loss of mobility to reach food/water/litter, and more bad days than good. Because cats mask distress, appetite loss and hiding are especially important. No single answer decides it — a low or falling score is the signal to talk with your veterinarian soon about comfort and what's kind.
Kidney disease in cats — when is it time to euthanize?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is progressive, and quality of life — not the lab numbers alone — should guide the decision. Warning signs that comfort is slipping include persistent nausea and refusal to eat, ongoing dehydration despite subcutaneous fluids, marked weight and muscle loss, weakness, and withdrawal. Scoring your cat every few days makes the trend visible. Share that record with your vet, who can assess the CKD stage, adjust comfort care, and help you judge when quality of life is no longer acceptable.
What is a good quality of life score for a cat?
On the HHHHHMM scale (7 factors, 0–10 each, 70 total), a total above 35 suggests an acceptable quality of life for continuing supportive care, while 35 or below suggests quality of life may be suffering. It's a conversation-starter with your vet, not a verdict — and with cats, the trend over repeated assessments matters more than any single score.
How often should I assess my cat's quality of life?
Re-score at a set interval — every few days, or daily during a decline — and involve the whole household. Cats are experts at masking illness, so a consistent record is often the first thing to reveal a gradual downward trend while there's still time to adjust comfort care with your vet.
Does this calculator replace my veterinarian?
No. It's a structured, non-judgemental way to reflect on your cat's comfort and to bring an organised record to your vet. It does not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your veterinarian can weigh your scores against your cat's specific diagnosis and comfort options.