Some cat health symptoms can be handled with gentle care and love at home. Other situations become life-threatening requiring immediate medical attention. As a feline caregiver, there is a certain amount of on-the-job training you go through trying to monitor your cat's health. Delaying a trip to the vet or waiting to see if things improve can end up in expensive health care bills or even cost your feline her life.
 #1-- A Loss of Appetite
No matter how much love and attention you give, felines experience cat illnesses. Recognizing cat health symptoms is challenging because, unlike their human caregiver, cats are rather stoic soldiers. They don't go around grumping when they have a belly ache.
Take notice when a cat has stopped eating or skipped a meal. If your cat experiences trouble eating, drinking or swallowing, then these are serious cat health symptoms. It is a big RED, FLASHING LIGHT that something is wrong.
A change or lack of appetite can happen slowly or suddenly. If you have a multi-cat household, it can be complicated to recognize a change in appetite for a single cat. We use separate plates to feed our cats, one for each cat. With individual plates you have a better chance of identifying meal skippers -- even though Mr. Vacuum will eventually make his way to clean up the leftovers.
Your cat's appetite may be off because she is struggling with a hairball or she ate a bad mouse. Far worse, she consumed a poisoned mouse and she is now poisoned, or she is in the early stages of a serious illness like kidney disease or fatty liver syndrome. When your cat misses a couple of meals it is time for a visit to the vet.
Do not wait to see if she is going to suddenly start eating. The sudden drop in food intake causes damage to the liver. This turns into a vicious cycle where the cat won't eat because her liver is sick and no food intake aggravates the liver damage.
#2 -- She Is Lethargic
A noticeable change in your cat's energy levels is also a good indicator that something is awry. Cats do sleep a lot, as much as 18-20 hours a day. However, if you notice she has zero interest in her beloved toys or catnip, she is quietly telling you something is wrong. She has pain or a fever and feels lousy.
#3 -- She's Losing Weight
She probably isn't eating well. When cats are sick they stop eating. When you lift your cat does she feel lighter than normal? Weight loss goes hand-in-hand with loss of appetite, but it can also be a sign of kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes and cancer. Weight loss is considered a serious sign of cat illness and should prompt an immediate trip to the veterinarian.
#4 -- She's Drinking A Lot of Water (Using the Litter Box A Lot Too!)
Does she fall to sleep while drinking at the water bowl? The good news is that she's still drinking. A increased need for water leads to an increase in urine. Obviously the two are linked together. After all, if she takes a lot of water in, it has got to go out sometime. Common causes of excessive thirst and urination include kidney disease, diabetes and elevated thyroid levels.
#5 -- Urination Is Painful or Interrupted
When a cat strains using the litter box, has accidents outside the box, squats for a long time, cries, or repositions herself over and over, you have spotted a problem indicating one or more cat illnesses. If you could view her urine under a microscope, odds are you would find traces of blood.
Male cats may lick at the tip of the penis or suddenly lose his appetite, vomit or become very vocal during urination. More than likely he is experiencing a complete blockage. A male cat that is straining during urination is having a fire-alarm emergency. Get him to the vet pronto.
When a female cat strains during urination it may not be a complete blockage because her urethra (the tube that drains the bladder to the outside) is wider than a male cat's and is less likely to clog. However, if she can't urinate that means she can't eliminate her body's liquid waste. This is not a cat health symptom that can wait.
A blocked cat becomes ill in 24 hours and can die in 72 hours -- don't wait for the weekend to pass! Your veterinarian can unblock the urethra by inserting a catheter. This removes the obstruction allowing the urine to drain. It is most easily accomplished with early detection of the problem.
Urinary problems can be caused by a number of things, including bladder stones in the urethra, dietary causes, bacterial infections and the least understood problem, feline lower urinary tract disorder (FLUTD). This illness can be related to stress or a virus similar to a human's cold sore.
Your relationship with your cat is what helps you get through your personal trials and rough times. If you lost her because you failed to recognize a life-threatening, but treatable condition would you always regret your ignorance? The answer is obvious isn't it?
Bottom line: Don't be shy about calling your vet when your cat shows these cat health symptoms. Also, find a trusted resource to coach you through cat behavior or cat care questions and your chances for having a delightful, loving and long-lived feline partner become a whole lot better. |
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