Symptoms of a Sick Cat: Know When a Trip to the Vet is Necessary

Cats are not complainers. They do not come up to you and show you an injury, or come to you when in pain. Their meows do not often convey discomfort. Moreover, when in pain, they still purr. Therefore, WHAT can we, as responsible pet owners, look for in our beloved felines that would necessitate a trip to the veterinarians? As we are such responsible pet owners, we should be aware of the normal appearance of our feline. We should be aware of our pet's normal behavior and routine. A cat's eating habits should be familiar as well. Should you notice your cat not eating as much over the course of a few days and being lethargic- a trip to the vet could be vital. Yes, cats sleep upwards of eighteen hours a day, but you, as a responsible pet owner can tell if your cat is sleeping more than usual. You will know if your cat usually sleeps beside you nightly, and now is sleeping next to the water bowl that something is amiss.

Other signs to be aware of in our kitty's health:

Nose:

Is your cat sneezing more, having more nasal discharge, or green mucus running out? Is there reddening around the nasal cavity? If you observe your cat sneeze once or several times in quick succession, do not rush your kitty to the vet. Cats do have allergies, too. If you had just opened the door, something could have blown in, creating a sudden urge to sneeze. However if the sneezing continues, a trip to the vet could be in order.

Ears:

Is your cat scratching and shaking his or her head more than usual? Is there a balance impairment you have witnessed? A head tilt? It might be more than fleas. (Which as a resposible pet owner you are already using a preventative for right?)

Eyes:

Is there more discharge (eye gunk as we call it) than normal? Is there a small black dot in the eye (a sign of a corneal sequestrum), or a film over one or both of the eyes?

Fur and skin:

Is your cat's coat normally soft and silky but now it appears course and greasy? Could be indicative of a greater problem. Inspect your cat's fur on a regular basis (when grooming on a regular basis) for any bald patches (a possible fungal infection), scratches, cuts, or any other alterations to their body.

Teeth, gums, and mouth:

Most of us, even the most responsible of responsible pet owners do not brush their cats' teeth. However, looking for obsessive drooling, salivating, inflammation, or wounds is the responsible thing to do as a responsible pet owner. Has your cat suddenly developed a small bump on the upper or bottom lip? Could be something as simple as food allergy. A steroid shot and a change in food might be in order.

Lungs and Respiratory System:

Is your kitty having labored breathing? Is he or she coughing more? Does he or she seem to be panting or open mouth breathing? Is there black gook build up around their nose and mouth?

Intestines, stomach, and urinary tract:

Cats have hairballs-that is normal. Nevertheless, if you notice your cat is vomiting- not normal. A trip to the vet may be in order. If you have observed diarrhea, constipation, abnormal stools, or blood in urine and /or stools a trip to the vet is definitely in order. Normal feline behavior in your home that you have observed is kitty drinks a half a bowl of water a day, suddenly you notice you are having to fill the bowl more than once daily-get kitty to the vet!!!

Know your cat, protect your cat.