Some Major Signs Of Cat Health Problems

by Kurt Schmitt

Cat health problems are a challenge for cat owners, partly since your cat can’t tell you when she’s ill. There are many possible illnesses that your cat may face througout her life. The symptoms of these feline illnesses often overlap, just as in people.

Stress is an important risk factor for contracting illness. Your cat may be stressed by pre-existing health problems, or a life change of some kind. Examples of some stressors would be a recent injury or illness, or a recent medical procedure. Keep in mind that moving residences, or the addition or removal of a family member or other pet may put stress on your cat.

Your cat can catch the flu or a cold in same way you can. Cats may also get heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and are subject to parasite infestation. Some of these cat health problems will require treatment.

If your cat is not acting right it may turn out to be nothing. Even so, if you see any of these signs, call your veterinarian and get instructions on the best course of action. If things get worse, your vet will already be engaged. Below are some problems to watch out for.

General signs — Your cat may exhibit some of the same signs that you’d expect to see in people if she has the flu, a cold, injury, or infection. General symptoms of cat illness include sneezing, coughing, lethargy, and nasal discharge. Your cat may experience excessive drooling if she has an infection or the flu, and may also have a fever.

If at any time you notice that your cat faints or falls down, has difficulty walking, jumping, or breathing, contact your veterinarian immediately. You should also be concerned by rapid weight loss or gain, or a bloated appearance or tightness in the abdomen. Other signs of serious feline illness are excessive vomiting or blood in the vomit, signs of pain, or signs of worms.

Behavioral changes — A dramatic change in behavior or routine in your cat may be a sign of illness. Excessive scratching or licking behavior, a change in sleeping habits, or unusual aggressive tendencies may be signs that something is wrong. If your cat is normally social, but decides to hide in a room all day, that is probably a sign that something is wrong.

Eating and drinking — Loss of appetite is very common in sick cats, as many animals will refuse to eat when they’re not feeling right. Also on this list would be difficulty in chewing or eating. Failure to drink or excessive drinking are indicators as well. Dehrydation, which can be life threatening, results from failure to drink. Refusal to drink while leaning over the drinking bowl is a definite sign of a problem, and increased thirst is a symptom of a number of diseases, including diabetes.

In order to stay alert to cat health problems, you’ll want to be alert to your cat’s typical patterns of behavior. This includes habits related to sleeping, eating, drinking, using the litter box, and levels of activity. If you see a change, keep a closer eye on your cat to see if there’s a problem. Remember that cats are very good at hiding discomfort, so you’ll have to be very observant.

You should groom your cat at least once a week. Take the opportunity during these sessions to examine your cat for some of these warning signs. You can get a feel for how your cat is reacting to being handled, and easily check all the body parts, the mouth, and so on. Checking your cat regularly will help you work with your veterinarian to keep on top of any cat health problems that may arise.

About the Author:

Kurt Schmitt has created a 150 plus page website for cat lovers. Once there, you’ll find many articles on cat health problems, as well as cat care information, and funny cat pictures too.