How to Figure Out If Your Cat May Be Sick
You may find it difficult to identify how well your kitty is feeling. And unfortunately, she can’t speak to you in specific terms to tell you. So it will be up to you to recognize behavioral changes or irregularities in routine so you can diagnose symptoms of kitty illness
It’s important to know your cat’s regular habits, things like regular eating and drinking habits, regular activity level, and regular litter box or “bathroom” habits. But it’s good to keep in mind that with certain illnesses a cat might not show many symptoms; she might only have mild indications.
It’s important to pay close attention to any changes in your cat’s behavior and even take notes on the changes in behavior or habits.
Gathering this information about your cat’s symptoms might also aid the veterinarian in diagnosing the cat illness. While sometimes the diagnosis for a cat health problem is determined quickly, other times it may be complicated and any additional information from you may be instrumental.
Another reason you should monitor your kitty closely and learn her habits well is that the earlier you catch a cat health problem the more likely you or your veternarian will be able to successfully treat your kitty.
The other benefit of treating the illness right away is to avoid behavior problems like not using the litter box. Such problems can become miserable, both for your kitty and for you.
How do you know if your cat may have a feline health problem?
As I wrote earlier, alterations in your cat’s habits may be an indication that something is bothering your kitty. Yet there are still some particular symptoms you should keep in mind when you observe your cat:
- Constipation (including lack of feces in the litter box)
- Diarrhea
- Urinating or defecating outside of the litter box
- Straining in the litter box
- Changes in appetite
- Increased thirst
- Changes in energy level
- Change in weight
- Vomiting (other than hairballs)
- Excessive scratching
- Depression or lethargy
This is just a starting list. Remember, any behavior unusual to your specific kitty’s habits should be observeed closely and brought to the attention of your veterniarian. I urge you not to diagnose your cat by yourself. Your cat’s care really require the attention of a trained professional.
Many cat health problems may be subtle and yet difficult and could require multiple lab tests conducted by professional lab technicians.
Prevention is the best medicine. Of course it’s not possible to completely prevent feline illness but you can at least help reduce the chances of your cat contracting a feline illness.
Nutrition is the foundation of your cat’s health. To keep your cat’s immune system strong it’s important to feed a healthy, species-appropriate diet and make sure she has access to clean water at all times.
This isn’t necessarily the case. To strengthen your cat’s immune system you should look at ingredients carefully and try to provide your cat a species-appropriate, healthy diet with few fillers and by-products. And of course, you should be certain he or she always has access to clean water. Don’t be cheap; buying your cat a high quality cat food (I suggest a good percentage of his or her diet be moist food) can save you money and save you and your kitty a lot of trouble and misery over the long haul.
One last thing I suggest is that you keep your cat indoors a vast majority of the time. A ton of evidence suggests that indoor cats live longer, healthier lives and aren’t exposed to diseases and parasites nearly as much as those poor outdoor kitties.
And don’t forget the routine vet visits.