Ever wanted to ask a vet how to tell if your cat is sick? Online Vet Reviews Sick Cat Symptoms

Our feline friends are not as easy to read as dogs, and cats are much less likely to complain when they are ill. As a veterinarian, all too often my cat owning clients bring their pets to me when their cats are far more ill than they realized. some studies have shown that cats will act perfectly normal when their people are around, but then show symptoms of illness, such as licking a wound or limping when they are alone.

What does this mean to you? As a responsible pet owner, you should educate yourself on how to do a basic pet owner physical exam on a weekly basis and be aware of the common indicators that your feline friend is under the weather.

After all, you know your cat better than anyone, and learning his or her “normals” could mean the matter in life or death.

Let’s review the basics of sick cat symptoms.

Is your cat sneezing more or having nasal discharge? is your cat pawing at his nose? is there swelling at the nose or a red crusty scab? Use common sense; a sneeze or even four in a row is not reason to rush to the veterinarian. perhaps you are cooking with a spicy ingredient or the dog has brought a new pollen in on their paws that is triggering your cat to sneeze. If it continues or is accompanied by green thick discharge, you should ask a vet.

Eyes should be clear, bright, and free of redness or discharge. When a cat starts squinting their eye, indicating pain, this is NOT something to wait around and keep an eye on. It may mean a scratch on their eye, called a corneal ulcer, which needs immediate medical attention.

Ears should be clean, without copious wax or discharge, and not a major source of itching. If you cat has large amounts of black ear discharge and is scratching at their ears frequently, this is a sign of an ear infection which warrants a vet visit.

A cat’s mouth should be free of odor, red gum-lines, tartar and plaque build up. If your cat is drooling excessively, it very likely is the result of oral pain, such as an infected tooth with associated nerve pain. If your cat has blueish gums or abnormal swellings in their mouth, this is a cause for concern.

If your cat is gasping for air or open-mouth breathing, please, don’t wait to see if it improves. Get to the vet ASAP. If your cat is just breathing a little harder after a long game of catch the laser, this is likely not of medical concern (except to spend more time enticing your cat to exercise). Does your cat have attacks of wheezing? Cats frequently get asthma, and this is nothing to blow off.

Your cat’s coat should be smooth and soft to the touch. Their skin should be free of sores, scabs, or lumps, masses, bald spots, and rashes. Does your normally well-groomed cat now have mats and spend less time grooming? This is likely an indication of a sick cat.

Body Condition (Weight):

You should be able to feel your cats ribs (subtly, not pronounced) when you rub your hands over your cat’s ribcage. Can’t find them? Over 50% of these cats are overweight or obese. It may be time to place Tigger on a diet. Sudden weight loss or gain is dangerous in cats and can indicate an underly disease such as diabetes, kidney failure, or hyperthyroidism.

Gastrointestinal system:

Ever wonder why cats vomit? Cats have hairballs, and depending on the cat, some are regular occasional vomiters. nonetheless, if your cat’s vomiting increases, loose stools become a repeat visitor, or if your cat’s stool has blood in it, a trip to the vet is definitely in order.

Ahhh…my personal least favorite cat illness, and unfortunately a very frequent one, if not the most frequent. has your cat started going outside the box? If it is accompanied by an increased amount of urine, blood in the urine, straining while urinating, a trip to the emergency vet is in order. also, if your male cat has stopped urinating, is straining in unusual places and crying loudly, RUN RUN RUN to the vet. This can be a sign of urinary blockage which is life-threatening. If your cat urinates in unusual locations, you may be stuck with a more complex problem to deal with. If this problem is recurring, your vet can work with your to find out if this is a behavioral or medical problem.

Attitude/Appetite/Energy:

Changes in any of the above can signal an underlying disease. A formerly nice cat that has turned aggressive may be in pain, such as arthritis or even a tumor affecting their behavior. has your cat’s energy and activity decreased? is your cat eating less? These are all signs that something more serious may be dangerously lurking. Get to the veterinarian and provide as detailed of a history and symptoms as possible.

Is your cat just not acting right? Follow your instincts. you know your cat better than anyone, and oftentimes those subtle hunches picked up by you the owner can help us as the veterinarian arrive at an accurate and speedy diagnosis. want to find out if your hunches warrant a vet visit? Ask a vet online 24/7 for a small fraction of the cost of inconvenience of an in-person vet visit.

It’s your cat’s health! Educate yourself, and protect your loved one

Laci Schaible, DVM is a veterinarian and writer for numerous pet publications. She works in Pennsylvania with her husband Jed, also a veterinarian.

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