Is Your Cat Ill?
I got this article in the ClubPets magazine and thought of sharing with u guys.
Like us our pets also behave differently when they feel under the weather and behaviour changes are often amongst the earliest signs that all is not well. Observing your cat’s behaviour can help you detect health problems and catch the early stages of a disease, for more effective teatment.
Lethargy or excessive sleepiness
This common sign of sickness is sometimes difficult for owners to recognize, as healthy adult cats may sleep 16 - 18 hours a day. However, if you notice a substantial decrease in your cat’s enthusiasm for play or general activity, then medical problems cannot be ruled out, as pain from orthopaedic problems as well as infectious and metabolic diseases may be to blame. Only a trip to the vet will rule these out.
Change in appetite
Keep track of how much your cat normally eats and drinks so that any variation can be detected easily and early. A decrease in appetite is perhaps the most noticeable change, especially when you find food left in the bowl at the end of the day. If this continues for more than 24 hours, you should be concerned. Several medical conditions ranging from simple gastrointestinal infection to more complex organic disease of the liver or kidneys could be responsible for appetite suppression and a visit to the vet is needed to tell the difference between these.
Increases in appetite are more difficult to recognize and in older cats, conditions such as hyperthyroidism are commonly associated with an increase in food consumption. It is common for the cat to become very vocal in his demands for food. Other endocrine disorders and metabolic diseases can also be responsible for a ravenous appetite and once again, a vet needs to examine a cat to identify the cause.
Change in groomingCats are famous for the pride they take in their appearance and the amount of time they spend grooming themselves. Lack of interest in coat care is often a sign of physical disease, and infectious conditions and associated high temperatures are often the main factors. Conversely, cats that groom too often may have an itchy skin condition. The most obvious cause is external parasites, such as fleas, and when cats are licking frantically at their coat in short frequent episodes it is sensible to review the treatment you use for flea control.
However, why cats groom themselves excessivley is not limited to just dermatological problems. If the main targeted area is the belly and inner hindlegs, it is worth considering urinary tract disease as a cause, since pain from the bladder disease can result in cats licking extensively at this region.
In addition to medical causes, behavioural factors may be involved. Cats groom to relieve stress and in situations where causes of stress are ongoing and unavoidable, cats may groom to the point of hair loss and even skin damage. In homes with multiple cats, inter-cat tension may be the cause. If this is indeed the case, a complete veterinary examination will help you to rule out any physical health problems.
Weight loss
This sign often goes unnoticed, especially in long-haired cat. Owners who regularly groom their cats may noticed the ribs and backbone becoming more prominent. Those who regularly weigh their cats are sure to see a change. A sudden loss of 1/2kg in a cat that normally weigh 5kg is cause for concern and a veterinary examination is in order.
Change in litter box habits
Cats that start visiting the litter box more frequently or that repeatedly urinated or defecate outside the box may be suffering from a disease of the lower urinary tract or large intestine. Cats that strain to urinate may have a urethral obstruction, such cats are in grave danger and need immediate veterinary attention. Do not waste any time and bring your cat to the vet as soon as you can.
Stay observant
When we lived with cats, we become very accustomed to their bahaviour patterns and it is often changes in these that alert us to some underlying medical problem. Besides observing your pet closely on a daily basis, get in the habit of giving your cat a weekly mini-physical to detect the early developing signs of ill health. You could save yourself from hefty vet bills and a lot of heartache later.
