Important:
This article has
been written to provide a guide to what to look for in regards
to signs of sickness, some signs include possible causes. It has
not been written by a veterinarian & shouldn't be used to
replace veterinary advice. This is by no means meant to be
for diagnostic purposes, most symptoms of sickness have multiple
possible causes, many of which aren't included in this article.
Therefore it is imperative that you seek proper veterinary
attention if you see you suspect your cat is unwell. You should
NEVER make an medical diagnosis based on what you read on the
Internet, only an examination performed by a qualified
veterinarian can give you a definite diagnosis so please, if you
believe your cat is unwell, seek proper medical care
immediately.
Introduction:
Cats are very
stoic by nature & it is up to the observant cat owner to keep a
watchful eye over them & be aware of small changes to their
appearance, behaviour, eating habits etc., which could indicate
all is not well.
Behaviour, pain &
general signs & physical signs are all important clues to your
cat's general health.
Any sign that your
cat is unwell requires veterinary attention. Your cat can't tell
you when something is wrong so it is important for you, the
carer to be observant & watch for clues, and act accordingly.
What may seem to be a minor change to you may be indicative of a
serious medical issue with your cat, so prompt veterinary
attention is always necessary to find out what is happening.
Behaviour:
Inappropriate
elimination - Inappropriate elimination can be the result of
a behavioural issue or a medical problem. This is why it is
extremely important to seek veterinary advice if your cat stops
using the litter tray. He/she will run some tests to determine
if there is a medical cause, if so it can be treated, and if it
is established that it is a behavioural problem appropriate
action can be taken to help your cat resolve this problem.
A cat who is
urinating outside the litter tray may have a number of medical
conditions such as diabetes mellitus, kidney failure,
FLUTD, urinary tract infection.
Increased/decreased thirst & or appetite - There are
many possible reasons why your cat may be eating or drinking
more or less, some of which include:
Increased thirst
could indicate
diabetes mellitus,
pyometra,
hyperthyroidism.
Increased appetite could be caused by hyperthyroidism.
Loss of appetite
could be caused by an
abscess, anaemia, dehydration, injury or
trauma, intestinal obstruction, dental or mouth pain
(gingivitis, tooth abscess, stomatitis etc.) or other disorders.
Increased
vocalisation - This may be caused by stress, fear, estrus or
an underlying medical problem. It is often seen in older cats &
can be indicative of pain, sickness, loss of cognitive functions
or another medical problem.
Hiding - If
your usually outgoing cat suddenly takes to hiding it could have
been brought about by fear, anxiety or an underlying medical
cause.
Sleeping habits
- Sleeping more &
lethargy often a sign that something is wrong with
your cat.
Change in
routine or general behaviour - If your cat usually
greets you when you come home from work, but abruptly stops this
it could be a sign that something is wrong with kitty. Is your
cat suddenly spending a lot of time in the litter tray, no
longer harassing you for food first thing on a morning, or
harassing you for food when it hadn't in the past? Any change,
no matter how minor could be a result of a medical condition.
General & Physical
Signs:
Coat appearance
- Cats are by nature fastidiously clean & spend a great deal of
their day grooming. Poor coat condition can be caused by a
multitude of problems, from parasites to malnutrition to skin
disorders (such as ringworm, fleas, allergies). The older cat
may have problems maintaining it's grooming regime due to pain
caused by conditions such as arthritis or obesity.
Bad breath -
Also known as halitosis, bad breath in cats is not normal &
could be a sign of kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, liver
disease, tooth abscess, periodontal disease,
intestinal problems, cancers of the mouth.
Difficulty going
to the toilet - If your cat is straining to go to the toilet,
or only passing a small amount of urine, going to the toilet
often or licking the genital area frequently these symptoms
could be the following; FLUTD (which is a medical emergency),
bladder stones, tumours, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease or
constipation.
Blood in urine
(hematuria) - Bladder stones, urinary tract infection, cancer,
trauma can all be causes of blood in urine.
Weight loss or
gain - There are many causes of weight loss or gain. Weight
loss could be caused by diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism,
malnutrition, kidney failure or any chronic illness.
Pain -
Cats are very good at hiding pain from their carers & each cat
will have a different pain threshold. There are countless causes
of pain in cats, which is why it is important to seek veterinary
advice as soon as possible to find out the cause.
Discharge -
Discharge from the eyes & nose could be indicative of a
bacterial or viral infection, or foreign body. Discharge
from the genitals could indicate pyometra.
Ataxia
(unsteady gait): Possible causes include poisoning, neurological
disorder, ear infection, spinal trauma, pelvis fracture,
brain trauma.
Abnormal
breathing - Heart failure, asthma, lung disease. Panting
could be a sign of
hyperthermia (heat stroke).
Eyes - Are
the pupils both the same size? Shine a light in them, do they
become smaller or stay fixed? Either scenario is a medical
emergency & could indicate head trauma, seek veterinary
attention immediately.
Check the eyes for
discharge, this could indicate a foreign body, eye infection or
upper respiratory tract infection.
Appearance of the
third eyelid (also known as haw) is another indicator that
something is wrong with your cat. This could be a sign of
dehydration, illness or injury.
Appraising the
situation:
Gum colour
- The normal colour is pink. Pale to white gums may indicate
shock or anaemia. Blue gums indicate not enough oxygen, yellow
gums indicate liver problems, bright red can indicate carbon
monoxide poisoning or heatstroke.
Dehydration -
To check for dehydration grasp some skin at the base of their
neck (the scruff) and gently pull it up. In the hydrated cat,
the skin will spring back immediately. In a dehydrated cat, the
skin will be slower to retract. The more severe the dehydration
the slower the skin will take to retract.
Capillary Refill
Time (CRT) - This helps you to test your cat's blood
circulation & can indicate dehydration, heart failure or shock.
To test capillary refill time lift your cat's upper lip & press
the flat of your finger against the gum tissue. Remove the
pressure & you will see a white mark on the gum where your
finger was placed. Using a watch with a second hand, time how
long it takes for the pink colour to return to the white spot.
In the healthy cat it should take around 1 - 2 seconds to return
to pink.
Please note:
The medical
articles on this site have not been written by a
veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a
veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for
informative purposes only.
Always seek
immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or
behavioral) in your pets.
While great
care has been made in the creation of these articles, we
cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages.
If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical
advice.
