Mary Allen
Is your cat sick? With our tips, you will quickly know if your cat is missing something. Look out for these 7 signs.
How to tell if the cat is sick? Often it is not so easy to recognize that the beloved kitty is missing something, because our cats often hide illnesses as best they can and try not to show the symptoms.
Recognizing the signs of illness is not easy for the inexperienced unless the cat is coughing or vomiting. But if you know what to look out for, you can quickly see when something is wrong. You should know these signs that the cat is sick.
Activity
You could get jealous when you see what a wonderful life our cats have: sleeping, eating, playing, sleeping… cats allow themselves up to 16 hours a day for trips to the land of dreams. If your pet sleeps two-thirds of the day, you don’t have to worry. However, if it becomes significantly more, or if your cat is generally sluggish and less active, this could be a sign of cat illness or pain. Then you should have your health checked by a veterinarian.
Extra tip: An extremely awkward gait is often a sign of ataxia in the cat. In our linked article you can find out how best to deal with an ataxic cat.
Fur
Cats clean themselves very thoroughly. So it’s no wonder that her fur always shines so beautifully. If this is different with your animal, you should be alarmed. If the head of hair appears dull or even matted, a cuddling session is a perfect opportunity to examine your sweetheart for the causes or possible cat diseases.
Your cat may lack the strength to groom itself. She may also feel pain when brushing. In both cases, a visit to the veterinarian is mandatory. If necessary, he can recognize an illness and help quickly.
Also, make sure that the fur is not infested with parasites such as e.g. B. is infested with mites – the doctor must also treat this immediately.
Eating behavior
Cats are very picky when it comes to food. That’s probably why you’ve had big eyes at the bowl and meowing indignantly instead of your furball attacking the food as you’d hoped. This diva-like behavior happens from time to time and shouldn’t worry you. Then just switch back to the type of food that Her Majesty… sorry, your cat prefers.
However, if your animal stops eating well overnight for no reason and perhaps still shows the signs mentioned under points 1 and 2, you should urgently ask your veterinarian for help. Possibly an inflammation of the gums is to blame for the fact that the mini tiger has lost its appetite. Or there is another disease behind it. The veterinarian can quickly get to the bottom of the cause or causes.
Dry nose
A dry cat’s nose can reveal a lot about health or diseases. If your cat’s nose is cracked or crusted, this can be a sign that the velvet paw is suffering from a lack of water. But there may also be a skin problem behind it. Then watch for other symptoms like dandruff or a dull coat.
But not all dry cat noses indicate diseases. Since some animals like to stay in warm, cuddly places, this can also lead to a dry nose. If your velvet paw likes to snooze on the warm radiator, lie in front of the fireplace or just enjoy sunbathing in the garden, there is no need to worry. If you are unsure what the cause of the dry nose is, the veterinarian will help.
breathing
If the cat is healthy, it breathes about 20 to 40 times per minute. Breathing in and out counts as one breath. If your cat’s breathing is noticeably accelerated, irregular, very shallow, or if your cat finds it difficult to breathe, this could be a sign that it is in pain or has other illnesses. The cat may also be panting. A visit to the veterinarian is also highly recommended.
Vomiting
From time to time cats vomit. Since the hair that is taken in when brushing cannot be digested, hairballs are formed that are vomited out after a while. If the velvet paw behaves normally afterward, e.g. For example, if you eat your food as usual and drink enough water, there is no need to worry. However, if she does not eat anything or shows other symptoms, you should observe her behavior and, if necessary, go to the doctor. He can clarify whether something more serious, such as giardia, is behind it.
Diarrhea
Cats with diarrhea or gastrointestinal infections are not to be trifled with. As a result, the cat loses an enormous amount of fluid within a very short time, which can very quickly put it completely out of action.
A change in diet or an illness often leads to this. Therefore, look at your pet’s excretions when cleaning the litter box. If the stool is liquid, you should act immediately. How depends on what you suspect is the cause of diarrhea. If you haven’t changed anything in the food, infection is most likely to blame. However, worms in cats could also be the cause. Therefore, do regular worming and go to the doctor immediately if you suspect an infection.
If you have changed the food, follow these tips to make the change as easy as possible for your cat:
- Crushing food: This helps the cat digest it more easily.
- Never give dairy products.
- Plenty of drinking water: Cats lose a lot of liquid due to diarrhea. The water balance must therefore be stabilized. If the cat drinks poorly, a drinking fountain may help.
- If it doesn’t improve after three days, be sure to see a doctor, because diarrhea can be life-threatening in the worst case.
If you have an outdoor cat who does his business outside, you cannot check your animal’s droppings. You should therefore always keep an eye on the behavior, the activity, and the fur and also check how your cat’s fluid balance is: To do this, carefully (!) pull up a skin fold on your cat’s neck. If everything is in order with your health, it should go back immediately. If not, this can be one of the symptoms of dehydration in your cat. Even then, you should ask a veterinarian for help. He can make sure that your furry sweetheart gets well again quickly.