How to Discover Early Symptoms of Illness in Cats

Many cats’ lives would have been saved if the cats‘ owners brought them early when the symptoms of the disease appeared, according to veterinarian practice. For that reason, veterinarians recommend examining the cat regularly at home to detect the signs of potential diseases. While many of us think that examination of a cat’s condition is complicated and burdensome, they convince us that it is simple and easy. They also emphasize an importance of regular checking within a vet, at least once a year. Their argument is that one cat’s year is much longer than humans. The regular checkups could significantly increase the lifespan of our cats. But, what we can do before we take a cat to a vet, or how even decide if it is necessary. The article “Pet Symptoms: 6 Signs of Illness in Your Dog or Cat” describe the symptoms that should not go unnoticed.

Vomiting or Diarrhea
A pet that vomits, especially several times in one day, acts lethargic, and lacks appetite needs a veterinarian’s attention, according to experts.
Another serious pet symptom: blood in the vomit or throwing up digested blood that looks like coffee grounds. Gastric ulcers can cause bloody vomit, and so can swallowing a foreign object that irritates the stomach.

Lack of Appetite or Decreased Activity
Dogs and cats stop eating for a host of reasons, including fever, pain, or stress. “A reduced or absent appetite, especially if it lasts for more than 24 hours, is a reason to bring your animal to the veterinarian,” says John Randolph, DVM, diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and professor of medicine at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Urinating More or Less Frequently
Excessive thirst and urination might spell diabetes. But increased urination may also signal liver or kidney disease or adrenal gland disease.

Coughing
“Coughing, especially if it’s persistent, is one of those pet symptoms that need to be evaluated,” Sawchuk says. Chronic coughing may be related to heart disease, heartworms, or lung diseases.

Hair Loss or Itchy Skin
Fleas, ticks, mange mites, and ear mites are common reasons for hair loss and itching on the skin or around the ears. When cats or dogs have ear mites or yeast infections, they may scratch at itching ears and have “brown, crumbly discharge in the ears,” Sawchuk says.
But hair loss or itchy skin may also result from endocrine problems, staph infections, fungal or yeast infections, and a host of other causes, Sawchuk says.

Stiffness, Lameness, or Difficulty With Rising
Pets that suffer stiffness, lameness, inability to bear weight on one leg, or trouble rising from the ground may have hip or spine arthritis, disc disease, ruptured ligaments, or hip dysplasia. Tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, can also cause arthritis.

Although, noticing the symptoms of illness in cats is simple, it is not easy because cats tend to hide them. Thus, strange behavior of a cat and its tendency to withdraw, should alarm us. As we have seen, veterinarians emphasize the importance of looking for the most common signs of various diseases, such as vomiting, diarrhea, sneezing, running noses or eyes, lack of appetite, etc. These signs are usually not very dangerous if they appear in a single episode. But, if the symptoms continually persist during 48 hours, there is no doubt that we do not have to waste the time and go to a vet immediately. Prevention has always been the best solution when it comes to illness. Our love for cats is a good motivational drive that can inspire us to study all the symptoms we should look for to help the cat live longer and healthier.