4 Cat Symptoms That You Must Address

By: Kurt Schmitt

These 4 common cat symptoms could signal an emergency, or at least require a consultation with your vet. While your cat may experience some of these symptoms and not have a significant problem, it is best to be cautious.

Cats often get by pretty well on their own, and they may recover from a mild illness even before you know they're sick. It's easy then, to overlook or ignore something that we are sure our cat will recover from. It's also possible that one or more of these cat symptoms could indicate that your cat may have a significant illness or underlying condition as the cause. Pay close attention to your cat's behavior. If she exhibits any of the following symptoms, act accordingly.

While these are not the only symptoms that can signal a warning sign, they are some of the most common. Be on the alert for vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to eat or drink, and lethargy. Below are some details.

Refusal to eat or drink - Not eating or drinking for extended periods is a red flag. Make sure you know your cat's eating and drinking habits well, and be observant if there are any changes. Animals who are ill often stop eating, so pay attention to what your cat is trying to tell you.

Vomiting - Vomiting is a common thing for a cat to do. Hairballs are probably the most frequent cause of vomiting, and are usually of little concern.. But cats get into all kinds of things, so it's not surprising they have a habit of giving some of those things back. They may also have allergic reactions to plants and other items that can cause digestive distress. It might just be a hairball, but be alert to the possibility of a more serious problem if your cat is persistently vomiting. Poisons, intestinal disturbances, or serious illness could be the reason. Excessive vomiting can lead to dehydration, which is a serious condition that may require intravenous fluids, and can result in death.

Lethargy - Cats sleep a lot, it's true. Lethargy, however, is one cat symptom that should not be ignored. It is an indication of a problem and a sign to watch out for. Since cats do sleep a lot, it may be hard to detect if they are sluggish or just taking it easy. If your cat is normally bubbly and active, but suddenly begins sleeping in a corner for an entire day, something is probably wrong. I failed to catch this behavior change with one of my cats once for about a day since she was out in the open and seemed fine. By day two, however, she was too weak to jump, and she ended up needing IV fluids and an antibiotic.

Diarrhea - Diarrhea can be a sign of a more serious problem than just plain indigestion. It also causes dehydration, so do not let this go on for long without contacting your vet.

All in all, cats are pretty sturdy creatures, and will recover from mild problems. There will be those times, however, when cat symptoms indicate a more serious situation or danger that must be treated. Be on the alert for those occasions.

Niche Article Directory: http://www.thatsmyniche.com

Kurt Schmitt publishes www.cat-lovers-only.com where cat lovers go to find out more about their pets.

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated