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Cat Health-Medical Symptoms

Submitted by Michael Adams on February 25, 2010

It is important to be able to recognize the various cat health symptoms, so that timely medical attention and care may be provided and further complications may be averted. Your cat may display many signs and symptoms that indicate that she is feeling unwell. One of the most common sign is loss of appetite.

Most illnesses begin with this symptom. However you should also be able to differentiate between the cat’s usual feeding patterns and signs of a probable illness. Some cats may eat very eagerly while some may display reluctance in their eating habits.

Once you are aware of your cat’s normal eating pattern, you will be able to tell if something seems wrong. Just as in humans, appetite loss may indicate many things. It is possible that the cat may have gone outside and caught a prey and that’s why she lacks appetite.

Also, if there has been a fight with another cat, the stress may be preventing her from eating properly. Other stressors such as arrival of a new pet, change in routine and changes in the living environment may inhibit the cat’s appetite. It is also possible that the cat suddenly decides to stop eating the canned food that she has been eating for a long time now. One way of detecting whether there is indeed a health problem is to offer the cat some tasty food. If she doesn’t eat it, observe the reason behind it. If she is not eating eat because she just doesn’t want to, and not because she is unwell, then you can offer her normal food the next time. It is also possible that the cat may only want to eat the tasty food and not the food that’s part of her balanced diet.

Other cat medical symptoms that may indicate illness are apathy and bad temperament. Cats that usually roam outside may stay indoors or may hide in unusual areas of the house. Cats also instinctively cuddle up and sleep when they are not feeling too well. Anything that is different from the normal behavior of the cat may be indicative that something is wrong. If the cat continues to not eat, her metabolism could be affected. Consult your veterinarian if she goes for more than 24 hours without eating.

Symptoms that are usually indicative of cat health problems include changes in the coat and the formation of the third eyelid, which can be seen when the cat is sleeping. Hair that is erect or standing could mean that the cat is attempting to regulate her body temperature. Other symptoms could include excessive thirst, problems in urinating, vomiting or making unusual sounds.

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