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Unlike a human, a pet cannot directly complain of an indisposition. But some signs should alert the owner. Vladislav Kostylev, Candidate of Veterinary Sciences, veterinarian of the veterinary center “Golden Fleece”, told what to look for in order to understand that something hurts your cat.
Behavior
The first reason for suspicion is atypical behavior. A playful cheerful kitten suddenly turned into an apathetic sleepyhead and stopped enjoying his favorite toy? A friendly and benevolent cat does not go into the hands and hisses at the owners? A phlegmatic and calm animal running around the room, nervous, jumping on objects? Perhaps the beast is unwell. If the cat does not walk on its hands or does not allow touching any part of the body, painful sensations may be the cause.
Appetite
If the food remains in the bowl, and the animal does not show interest in it, or, on the contrary, greedily pounces on the next portion, you should carefully observe the animal. A complete refusal of food throughout the day is already a reason to see a doctor.
Ignoring the toilet
A well-bred pet suddenly stopped going to the litter box and chose some unexpected place as a toilet? This can be a reaction to stress – a lengthy departure of the host, a visit from noisy guests. If nothing of this happened, and puddles appear on the carpet or in the corridor, the cat may have problems with the urinary organs. Frequent urination or very infrequent urination and blood in the urine are considered warning signs.
To understand if the animal is dehydrated, gently and slowly pull up the skin between the shoulder blades, and then release it. If it returns to its previous position slowly, a doctor is needed.
Hygiene problems
If the cat stops washing after eating or using the toilet, and its fur has faded, the cause may be kidney disease or other internal organs. On the contrary, too intense licking, up to gnawing fur, may indicate that the pet is trying to relieve itching, caused, for example, by an allergic reaction.
Weight change
Any fluctuations in weight with an unchanged diet, as well as an increase in the abdomen, are a reason to see a doctor.
Problems with digestion
Too frequent or sparse stools, blotches of mucus or blood, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, a strong unpleasant odor from the contents of the tray or from the mouth can indicate diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or an insufficiently balanced diet. Since cats are carnivores, most of the diet should be meat. Therefore, a vegetarian diet or food with a low meat content can harm your pet’s health. Veterinarians advise you to read the composition on the packaging of the finished feed – it should include 100% natural ingredients, meat and offal. As a rule, large companies, including Mars, which produces WHISKAS® feed, strictly follow the formulation of feed.
Exterior changes
Wounds and ulcers, bald patches, constantly dilated pupils, watery eyes are signs that speak of ill health. They also include unexpected clumsiness, a change in gait, and a lack of coordination.
Cold-like symptoms
Coughing, sneezing, or nasal discharge do not necessarily indicate a cold. For example, dry cough and vomiting after it happen if hairballs are stuck in the esophagus.
temperature change
For cats, the temperature is considered normal in the range of 37,5-39,2 ° C (measured rectally). Anything above is a sign of a disease.