The health of our cats is a matter of concern to any feline owner. As with humans, sometimes your cat may not be at its best. But it can also be a disease that can be serious. It is therefore necessary to have a few elements in mind in order to know how to react to such a situation. Anyway, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian if you have the slightest doubt, only he will be able to guide you on what to do.

There are many reasons a cat can have a loss of appetite. It can be a medical problem but also a behavioral one. Indeed, a disturbance in its habits, food or not, or a change in its environment can be at the origin of stress and anxiety in the cat which can have repercussions on its appetite. It is then necessary to ask certain questions:

• change of food: your cat may prefer their old food;
• change in his environment that could disturb him: new bowl, bowl that has been moved, etc. ;
• stress during the meal: presence of a noise during the meal, of another animal, competition with a congener;
• any other element that is new to him: moving, newcomer to your home, etc.

But it can also be a medical problem. It is therefore important to consult your veterinarian quickly, especially if your cat does not regain his appetite within 24 hours. Indeed, there could be serious consequences on his health. A cat can quickly develop a condition called liver lipidosis if it doesn’t eat. As the cat has stopped eating, its body will draw on fat for energy. They will therefore be directed to the liver. But if the latter receives more lipids than the amount it can contain, they will then accumulate in the liver causing a disruption of its functions. This disease can be fatal. Thus, it is necessary to consult your veterinarian as soon as your cat loses its appetite, and more particularly if it is a young cat or an old cat, in order to rule out or not a medical cause and to prevent the appearance of serious health problems.

A loss of activity, also called apathy, can have several origins in cats. Some are naturally less active than others. As the owner, you are therefore in the best position to detect whether this drop in activity is abnormal in your cat or not depending on its habits. Just like with us, a temporary drop in shape can sometimes occur. On the other hand, if it persists, you should contact your veterinarian to see if this apathy is the consequence of an illness.

In addition, it is important to be attentive to the possible presence of other symptoms associated with this decline in form such as loss of appetite, a change in behavior or even fever. If other signs are present, it is necessary to make an appointment with your veterinarian.

Vomiting is the forced release of stomach contents through the mouth. It is important to distinguish:

• vomiting: preceded by nausea (the cat drools, can complain and breathes quickly) with the presence of contractions of the abdomen;
• and regurgitation: close to a meal with no nausea and abdominal contractions but the presence of a cough.

In cats, there can be many causes of vomiting. Occasional vomiting can occur especially in the presence of hairballs in the stomach or during transport by car. You can then inspect the contents (presence of hairballs, food, blood, etc.). If blood is present, contact your veterinarian. Likewise, repeated vomiting deserves a consultation with your veterinarian because they can be consecutive to a disease (digestive or not) or even cause complications such as dehydration for example.

In addition, young cats and older cats that vomit should be taken promptly for consultation with your veterinarian. Indeed, they are more sensitive to the complications of vomiting, in particular to dehydration.

Also, if your cat vomits due to motion sickness, medication may be prescribed for your cat by your veterinarian. Likewise, in case of hairballs, gels are available to help their elimination through the stool.

Sometimes you may notice abnormal behavior in your cat. He is not as usual, hiding or doing silly things. A change in behavior can be indicative of a health problem but also of a stress problem. Cats are indeed very sensitive to the slightest change in their habits. A new member of your family, a move or even a new piece of furniture can trigger anxiety in your pet which can result in abnormal behavior. In this case, it is important to think about what could have changed in your daily life and be a trigger for stress. Once the source has been identified, it is necessary to find a solution so that the cat regains its calm. It may also be worth considering investing in a pheromone diffuser that will help soothe your cat.

If despite this your cat is still behaving abnormally, you can contact your veterinarian or even call a behavioral veterinarian.

On the other hand, a change in behavior can also be the result of a health problem. If there have not been recent changes in his habits and in his environment, a consultation with your veterinarian is necessary to identify a possible disease.