You’ve probably heard that cats are good at hiding their illnesses. That’s true. Cats are very private creatures and are both predators and prey, so we don’t like to show our weaknesses. So often, we hide the fact that we’re not feeling well until we can’t anymore. It is extremely rare for cats to become hypochondriacs.
If you live with a cat and have vet bills, you probably wish there was a faster way to tell if your cat is sick. If you’re relying on your cat to eventually tell you, it’s often a problem that develops over time. Sometimes your cat can suddenly make you sick, but you can often see signs that something is going on before your cat tells you. You just need to know what to look for.
get to know your cat
The most proactive thing you can do for your cat’s health is to get to know your cat as well as possible. That means their habits, how they eat, their food preferences, what happens in the bathroom, and their general daily life. That way, you can immediately detect when something changes.
Here is a short list of things to be aware of. Think of it as a measurement to measure changes in your cat.
- their sleeping habits
Cats have a favorite place to sleep and a favorite bed. They also have specific times of day when they usually nap. These may change throughout the year due to seasonal changes.
- Pay attention if your cat’s sleeping habits change from normal.
- If your cat chooses to sleep in hidden places, such as in a cat cave or under your bed, it may be a sign that he’s not feeling well.
- Are they sleeping significantly more or less than usual? This should be considered as it may also indicate illness.
- Physical sleep habits can also indicate that something is wrong. Do they take naps in this position as if to compensate for the pain? Are they breathing differently? Something could be going on.
Healthy cats are active, alert, and playful. It’s not unusual for cats to run, jump, and play as they enter their senior years. Some people slow down faster than others, and that’s okay too. The important thing to look out for is sudden changes in their behavior or changes over time that negatively impact their quality of life. Arthritis is common in cats, but there are treatments available.
- Has your cat suddenly stopped jumping? You may have hurt yourself or you may have arthritis.
- If they have a limp, it could mean anything from a sprained or broken leg to a foot injury or even cancer. The latter is rare, but this is how my human discovered her inner cat, before I, Harlot, developed bone cancer. See if you can see anything that is causing your cat to limp, and note the part of the leg that seems to be most affected. It can be helpful to give this information to your veterinarian when you bring your cat in.
- If your cat seems to have a general lack of agility, consult your veterinarian. This is not uncommon in older cats, but in younger cats it is a sign that something is wrong. In any case, it requires testing and possibly treatment.
- Whenever your cat is reducing physical activity, pay attention to the situation and what your cat is doing instead. However, if there are visible signs of pain, veterinary attention is required.
You know your cat’s food preferences, how much they eat, and their eating habits and likes and dislikes. Therefore, if any of these change, it could be a warning sign of disease.
- If your cat allows it, check its mouth every few weeks to look for signs of gingivitis (redness where the gums meet the teeth), tartar, excessive drooling, or canker sores or chipped or broken teeth. Please check if there are any. Your cat may have one of these, but you won’t know unless you see it for yourself.
- Observe your cat’s eating habits and notice any changes. Have they started eating only on one side of their mouth? Are they chewing differently than before? Bruxism? These are things you should tell your veterinarian.
- If your cat is eating more or less than usual, it may be a sign that something is not right. When combined with other symptoms, veterinary attention may be required.
- If your cat suddenly turns his nose up at his food, it may not be because he’s picky. If your cat is vomiting, it could be due to a variety of illnesses. Nausea is often a symptom and not the actual cause of what’s really bothering you.
- Never ignore a cat who hasn’t eaten for more than a day. It doesn’t take long for a cat to develop fatty liver disease if it doesn’t eat. After 24 hours, if you notice any other symptoms, take your cat to the vet.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to cats is believing that changes in a cat’s litter box habits are primarily behavioral. While this may be the case, it is often due to an illness, so you should consider that before assuming that you are angry about something.
- Keep track of how much your cat pees each day and excrete it in the litter box. That way you’ll know right away if there’s a problem.
- Kidney disease is very common in cats and is accompanied by frequent urination. So if your cat is urinating more often or in large amounts than usual, tell your veterinarian.
- When scooping the toilet, take a quick glance at the stool. Yes, you should be familiar with typical cat poop. This will let you know if anything has changed, such as extra hair from over-grooming, changes in coat texture or odor, blood from straining, or anything else you need to look for.
- If your cat is nervous about using the litter box, take your cat to the vet right away. It could be some sort of fault and could be fatal. This only happened once when I was young. It was just when I had my UTl. It wasn’t deadly, but it was very unpleasant.
Get to know every inch of your cat’s body. One of the best reasons to groom your cat regularly, even if your cat has short fur, is to use it as an opportunity to observe your cat’s body. Run your hand over their torso. Feel their bellies. Check out their legs and feet. Check the eyes for any changes or discharge. Is your nose clean or watery?
- Regular body checks will give you an idea of how your cat is feeling on a regular basis. This makes it easier to recognize when something unusual happens.
- Of course, if your cat reacts strongly to being touched somewhere, as if you’ve just poked him in a painful spot, you should take him to your veterinarian for a check.
- Weigh your cat monthly if possible, or more often if you notice a change. It’s easy. First, weigh yourself, then pick up your cat and return to the scale. The difference is the cat’s weight.
As you can see, the better you know your cat, the more likely you are to detect developing diseases and symptoms early. And the earlier you catch it, the better the outcome, the less suffering, and the cheaper your veterinary costs in the long run. Your cat may not be sick, but you’ll know when you learn how to recognize their unique signals.
