10 signs of illness in cats

15 Apr 10 signs of illness in cats

Index

• Eating More, Less, or Not Eating All of a Sudden
• Drinking More
• Increased Meowing
• Suddenly Not Using The Litter Box
• Mood Shift
• Weight Loss
• Not Grooming or Grooming Excessively
• Diarrhea or vomiting
• Bad Breath
• Change in Pupil Size

There are many signs of illness in cats. Here are the top 10 to watch out for and take a trip to the vet if you see any of them.

1. Eating More, Less, or Not Eating All of a Sudden

A change in appetite is one of the first indicators you could notice in a sick cat.

Intestinal parasites, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or a gastrointestinal illness that causes poor food absorption can all induce an increase in appetite.

Nausea, fever, food aversion, gastrointestinal disorders, or oral discomfort can all cause a loss of appetite (due to dental disease, a mass, a foreign body, or trauma).

2. Drinking More

Increased thirst in cats can be caused by a variety of reasons:

• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Hyperthyroidism
• Increased calcium
• Less common endocrine diseases

3. Increased meowing or vocalization

Some cats meow more than others, and this varies depending on the breed. However, if you see your cat meowing more or in a different way, they might be attempting to express physical or mental pain.

4. Suddenly Not Using the Litter Box

If your cat is suddenly unable to urinate, get veterinarian help immediately (especially male cats). They might have a blockage in their lower urinary tract, most commonly in the urethra, which is a medical emergency.

If cats associate discomfort with the litter box, they may stop using it and begin urinating or defecating elsewhere. This can occur as a result of a bladder infection, gastrointestinal disease-related diarrhea or constipation, arthritis, or other joint problems that makes getting in and out of the litter box difficult.

5. Mood Shift

A sudden change in your cat’s mood, such as being irritable, might be due to a number of underlying conditions:

• Pain
• Changes in vision or hearing that make your cat feel more vulnerable and defensive
• Hyperthyroidism
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Brain tumors
• Rabies

6. Weight Loss

A constant, healthy weight is a strong indicator of general health, however, any large weight shift might indicate an underlying health problem.

Many illnesses can cause weight loss, including:

• Poor nutrition
• Intestinal parasites
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Dental disease

7. Not Grooming or Grooming Excessively

Pain can result in an increase or decrease in grooming behavior in cats, which may seem odd.

A cat with a severe bladder condition, for example, may overgroom its belly to the point of baldness. When cats are stressed, they may overgroom as a self-soothing action.

However, if a cat is in pain in one or more joints, it may avoid grooming that spot entirely, resulting in clumped or matted hair.

8. Diarrhea or Vomiting

The following are some of the possible causes of diarrhea and vomiting in cats:

• Gastrointestinal obstruction or foreign body
• Intestinal parasites
• Food sensitivity, intolerance, or allergy
• Kidney disease
• Pancreatitis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Stress
• Bacterial or viral infection
• Medication

9. Bad Breath

Bad breath is most commonly caused by dental disease but it may also be an indication of other disorders such as kidney disease or diabetes.

10. Change in Pupil Size

Cat pupils should have the same size as human pupils and react to light in the same way. In other words, in strong light, the pupils should get smaller, and in low light or darkness, they should become larger.

Unequal pupil size, or anisocoria, is not normal in cats and may be a sign of:

• A problem with one of the cranial nerves or the brain
• Cancer
• Injury to the cornea
• Retinal disease
• Inflammation in the eye
• Glaucoma