If you are like most any cat owner, you want to do your best to make sure that your cat is healthy and happy. Most of the time this is not a problem, but sometimes cats can get sick, and it is not always easy to know when they are sick or how sick they are. Cats by nature are not going to always let you know that they are sick. This is partly because it is their instinct to not appear weak to their predators so they will often instead hide or try to not act sick.
Sick Cats
Cats are very independent animals, but often times, as they grow comfortable with their owners, they become very affectionate and love to be around you all the time. You may learn your cat’s behavioral habits well, and grow accosted to how they act. This can help you determine if they are sick or not and how sick they might be.
There are some general guidelines to help you determine whether or not your cat is sick that include noticing and watching for the following symptoms in your cat:
- Changes in the eating habits of your cats – usually cats will not eat as much as normal, or not eat as often as normal. There are times though when your cat may increase the amount and frequency of when they eat but not produce any more waste or not appear to gain any weight – those kinds of instances could indicate that your cat has worms or some sort of other parasite present.
- Changes in the urination or defecation habits in your cats. Cats that suddenly begin to urinate more frequently or produce less or more amounts of urine at a given time may be experiencing a urinary tract infection or other kind of illness. Cats who are defecating more or less could indicate an illness that could require a visit to the vet. Also, if a cat seems to have a sudden urgency in having to urinate and does not always go in the litter box, it could be an indication of an illness.
- Changes in the behavior of your cat. If your cat is normally very friendly and affectionate and is always around you, and suddenly begins to act withdrawn, it could be an indication that he or she is ill. Also, if your cat is normally very withdrawn and usually sticks to himself or herself and is suddenly very affectionate and spending a lot more time around you, it could be a sign that they are not feeling well.
- Changes in sleep patterns. Cats that normally sleep a lot and suddenly appear restless or unable to sleep could be indicating that they are not feeling well and not able to sleep. Cats that are sleeping more than usual, are lethargic or seem like they have no energy may be ill.
Let The VET Check Your Cat
In any of these situations, you may want to at least call your vet to see if it is cause for alarm and if you should bring your cat in. Cats can hide their illnesses pretty well for a period of time, so don’t wait until its too late to call your vet, see if you should bring her or him in to get checked. It may not be anything at all or a reason to worry, but you no doubt want to make sure you do your best to keep your cat healthy and happy and you want to make sure that you give them the medical attention that they need and help care for them.