Know if Your Cat Is Sick

Even with balanced nutrition and a good amount of love and attention, cats can still get sick. By spotting the symptoms, you can try to prevent or cure your cat's illness with the proper medical care.

Steps

 * 1) Keep an eye out for fleas. Watch your cat if they show symptoms of having fleas such as becoming particularly itchy, or if you notice bites on human members in your household. To check for fleas, groom them over a sheet of white paper. Look for a few fleas caught in the comb’s teeth or flea dirt on the paper. Flea dirt is actually excrement of undigested cat blood, and appears black and comma shaped. If you place it on damp cotton wool, the flea dirt dissolves into bloody streaks. Many commercial products are available both to kill adult fleas and remove fleas from the environment. Ask your vet for specific recommendations.
 * 2) Prevent hairballs by grooming your cat to remove excess hair. Hairballs are formed either at the back of the throat or in the small intestines. There are many products already on the market to prevent hairball build-up such as oils, treats, and diets. If your cat vomits frequently and the problem isn’t resolved with regular brushing, you should consult with the veterinarian to be certain that a more serious problem is not the cause.
 * 3) Watch for symptoms of an overactive thyroid such as increased appetite or thirst, unexplained weight loss (particularly muscle mass), nervousness or irritability, frequent vomiting, lethargy and weakness, diarrhea, or a coat that looks ungroomed. An overactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism, is a condition where the thyroid gland becomes enlarged and produces excess amount of thyroid hormone. The condition is often provoked by a benign tumor on one or both lobes of the thyroid gland. The good news is that thyroid tumors have only a 2-5% chance of malignancy. A cat with the condition may not present every symptom, but the presence of two or more should prompt a visit to the veterinarian’s office.
 * 4) Know the symptoms of feline diabetes, which include vomiting, dehydration, weakness and loss of appetite, increased thirst and urination, weight loss, breathing abnormalities, and an unkempt-looking coat. Feline diabetes can affect cats of any age, but is most common in older, obese cats—-typically males. If your cat has any or several of these symptoms, take him to the vet. The vet will test for blood sugar levels and sugar levels in the urine.
 * 5) Be mindful of your cat's litter box habits. If your cat starts   meowing a lot and jumping in the sinks or bathtubs or has any other unusual behavior, be sure to have them checked by a vet.  Inappropriate or difficult and frequent urination, appetite loss, listlessness, blood in the urine, or frequent licking of the genitals may indicate feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). This is a painful inflammation of the lower urinary tract that has the potential to be fatal very quickly (sometimes within 24 hours). Feline lower urinary tract disease has a number of causes, from decreased water intake and urine retention to viruses, bacteria, or diet.  (Diet is especially important to male cats who have been neutered as some dry foods are prone to cause urinary infections).  As with any serious condition that could threaten your cat's life, if you see these symptoms, call or take it to the vet immediately. It's better to be safe than sorry.
 * 6) Watch for excessive discharge at the eyes and nose. If your cat constantly appears to be 'crying', s/he may have an allergy or sinus infection. This can also be a symptom of the onset of kidney failure, along with excessive drinking/urination, lethargy, and a lackluster coat. Have your cat checked by a veterinarian if s/he exhibits these symptoms. Kidney failure can be fatal and is common in older cats.

Tips

 * Watch your cat carefully for any change in their normal activities. Sometimes unusual changes are just normal, especially if they have been frightened or had their food or litter changed to a different brand. If in doubt, have them checked out by the vet. Waiting more than three days can be dangerous.
 * When brushing your cat, take a moment to feel along the limbs for any unusual lumps or bumps. These may be developing cancerous tumors and need to be checked out by your vet.

Warnings

 * The most common flea, the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) may carry the Dipylidium caninum tapeworm larvae. If cats eat fleas during grooming, they may become infested with these tapeworms. Fleas also could transmit other infectious agents. If kittens are exposed to fleas, they may become anemic. Cats can also develop an allergy to flea bites, resulting in excessive scratching or possibly skin disease. Finally, humans are also susceptible to itchy flea bites, usually on the ankles.
 * If your cat does not eat/drink anything for 2 days, bring them to the vet immediately for an examination.
 * The most common symptoms of vitamin and mineral deficiencies in cats are lethargy and apathy. If your cat is unusually tired and loses interest in exercise and regular daily activities, this could be a sign that your pet is unhealthy, possibly undernourished.

Related

 * How to Bathe a Cat
 * How to Easily Give a Cat a Pill
 * How to Teach Your Cat to Give a Handshake
 * How to Communicate With Your Cat
 * How to Trim Your Cat's Nails
 * How to Make Cat Jungle Gyms and Playgrounds
 * How to Choose Safe Pet Food

Sources and Citations
Reconnaître Que Votre Chat Est Malade
 * http://www.basic-cat-care.co.uk - Cat care information
 * http://www.holisticat.com/
 * http://pethealth.petwellbeing.com/wiki/Cat_Vitamins - Info about cat vitamin deficiencies