Dr. Carrie Thorson with Patient

Signs Your Cat Might Be Sick

Even the most caring and loving cat owners sometimes find themselves having their cats sick.

By the time they take it to the vet, the condition has worsened and they wish they could have known the early signs of sickness.

Since cats are independent creatures and like to hang around their owners according to their mood, early signs of sickness are often undetected. Often times, the cats keep their condition on a low profile and so you have to make sure these signs are not gone unnoticed.

Cat

Here are some signs that your furry pal is not well:

Change in appetite

If you notice that your cat is somewhere between the two extremes of the hunger spectrum (eating too little or too much) then it is a sure sign of some underlying condition or disease. When cats are growing i.e. transitioning from kittens to adult cats, their appetite will increase but it is going to be a slower process as compared this one. Sick cats have appetites that change in just a matter of days. A quick checkup with the vet will determine what the reason is.

Not using the kitty litter

Many people often confuse this habit as their rebellion and it is true that sometimes they will do it to spite you or show defiance but if your cat is potty trained and doesn’t generally have behavioral problems then littering in different areas for it could mean that there is some digestive problems or urinary tract infections it is facing and must be checked.

Behavioral changes

Every cat has a different personality. If your cat displays a behavior that is opposite to what it generally does then it could be a sign of illness. When cats fall sick their natural instinct is to hide and steer clear of any danger. So if your generally social cat hides away in a corner or closet then take it to the vet. On the flipside, if your cat gets aggressive when you touch it then it means that it hurts somewhere on its body.

Stinky breath

Brushing your cat’s teeth is officially a thing. Unless you want your feline pal to have gum disease or tooth decay. One of the first signs of this is a foul odor from its breath.

Change of grooming habits

If there is one thing cats love to do, is groom themselves. But too much grooming could be a sign of fleas in their fur. When they get itchy, they will start grooming themselves or scratching themselves aggressively. This is not normal behavior and you must take your cat to the vet immediately after noticing this as fleas and mites can cause infections. On the other hand, if you cat’s coat is greasy and unclean it could be that your cat is too weak or sick to groom itself.

If you are looking for a professional hygienic animal clinic in  Stillwater, then head over to Rivertown Animal Hospital and get your cat a checkup from one of the best vets in town.