How do I know if my cat is sick?

Cats of any breed can be unwell on occasion. Our obligation is to help restore your health, if possible. To help you how to know if a cat is sick, at Blog we present the most important symptoms to find out. Keep reading!

Symptoms of a sick cat

To know if our cat feels bad, we must know the main symptoms. In this way, we present the most important signs to know if our feline friend is sick:

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Fever

If a cat has a fever, it will usually have a hot and dry muzzle. An anal temperature should be taken with a thermometer. We must be very careful, since they do not usually like it and can stir and even bite.

The temperature must range between 37.5º and 39º. If our cat exceeds 39º, its state will be feverish and its coat will lose its shine. In this case, we must go to the vet immediately because it is very possible that he has an infection.

Consult our article on fever in cats to know more causes, symptoms and how to lower it, being able to apply first aid if necessary.

Appearance of urine and feces

If our cat feels bad, we must control its urine, since it could have some type of kidney or bladder problem. Another very important factor is if the cat urinates outside its litter box, this behavior being somewhat unusual. When this happens, it usually means that he has problems urinating and shows it clearly. In this way, we must go to the vet immediately, since our feline friend may have kidney problems.

To know if our cat is sick, we must also observe its feces to determine if they are normal or if there is something unusual. If we notice that our feline has diarrhea, stains blood or has not defecated for more than two days, we have to go to the vet.

Nausea

If you notice that your cat is nauseated, don't panic. Cats usually purge themselves and for this they regurgitate sometimes. However, sometimes they have dry nausea without vomiting. This is really worrying, since it can be a stomach or esophageal obstruction.

In the event that our feline friend vomits several times during a day or two, it may be poisoning or an infection of the intestinal tract and it may even be a kidney problem. In this case we have to take him to the vet without hesitation.

Purr

If our cat purrs very loudly, it is a sign that he is not feeling well and he wants to let you know so that we can help him. You can also do this by meowing in affliction, but this is more typical of highly vocal breeds such as the Siamese.

Bad breath

In the event that our cat has foul breath, it is possible that it has kidney or dental problems. If his breath is fruity, it is a very bad sign, since it may be that our feline friend suffers from diabetes. In this way, the veterinarian must treat it and recommend a suitable diet.

Increased water intake

If we observe that our feline drinks water excessively, it may be a symptom that our cat is sick. It can be a sign of having diabetes, a kidney disease or even another serious pathology.

Changes in appetite

The sudden lack of appetite is a clear sign that the cat is not feeling well. In these circumstances you should drink enough water. If our cat also refuses to drink, we should go to the vet because they are two bad signs. In this case, it is possible that our feline friend is poisoned, since he does not dare to eat or drink because of the tremendous pain he feels in his stomach.

Excessive scratching

If a cat scratches a lot, it is a clear sign that he has parasites. Fleas are the most common, but there are also many other external parasites such as ticks or mites.

Starting in the spring, it is convenient to protect our feline by means of an antiparasitic collar or pipette. If we don't deworm it completely, it can fill our house with fleas.

Postures of a sick cat

When a cat is sick, it often shows a general poor condition. It can be observed that he sleeps more than usual or otherwise does not sleep. This way, you may sleep at infrequent times. In this way, we must control his sleep and if our feline friend eats or has no appetite.

In addition, they often adopt abnormal positions or strange movements that may be due to neurological problems that can also affect the movement or posture of a sick cat. For example, we can notice vestibular syndrome in cats when we observe that the individual keeps his head tilted, staggers when walking or has a significant lack of motor coordination.

In the event that our cat moves less than normal or has less desire to play than usual, it may be due to joint pain that prevents him from moving.

 

What to do if my cat is sick?

If you want to know what to do when a cat is sick, you should be on the lookout for any of the symptoms listed above. Once you have verified that any of these symptoms exist, you should go to the vet . In addition, an annual or semi-annual visit to the veterinarian is necessary for the professional to check the cat and control its health.

We must also gently feel the entire body of the cat in search of inflammation, lumps or wounds and it is advisable to take its temperature.