Cat Illnesses and Their 15 Subtle Signs

A sudden weight loss in cats could signify a more serious health issue. Causes of weight loss can be anything; some common cat illnesses linked to this symptom are diabetes and feline cancer. Cats with hypothyroidism gain weight and become lethargic because the impairment of their thyroid gland slows down their metabolism.

Several other common illnesses in cats can lead to weight gain, including Cushing’s disease, intestinal disease, and toothache. Weight loss is also a symptom of contagious cat illnesses such as feline infectious peritonitis.

Another one of the common cat illness symptoms is a sudden lack of appetite. Most cats tend to be finicky eaters, and sometimes they end up eating less than they normally would. However, changes in your feline friend’s eating habits, especially loss of appetite, should not be ignored. If your furry friend skips meals occasionally but still eats the same amount of food, monitor her closely. If she stops eating completely or only eats in small amounts, she could be harbouring a health problem. Bring her to the vet for an examination.

Lack of appetite even for a few days can be a sign of severe cat illnesses such as fatty liver or hepatic lipidosis.

Certain cat illnesses will lead your feline friend to consume more water than necessary. Excessive drinking of water could be a sign of urinary tract or kidney disease in cats. It could also be a symptom of diabetes or thyroid problems. If you have noticed a change in drinking habits in your cat, get help from a veterinarian to investigate further. The examination usually involves blood work, X-rays, and ultrasounds to determine if it’s caused by cat illnesses or not.

Common cat illnesses associated with diarrhoea include intestinal parasites, dietary indiscretion, and other chronic health conditions. Without proper care, diarrhoea can quickly result in severe dehydration and intestinal inflammation. If your cat is having diarrhoea, make sure to schedule an appointment with the vet. If possible, bring a stool sample.

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Any change in urination is a significant warning sign of potential cat illnesses. It is a common symptom of feline kidney problems, including feline lower urinary tract disease, hyperthyroidism, cognitive dysfunction syndrome, and others. Increased urination in small volumes could indicate pollakiuria (daytime urinary frequency), whilst an increased volume of urine could signify polyuria (production of abnormally large volumes of urine).

Neutered male cats are more susceptible to developing urinary stones or crystals, which can block the urinary tract. If not immediately given veterinary intervention, complete obstruction in the urinary tract may occur, potentially resulting in death within 24 hours.

It is one of the clinical signs that your cat is possibly suffering from upper respiratory infections. Kittens are prone to developing this disease.Beware that some upper respiratory infections can be highly contagious types of cat illnesses. Thus, it is crucial to isolate your sick cat from healthy cats living in the same household and seek veterinary care.

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Cats in the wild normally hide when they are at their weakest to keep away from predators. The same applies to the domesticated variety, which does not benefit them at all as it prevents owners from addressing the main issue. As a cat parent, be sure to be attentive to your cat’s behaviour and habits. Does your sociable cat suddenly start to hide? A stressed cat is likely to hide and become depressed, as well as make other behavioural changes.

Do not brush them off as behavioural problems alone. These can be cat illness symptoms elicited from stress.

Lethargy, or lack of energy, is one of the most prevalent symptoms of many cat illnesses. Observe if it comes along with other clinical signs such as fever and breathing problems. However, this is quite different from cats who are normally couch potatoes. For sick cats, they are awake but do not have enough energy to move or interact well with the environment. As such, having a cat that suddenly lacks energy is worth bringing to the vet. It could signify that she is undernourished or suffering from a particular cat illness.

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Cat owners are quick to assume that a cat defaecating outside her litter tray has a behavioural problem. Investigate the case further by looking into potential cat illness causes. Abnormal defaecation can be an indicator of diseases such as constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, or other cat illnesses. If you notice this clinical sign of cat illnesses in your feline friend, it is a good idea to get her checked by the vet.

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This is one of the common complaints of owners of senior cats. Increased meowing at night could be a symptom of injuries or cat illnesses, including hyperthyroidism. It is best to have her checked by the vet. Examinations usually involve simple blood tests. However, for those with loud vocalisations at any time of the day, it could be a sign of deafness. It would be best to test her sense of hearing. Please consult with the vet regarding this matter.

Is she free from any cat illnesses after getting checked with necessary tests? Your cat may have been meowing nonstop just to get your attention. Try to ignore her when she does this to send a message that meowing is not a desirable trait.

Limping has many causes from cat illnesses to injuries. It may be a result of broken bones, resulting in swelling, and the affected limb lying at an awkward angle. Infections can lead to limping as well. Common clinical signs accompanying this type of cat illness are deformed nails and abscesses. When transporting your limping cat to the vet, be gentle. If her carrier has a removable lid, take it off and carefully place her inside. If it doesn’t, gingerly put her in whilst supporting her hips and head. Make sure that the cat is lying down with her affected leg up.

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Whilst shedding in cats is normal, excessive hair loss or alopecia is not a good sign. If you observed that your feline friend is shedding more than usual, there’s no harm in consulting the vet. Increased shedding is often a symptom of various types of cat illnesses. The most common are hyperthyroidism and skin allergies.

Aside from checking with the vet for your cat’s illness, another thing you should do is trim your cat’s nails. It will prevent her from nicking her skin, which can cause infections. The vet may also advise you to let your cat wear an e-collar to prevent her from scratching the affected area.

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