Top 5 Serious Cat Illnesses Only Your Vet Can Diagnose
Cardiomyopathy: The most prevalent type of sudden mortality from cardiac illness in domestic cats, cardiomyopathy presents few outward signs. But during her cat’s examination, Judi H.’s veterinarian overheard something. When my cat was seven years old, my doctor discovered a heart murmur that wasn’t present when she was six, recalls Judi. She had cardiomyopathy, which we were able to treat, and she survived to be 16 years old. Your cats need to visit the vet once a year, even if they are indoor cats. My cats are kept indoors, but if my veterinarian hadn’t heard the murmur, they wouldn’t have lived to be eight.
Hyperthyroidism: The most prevalent glandular condition affecting cats is overactive thyroid illness. Although not usually, it may result in weight loss, increased appetite, and thirst, and those signs can be simple to ignore. According to Amy M., “Zoe was diagnosed with early-stage hyperthyroidism during her routine senior blood workup. She was twelve years old at the time. My senior cat, who underwent radioactive iodine therapy, is now 18 years old and still going strong. Those routine exams could be completely worthwhile.
Kidney Disease: Kidney disease is a common disorder that can become serious if left untreated since it gradually produces changes including a dry coat, weight loss, and foul smell. Becky I explains, “I was taking my cat in to get her teeth cleaned. “[Kidney disease] was detected during the pre-anesthesia blood check. My daughter lived for 15 years and 8 months.
Urinary Crystals or Blockage: If your cat suddenly begins urinating outside of the litter box or groans in agony while doing so, he may have urine crystals. If untreated, these crystals can lead to a blockage and even death. However, Melanie L.’s routine visit to the doctor prevented her cat from suffering from a blockage by seeing crystals early. She says, “We discovered my male cat had crystals after doing routine work. “If not, we would never have known! It stopped something from becoming worse that may have been really bad.
The prevalence of diabetes in cats has increased by 16% since 2006, according to Banfield Pet Hospital. The early symptoms of sickness, such as a large appetite, frequent urination, increased thirst, and weight loss, can be overlooked or not even exist. Sue P. comments, “I assumed my Abbikitty was just slowing down and becoming older; she’s 11.” It was discovered that her cat had diabetes. “She acts just like a kitten again now that she is on her special diet,” I said.
10 Subtle Signs of Illness in Cats
Changes in Interactions: Examples include an independent cat becoming “Velcro kitten” or a cat that was previously clingy acting out of character distant.
Changes in Activity: A change in the cat’s regular routine or an increase or reduction in activity are warning signs of some conditions, such as arthritis, which is considerably more frequent in cats than previously believed. So a cat that jumps off of furniture less frequently could be an indication.
Alterations in Chewing or Eating Patterns: Despite common assumption, most cats do not have picky eating habits. Check for adjustments in a cat’s food intake, such as an increase or reduction. Eating less may indicate a number of conditions, including dental issues. Increased appetite could indicate hyperthyroidism or diabetes.
A cat’s water intake may change, which could point to a health issue like diabetes or kidney disease.
Unexpected Weight Gain or Loss: A change in appetite does not necessarily result in unexpected weight gain or loss. For instance, cats with diabetes or hyperthyroidism may still lose weight while eating more.
Bad Breath: Something may be wrong in the mouth, or it could be kidney illness or a digestive issue if those pearly whites don’t smell as lovely as a daisy.
Modifications in Grooming Practices: Lax groomers, even just a little, are a sure symptom of probable sickness. Excessive grooming may be a symptom of stress, discomfort, or allergies.
Changes in Sleeping Patterns: From taking more catnaps to waking up during the night, the cause may be pain and/or disease, possibly brought on by aging.
Changes in Vocalization: A medical condition may be the cause of wallflowers preaching or cats wailing in the middle of the night. Anxiety, hypertension (high blood pressure), and hyperthyroidism are among the explanations that could apply.
Stress indicators include cats’ extreme aversion to change. Stress can be brought on by schedule adjustments for your family, the arrival or departure of new pets, or even altering the furnishings. An unwell cat could experience anxiety as a result. Cats who are elderly may be more vulnerable to stress. Cats who are anxious could show behavioral changes (such as missing the litter box). The same level of medical treatment is needed for anxiety as for diabetes or even a heart issue.
Additional Symptoms
- Using the restroom improperly or “going” outside of the litter box
- Constipation or infrequent urine that lasts more than 24 hours
- Vomiting that contains only digested food or bile and not hairballs or partially digested meals
- Having trouble breathing
- Having little appetite or losing weight quickly
- Unaccounted-for weight gain
- bleeding, soreness, sensitivity to touch, edema, or redness
- unusual vocalizations, such as yowling aloud
- 103°F or higher as a fever
- Having trouble walking or limping constantly
- Dehydration symptoms include a dry, sticky lips, thinning skin, a poor capillary refill time, sunken eyes, twitching muscles, or chilled paw pads.
As you look after your cat every day, pay attention. It could be time to get your cat checked out when they start acting or looking strangely all of a sudden.
When to Call the Veterinarian
It’s best to detect problems early so they may be treated immediately away. During your cat’s yearly exam, your veterinarian can assist spot any health issues, but it’s equally crucial for you to take care of your cat at home in between appointments. Examine your cat’s body thoroughly each time you groom it. Learn to recognize the symptoms of good health so you can spot any abnormalities.
What to Watch Out For Is:
- The body should be heavy, with the ribs being felt rather than clearly visible.
- Odor, grease, dandruff, lumps, bald spots, wounds, and irritations should not be present on the skin or coat.
- No discoloration, cloudiness, or excessive discharge should be present in the eyes, and the third eyelid should not become visible or inflamed.
- Ears ought to be odorless, pink, and clean.
- White teeth, pink gums that are not red or swollen, and fresh breath should all be present in the mouth.
- The nose ought to be dry and not runny.
- Nails should be clipped, and paws should be free of any wounds or scrapes.
- There should be no redness, lumps, or colored discharge under the tail.
You are the only one who truly knows your cat. Embrace your instincts. Call your veterinarian if she starts acting strangely. Always choose safety over regret.
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