| Cats are able to hide their symptoms much more | | | | increase or decrease in vocalizations.o A marked |
| readily than dogs. If your dog is sick, you usually | | | | increase or decrease in activity.o A marked |
| know it immediately. If your cat is sick, though, | | | | increase or decrease in food consumption.o A |
| she may show it through only through a slight | | | | change of any sort in your cat's daily rituals. |
| change in behavior. This means that you may | | | | Balance Problems |
| have a very sick cat on your hands by the time | | | | Cats are built to be able to easily jump onto |
| you get her to the vet. If you know how to | | | | tables and counters and elegantly pick their way |
| recognize sick cat symptoms, though, you can | | | | among knickknacks displayed on your shelves. As |
| intervene early and your cat has a better chance | | | | much as you don't want your cat to do this, if |
| for a full recovery. | | | | she's no longer able to do these things, she may |
| Behavioral Changes | | | | be showing sick cat symptoms. You cat may |
| Illness in cats is generally accompanied by | | | | have an infection or other problem if she shows |
| behavioral changes, so you need to have a good | | | | the following symptoms:o Inability to jump on |
| idea of your cat's habits and general way of | | | | surfaces that she was previously able to jump |
| interacting with others. Any change-even one that | | | | on.o Lack of confidence in jumping either onto a |
| appears positive-can be a sign of an underlying | | | | surface or onto the floor from a surface.o Falling |
| illness. For example, an elderly cat that suddenly | | | | or slipping.o Appearance of dizziness when walking |
| becomes kittenish and playful may actually be | | | | on the ground. |
| showing sick cat symptoms, as this can be a sign | | | | Overt Sick Cat Symptoms |
| of hyperthyroidism, which is fatal if untreated. In | | | | Of course, sometimes your cat's symptoms may |
| general, if you see a behavioral change, even a | | | | be overt, even from the beginning of the illness. |
| very slight one, first look for its origin in the | | | | Some things, even a cat can't hide. Seek |
| environment, such as the introduction of a new | | | | veterinary advice immediately when your cat has |
| pet, a new person moving in, a change in the | | | | any of these overt symptoms:o Refusal to eat or |
| household schedule, or even a change in the | | | | drink.o Excessive drooling.o Straining at the litter |
| weather. If there's no clear environmental change, | | | | box.o Bloody urine.o Bloody stools or continuing |
| you should monitor your cat closely and consider | | | | diarrhea.o Discharge from eyes or nose.o |
| taking her to a vet if she displays the following | | | | Expression of pain when you touch a certain area |
| behavioral changes:o Clinginess in an independent | | | | of her body. |
| cat.o Aloofness or hiding behavior in a social cat.o | | | | Catching your cat's symptoms early is the key to |
| Higher or lower tolerance of other animals and | | | | intervening early enough to help your cat be on |
| people in the household than usual.o A marked | | | | her way to a full recovery. |