Cats can be great pets. Less fuss and often fairly hands off. But how do you know when they need to go to a veterinarian if they are not obviously sick? We went to a local Medina veterinarian to find out what to look for. Here is what he had to say.
1. If your cat is experiencing chronic weight loss. (in older cats, could be a sign of kidney disease or thyroid disease)
2. No longer grooming itself.
3. Hiding, sleeping in strange places
4. Not using the litter box
Changes in a cat's patterns can be cause for alarm. Your cat should be very predictable and you will notice changes in behavior.
5. Increased amounts of urine in litter box (occurs with diabetes and kidney disease)
6. Increase in vomiting (most cats vomit occasionally, especially hairballs, but an increase in the pattern could be a sign of a bigger problem)
7. Decreased appetite
8. Drooling, rubbing face (could be a sign of dental disease)
Our cat has done some of these things for years and it is often not a sign to panic. For example, our cat stopped using the litter box for a bit, we took it to a vet in Kent and it turned out to be because we changed which litter we use. I learned that cats are very picky about changes and something as small as changing brands can cause this. We switched back and the problem was solved.
Our cat also has always liked to go up in the basement ceiling when it gets sick of us and wants to get away. Now that she is older she has stopped, but it was an issue for years but never meant we needed to take her to the vet. Just her personal space I guess.
The key is being aware of the signs and not hesitating to take your cat to a veterinarian if you notice these kinds of issues arising and worrying you because they are not a one-time thing.
