This blog summarises some of the common signs of illness in cats, which can quickly help you identify physical, organ, and behavioural abnormalities to respond effectively.
1: Seriously Bad Breath
Cats' mouths usually have a slightly fishy odour due to the diet they have, which is normal and not usually a cause for concern. All you need to do is to take your cat to visit the vet regularly for a routine oral examination. If the strong odour persists and the swelling and dark redness does not go away, you should take your cat to the vet for further examination.
2. Eye Discharge
Cats usually produce a small amount of black discharge from their eyes, which can be wiped away without concern. If your cat has red eyes with itching, fear of light, or is unable to open, and a yellow or greenish purulent discharge, it may be conjunctivitis or keratitis and will require a visit to the vet for further examination.
3. Nose Discharge
A healthy cat's nose should be moist and cold. If your cat develops a runny nose, it may be caused by a cold, at which point ask your vet for advice. If your cat has a persistent dry, hot nose or with a yellow-green discharge you need to seek immediate medical attention.
4. Sneezing + Coughing
Indoor dust or irritating smells may irritate the nasal mucosa of the cat and cause sneezing or coughing, so it is only necessary to keep the cat's living environment clean and airy. If your cat sneezes and has a runny nose, it may be a cold and you need to seek vet advice. If your cat keeps coughing or even has difficulty breathing, it may be due to asthma or if she has swallowed a foreign body, you need to take her to the vet immediately!
5. Vomiting
- Cats may sometimes vomit, this may be due to fast eating, food changes or occasional vomiting during the coat change season, just keep watching. If your cat vomits 2-3 times a day, with loss of appetite and depression, it may be due to gastrointestinal disease or pancreatitis and requires immediate medical attention.
- Careful observation of your cat's vomit can also help you to determine the cause of your cat's illness more quickly.
- If there is a lot of undigested food in the vomit it means that the food is too big, too hard or your cat is eating too fast to digest the food.
- If the vomit contains a large amount of incompletely digested food residue, it is likely that the cat is eating too quickly or is unable to adapt to one of the ingredients in the food.
- If the vomit is clear, yellowish-green and watery, it is usually due to excess stomach acid. This may be due to the cat not having eaten for too long on an empty stomach or too much acid in the food. It is recommended to give the cat a small amount of water two hours after vomiting and keep watching to see if it stops vomiting.
- If there is blood in the vomit, it is likely to be caused by acute gastroenteritis or if the cat has swallowed a foreign body. Prompt medical attention is required.
Cats need independence and relaxing space, they also need our companionship and care. Watching your cat will help you to spot any abnormalities in time to act quickly. It is also important to play with your cat on a daily basis, as play is vital to your cat's physical and mental health. Here are a few cat toys for you:
Makesure Hola Cat Toy
https://pawpawup.com.au/products/makesure-hola-cat-toy?_pos=2&_sid=2315ab42c&_ss=r
Makesure Fruit Cat Toy (with Refill Catnip)
Planet Catnip Ball Cat Toy Set ZeZe
https://pawpawup.com.au/products/zeze-planet-catnip-ball?_pos=10&_sid=2315ab42c&_ss=r