 WHAT ABOUT cat illnesses, and sick cats? A cat will tremble or shiver when it is extreme pain. If your cat is not eating. When cats get sick, they often don't show signs of illness other than a decreased appetite for weeks! Really sick cats just won't eat anything! If more than 3 days go by and your cat has not eaten anything, it would be a good ideato take it to the vet. Cat disease symptoms. Although the following symptoms are for cancer they can also be a sign of other problems. Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow. Sores that do not heal. Weight loss. Loss of appetite. Bleeding or discharge from any body opening. Offensive odor. Difficulty eating or swallowing. Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina. Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating. Cats can get heat strokeso be sure you cat has a cool place and plenty of water. Here's some symptoms to watch for: Rapid panting; Bright red tongue; Red or pale gums; Thick, sticky saliva Depression; Weakness; Dizziness; Vomiting - sometimes with blood Diarrhea; Shock; and even Coma. You check your cats pulse on the inside of the back thigh, where the leg joins to the body. Normal for cats: 110-170 beats per minute. Normal body temperature for a cat is 102 degrees F. Parasitic infestations are a major cause of illness in animals. There are too many for me to list here but if your pet is ill this could be what is causing it to be sick. It's worth a trip to the vet to find out for sure because there are many parasites that humans can catch from their pets. Cats and Tapeworms: Cats can get tapeworms from eating mice. If your cat catches a mouse it is best to take the prize away from it. The average cat food meal is the equivalent to about five mice. Though rare, cats can contract canine heart worms. Cats can also get tapeworms from eating fleas. These worms live inside the cat forever, or until they are removed with medication. They reproduce by shedding a link from the end of their long bodies. This link crawls out the cat's nus, and sheds hundreds of eggs. These eggs are injested by flea larvae, and the cycles continues. Humans may get these tapeworms too, but only if they eat infected fleas. Cats with tapeworms should be dewormed by a veterinarian. Many people fear catching a protozoan disease, Toxoplasmosis, from cats. This disease can cause illness in the human, but more seriously, can cause birth defects in the unborn. Toxoplasmosis is a common disease, sometimes spread through the feces of cats. It is cause most often from eating raw or rare beef. Pregnant women and people with a depressed immune system should not touch the cat litter box. Other than that, there is no reason that these people have to avoid cats. Lumps and bumps: These could be tumors of a sign of cancer. If detected early enough, many tumours can be successfully removed. If your cat itches and "chews" at his/her skin alot, it is usually one of 3 things: 1. Shampoo is not rinsed well enough from the skin. (It is hard to rinse well in the tub or sink so dilute the shampoo.) 2. They need a "drop on the back" of flea repellant like Advantage or Frontline. These will kill other little bugs also. One little flea on a dog/cat that isn't used to them can drive them wild!! 3. Their food contains something that is an allergen to them. Soy is in many "name-brand" foods and will have a Shih-tzu itching like crazy. Eggs are another "itch causer" for some cats. (If none of these hints fix the itching, it may be anxiety. The best way to cure (or help) a cat that has anxiety when you are away from them is to get another one to keep them company. A lack-lustre coat could mean your cat has or is heading for a variety of problems and any change is worth reporting. Cat Drooling. I noticed my cat, Shadow, was drooling a lot (something he never did before). Because he also wasn't eating and just laid around, and because of his age, I thought maybe he had a light stroke or something. I finally took him to the vet who discovered he has a large sore in his mouth. She gave him a steriod shot (best for the type of sore he had). So if you notice your cat drooling don't make it suffer for days like I did, it is worth a trip to the vet. Loss of appetite is normal with elderly cats, but a true reluctance to eat is a different matter. If your cat goes 3 days without eating it would be a good idea to have it seen by a vet. Drinking more than normal could mean the onset of diabetes or one of a variety of chronic disorders . Fat cats are not necessarily happy cats. Middle Age Spread could spell problems, a sudden weight loss is equally concerning. Lethargic behaviour Could be from the heat but if it continues for several days is worth taking seriously. You could have a very sick cat. Have your cat checked out by a vet. Tylenol and chocolate are both poisionous to cats. Never give your cat pain medicine without checking with your vet first. Any kind of chocolate is dangerous but baking chocolate is the most dangerous. A form of AIDS exists in cats. Your vet can test and treat this or if not present, vaccinate for it. When your cat starts urinating in places other than its litterbox. Whenever cats are having unusual toilet habits, it's important to check for physical problems that may be causing it. Infections, diabetes, and other diseases can change the behavior of a normally litterbox trained cat. Once my mother's cat jumped in the bathroom sink and urinated. She was shocked but quickly discovered there was blood in the urine. A trip to the vet proved Shadow had a blatter infection. Cat's have their own way of letting us know something is wrong so before you scold them watch carefully to see if they are trying to tell you something. Also, Your cat may be trying to tell you it doesn't like something about the litter box. Cats will usually adapt quite well to using the same litter box. That being said, it's still a good idea to have more than one litter box in the house, though both cats will most likely use both boxes. Cats often like to defecate in one box and urinate in another, so multiple boxes will make your cats less likely to eliminate someplace else. A litterbox should be cleaned at least once daily. If you've recently changed litter brands, change back! Cats can be very particular about the kind of litter they use. If you haven't changed litter, try adding another box with a completely different type of litter in it. Most cats prefer scoopable (clumping), unscented litter. Stay away from litters with lots of fragrance. As an experiment, try putting three (at least) litterboxes in your house. Place them right at or near the exact spots where he's urinating inappropriately, and scoop all boxes daily. This is just one example of things you can try. Can you tell if your cat is sick by whether it's nose is cold or not? Sometimes a cold, wet nose is one sign of good health but not necessarily. Even a healthy cat can have a warm, dry nose on occasion. Therefore, don't rely on this method. If your cat isn't eating, or otherwise is acting unusual, it is best to check with your veterinarian to be sure. What about vomiting? The two most common culprits that cause cats to vomit are eating too much or too fast, and hairballs. During grooming, tiny barbs on you cat's tongue pull loose hairs from the coat. These hairs are then swallowed. Since hair is largely indigestible, it is not dissolved by the cat's digestive system. It may then accumulate in the stomach and the intestine. The accumulated hair can interfere with normal digestion and elimination. Hairballs can cause chronic vomiting, constipation, lethargy, and/or loss of appetite. Hairballs are very uncomfortable for your cat and can lead to more serious complications such as dehydration, weight loss, or intestinal obstruction. Daily brushing of your cat's fur to remove loose hair is good preventive practice. In addition to grooming, hairball lubricants aren't expensive and can be used to help eliminate hairballs and prevent their reoccurrence. When a cat has consistant, chronic vomiting it is possible that he could have hyperthyroidism. Cats with normal thyroid hormone measurements can still have hyperthyroidism and chronic vomiting can be a symptom. If your cat seems to be vomiting bits of food try giving it small portions at a time. Tubes of hairball lubricants can be found just about everywhere. Personally I've found most work the same the difference is sometimes the taste (our cats like the malt flavor) so you'll have to find out which one your cat likes. Be sure to give your cat the hairball lubricant on an empty stomach (not with his food). Cats are subject to gum disease Check their teeth and gums now and then. Once a year they should have their teeth cleaned by the vet or the cat dentist.. Is it okay to feed my cat milk? A cat's digestive system doesn't digest milk well so it can cause diarrhea. Therefore most veternarians don't recommend it. Should I feed my cat tuna fish? Once in a while probably wouldn't hurt but the human variety of tuna fish contains an enzyme that destroys vitamin B1 (thiamine). Cats who regularly eat tuna can develop a vitamin B1 deficiency, which results in neurological symptoms like dilated eyes, loss of equilibrium, seizures and death if this vitamin is not replaced. If your cat likes the taste of tuna then it is better to choose tuna cat food. What about feeding my cat dog food? A steady diet of dog food may cause blindness in your cat - it lacks taurine. The chlorine in fresh tap water irritates sensitive parts of the cat's nose. Let tap water sit for 24 hours before giving it to a cat. Purring does not always mean happiness. Purring could mean a cat is in terrible pain such as during childbirth. Kittens will purr to their mother to let her know they are getting enough milk while nursing. Purring is a process of inhaling and exhaling, usually performed while the mouth is closed. But don't worry, if your cat is purring while your gently petting her and holding her close to you - that is a happy cat! What about asthma? Cats, just like people, are subject to asthma. Dust, smoke, and other forms of air pullution in your cat's environment can be troublesome sources of irritation. A great website that has tons of information about all types of cat diseases is: messybeast.com | 
