Cat Symptoms

Cat vomiting is one of the commonest symptoms. If you allow your cat to go outside, she might ingest something undesirable and vomit it out. Or she may have overeaten and needs to throw up. Vomiting can either imply a minor or major problem. An occasional vomit is nothing to worry about, if the cat starts eating normally and is playful after some time. However, if you notice lethargy, loss of appetite, and sulkiness in your cat after a vomit, it's time to call a vet.

The same goes for cat diarrhea. If the diarrhea is occasional, it passes off by itself. Your vet may advise you to stop giving food to your cat for the day and offer her only fresh water. After that, you can introduce bland food in small quantities. If nothing's wrong, the cat will resume its normal appetite and active routine.

If the diarrhea is chronic, i.e., it lasts over 2-3 weeks, there might be some underlying problem. If you notice blood or mucous in the stools, you might need to take your pussy to the vet without further delay. There are many causes for diarrhea such as blockage due to hairballs, kidney disease, liver disease, and others.

Ever heard your cat coughing? Yes, you may have, many a times! Actually, she might be removing hairballs that were stuck in her throat! But, there can be other serious reasons for coughing too. They include pneumonia, bronchitis, lung tumors, heartworm disease, and heart failure. Occasional coughing is normal. Chronic cough that lasts for more than 2 weeks requires attention. Such a cough may either develop slowly or even suddenly.

You should NEVER try to solve the problem yourself by giving human medicines to your cat. Over-the-counter drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, Robitussin, and others may prove to be toxic to your pussy even in small doses. Administer medication that's been prescribed by your vet and follow the exact instructions.

Another common symptom is cat limping. It can occur constantly or sporadically. It may worsen at night or in the morning; during winters or summers; after exercise or after rest. Limping or lameness can be related to some harrowing experience such as getting hit by a vehicle or a fall. It may also be related to the development of some gradual problem such as bone tumor.

If your cat is unable to walk normally around the house, if she refuses to climb stairs, or if she doesn't place her body weight on a leg, then it's time to call the vet for an examination.

In addition to this, cat bad breath is also a symptom of trouble. (And you thought only your colleague had bad breath!) Do you know the difference between bad breath in cats and bad breath in humans? Well, cats won't feel offended if you tell them to their face that their breath smells rotten! There's a variety of cat dental products available in the market to freshen up the breath of your kitty.

Sometimes, bad breath may be due to some disease. It can be lung disease (lung cancer), kidney disease, mouth tumors, gingivitis (gum inflammation), abscessed tooth, oral ulceration, and others. All of these would require medical intervention.

Our human body sends signals of an underlying problem through various symptoms like headaches, diarrhea, vomiting, and body pain. The same goes with cats and other animals. Sometimes, the symptom may be nothing but an occasional turbulence in the body system that goes away all by itself. But, at times, it may imply the onset of a serious condition. So, don't ignore your cat's symptoms or there could be bad consequences to face later.