Any cat parent will know, most cats are amazing at hiding their illness or pain. A sign of weakness can be a big problem out in the wild, and this habit is still going strong at home! This is why it's great to learn about certain signs to keep an eye out for to know if your kitty cat might need a little extra attention before going to the vet on possibly a false alarm, and also for you to be able to provide any insight your can for your vet visit, especially if your kitty has a sickness like FeLV.
Before I proceed I would like to remind any reader, that I am not a professional veterinarian and encourage you to bring any data you have to an established veterinarian to get their professional opinion about your unique situation on whether any additional testing is necessary. I’m just an overprotective cat guardian on the internet who wants to defeat FeLV, and share what I have learned!
Check out these 4 tips to keep an eye out for to give your kitty the best support you can!
- Abnormal behavior.
- Most cat parents will rant for hours about their feline's behaviors and quirky reactions since we kinda adore our little ones. So when they begin to act strange, or take on behaviors that seem strange, it might be because they are dealing with an upset stomach or something is bothering them that you cannot see. Make sure to note these unusual behaviors down when you notice them, and if you are alarmed a call to their vet for a second opinion is never a problem.
- Cold ears
- If you feel your cat ears and they are cold, there are a few questions you should ask yourself before jumping to any concern. Was your cat outside recently or near a location that was colder than normal? Are there other symptoms accompanying their cold ears? Are they actively seeking warmth in your home? Most of the time cats eats should be warm to the touch since there are so many blood vessels in their ears, however if their ears are cold and they are not exhibiting any other symptoms, I would move them somewhere a little warmer and check in on them a little later.
- Sneezing
- Cats normally don't sneeze, and really there is usually no key reason for this to occur, so if you happen tp hear a little "ah-choo" from your feline, it's best to check the following. Were they playing somewhere dusty? We're they roughhousing or doing an activity that could have bumped their nose on something? Do they have any discharge? Sometimes cats can have something agitate them if they are in a dusty area or if the accidentally mash their nose, but if they have discharge I would take note of the color and amount and call your vet to ask their opinion. Even if you think that the sneeze was caused by something harmless it's good to keep in mind in case any other unusual symptoms appear.
- Dehydration
- It's not too uncommon for cats to not drink enough water, just like how humans often don't drink enough too. Thankfully there is a pretty easy way to check your cat's hydration level that isn't too invasive! If you pinch a bundle of skin on their back of their neck near their shoulders, it should ideally snap backdown pretty quickly if they are well hydrated. If it doesn't return to their normal shape that quickly, then they may be dehydrated. Make sure that their water source is clean and fresh, and you can add ice cubes to their water. Make sure to monitor your cat if you are adding in smaller cubes to make sure they do not choke on it. Cats usually prefer fountains that have running water in it so if you have a bowl with still water, consider possibly investing in a stainless steel or porcelain water fountain. Plastic water fountains are porous material and can cause cat acne on their chin.
- Sudden defensive action
- If you were petting your sweetheart kitty and then suddenly they bite at your or swipe at you, you might have discovered a possible cut, or matt in their fur that is painful to the touch. They're not mad at you, they're just sensitive to the spot your found. Sometimes grouchy cats are just mad since their in pain from a matt in their armpit. It's best to brush your cat regularly so you can be aware of these items, but if you cannot find the cause of this sudden aggression it would definitely be a candidate for unusual behavior to keep note of. If your cat has a matt, I would make sure to read up on advice or talk to your vet to get a good understanding of how to approach removing the matted fur, as cats have thin skin.
- If there is a cut or sore you are not sure where it came from, I would recommend consulting your vet.
- Eyes
- I have noticed that if a cat is feeling ill, their eyes are not as bright and clear. If your cat's eyes seem cloudy, or dim, I would assess what you have observed in your kitty's behavior over the last few days, and monitor my cat's behavior. If this issue persists or is in combination with any other symptoms, I would reach out to my vet for their opinion.
- Vomiting
- Despite what some people may joke about, Cat's should not normally vomit. If may not be for the faint of heart, but if your cat vomits, I recommend reviewing their vomit itself to find the cause. If there is substance, see if you can find a hairball, or an unusual item. Did they eat some of the fake pine tree you put up for Christmas? Did they eat some of the baby's breath from some flowers given to you? If there is nothing but bile, take note of the color, and when they last ate, and you can consult your vet.
I hope that these items help you be able to watch over your little ones with the best care you can!
If you happen to be caring for an FeLV+ cat, you can drive yourself crazy if you don't try to keep a record of their behavior. Sometimes looking back you might recognize a pattern, or catch something early. Just make sure that if you end up making a beeline to the vet's office and it's not an emergency, that you remember you are doing the best you can with the information you have. Having it be a false alarm and getting peace of mind is always the way to go in my book!
Thanks for reading, and give your cat a pet for me!
