How to Tell when Your Cat Needs a Veterinarian

The following symptoms give you general things to look for that require a visit to your veterinarian. Not all the following symptoms require immediate veterinary care – some do, and some can wait a couple days. However, it is always best to get your cat into the vet sooner rather than later when these following symptoms appear in your cat. If you have any questions whether your cat should be seen immediately or not, give your veterinarian a call with a detailing of what is going on with your cat, and they can properly advise you. Your veterinarian, of course, is the one to diagnose ailments and prescribe treatment. But you can help out by staying alert to early signs that may spell trouble.

Changes in Behavior

If your cat starts to:

sleep more than usual,
have a rough coat
have discharge from the eyes (green or yellow are signs of illness, white or brown is normal),
show a decrease in appetite or increase in water drinking,
have a change in bowel or urinary habits,
become less responsive

then he is most likely signaling he’s sick, particularly if these changes continue for more than 2 days. Likewise, if the cat’s behavior has changed so that he is hiding in a hard-to-reach place, such as under your bed, in the basement, or in a closet, then he needs to be seen by a veterinarian. If symptoms get worse, or start ganging up on your cat, or include a fever, it’s time to take him in for a checkup.

Convulsions

Any animal that suffers from convulsions – or seizures, as they are sometimes called –needs a veterinarian’s care. Poisoning, infectious disease, and brain injury or stroke are just a few things that trigger seizures. A thorough examination is required to pinpoint the cause.

Coughing

A cough that persists for more than two days is almost always a trouble sign. It may signal a throat blockage, upper respiratory infection, internal parasites, chronic allergic bronchitis, asthma, or even a heart condition. Only your veterinarian can determine what the problem is for sure.

Dehydration

Cats who don’t eat or drink can rapidly become dehydrated. To test for dehydration, gather up a fold of skin along the middle of your cat’s back, and then release the skin. It should be pliable and spring back into place. If it doesn’t, your cat is probably dehydrated and needs to be checked by a veterinarian. Dehydration is a sign that something else is going on.

Diarrhea and Constipation

Diarrhea, too, is very common among cats, and its causes vary. Usually the problem is dietary or emotional. If diarrhea persists more than two days without improvement or is accompanied by vomiting, fever, lack of appetite, or dehydration, get your veterinarian’s help.

Constipation, on the other hand, is unusual for healthy young cats. A cat that has not had a bowel movement for 3 days or more needs to be seen by a doctor. Likewise, if your cat has recurrent bouts with constipation, he will also need to see a doctor and perhaps be on some medication or diet change in order to help him become more regular.

Fever

Normal temperature ranges for cats vary from 100 to 102.5 degrees. You can ask your veterinarian how best to test your cat’s temperature. Usually fever indicates an infection, although there can be other causes as well (exertion, hot weather, or excitement). A moderate fever (102.5 to 104 degrees) should be brought to your veterinarian’s attention after two days. High fever (over 104 degrees) or low body temperature (under 100 degrees) require immediate professional care. Don’t reach for the baby aspirin at the first sign of fever. Unless your veterinarian prescribes the exact dose, your good intentions could prove fatal. Remember, fever is only a symptom; call your veterinarian and give him or her a chance to treat the cause.

Don’t rely on your cat’s temperature as a foolproof or not he is sick. Metabolic disturbances or deficiencies and cancerous growths, for example, may not be accompanied by fever.

Shivering

A shivering cat may or may not be sick. Cats shiver when they are cold, frightened, or excited; also when they are in pain or have a fever. Eliminate external causes first; then take your cat’s temperature to determine whether or not to visit your veterinarian.

Vomiting

Vomiting is fairly common in cats and can signal a variety of illnesses or conditions – from feline enteritis to parasites, ingestion of hair balls and other foreign objects, or simple stomach irritation. If your cat vomits repeatedly or forcefully retches unproductively, or if you notice blood or signs of abdominal pain, he needs to be examined by your veterinarian immediately.

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