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Cat Illness Symptoms: 3 Major Categories

By: Kurt Schmitt. Since your cat can't tell you where it hurts, you'll have to be on the look out for problems. Let's talk about some cat illness symptoms you should know about.

Cats are very good at hiding discomfort and signs of illness, but sometimes this comes out as a change in behavior. If you notice a change in your cat's typical routine, you'll want to check for a physical problem.

Elimination problems -- Cats may experience a number of issues involving urination, defecation, and litter boxes.

Some urinary tract problems can be life threatening. FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease) is a label for a group of problems that can involve crystals, stones, infection, or inflammation.

Be alert to excessive urination as this can be a sign of cat illness such as feline diabetes. Cats are clean creatures and self-groom often, but excessive licking in the groin or anal area can be a sign of problems.

Treatments are available for hairballs/constipation, and include store bought hairball remedies as well as veterinarian prescribed treatments such as lactulose.

It should be noted that long term constipation may lead to a serious bowel condition known as megacolon. Impacted anal glands my also be a factor which will require treatment.

If your cat is dragging her rear end on the floor she may have impacted anal glands or a bad case of constipation. If your cat makes frequent but unsuccessful trips to the litter box, or cries out while using the box, she may have a problem that needs to be looked at.

If your cat is not urinating or defecating or is missing the litter box, contact your veterinarian immediately. Inappropriate elimination is common and is the number one cause that adult cats are brought to shelters. It has a number of physical and behavioral causes. You should address any medical problems first.

Other things to look for are evidence of blood in urine or feces, including black tarry stools. Diarrhea may indicate intestinal disease and can lead to dehydration, which can be fatal.

Eye and mouth problems -- Check your cat's eyes for pupils of uneven size, cloudiness, or discharge. The nictating membrane, or haw, is a "third eyelid" that you will sometimes see when a cat's eyes are open. This is often an indication of disease.

Ulcers in the mouth, bad breath, and loose teeth are signs of disease. Pallor of the gums and lips is a sign that your cat may be anemic.

Hair and skin issues -- The coat and skin of your cat can be used as a measure of her overall condition of health. Problems with the coat or skin can be a sign of illness.

A poor or oily looking coat is a sign of illness. If you notice that cat has stopped grooming, it's a sure sign of a problem.

Also look for swelling, hair loss, excessive dryness or flaking, or skin eruption or growths. Check your cat at least once per week for parasites.

These are a few of the major categories of cat health problems. Keeping alert to your cat's routine, and being sensitive to any of the possible above problems is an essential part of cat care.