How the Experts Identify If Their Cat Has Any Signs of Illness Or is Sick

By Paul Kramer

As intelligent as your cat is, he cannot tell you if he is feeling sick. As a responsible pet owner, it is up to you to be alert for signs of illness and act quickly if you think he is sick.

A drastic change in any area of his life (including eating or sleeping habits, change in general temperament, or bad litter box behavior) is a signal that something is wrong. If you know how your cat usually acts, you will notice when he is not behaving normally.

If you think your cat is ill, take him to the vet immediately. Do not wait and hope that he will get better on his own or that the problem will go away. Depending on the illness or medical problem, delaying treatment could be fatal, and in most cases, waiting makes the situation worse. It is better to be safe than sorry, so seek veterinary advice right away.

A list of common signs of illness follows. If your cat displays any of these symptoms, take him to the vet as soon as possible.

- bleeding

- bloated or distended stomach

- blood in urine or stool

- coughing

- crying, hissing, or growling when picked up or petted

- diarrhea

- discharge from the nose, ears, eyes or anus

- drooling

- excessive eating or drinking

- fever

- labored or rapid breathing

- lethargy

- limping

- loss of appetite or will not drink

- rapid weight loss (or rapid weight gain)

- runny nose and/or discharge from the eyes

- straining in the litter box with no results

- sudden personality change (biting, scratching or hissing)

- third eyelid (haw) exposed for a prolonged period of time

- trouble walking or walking off balance

- vomiting

As a responsible pet owner, you need to be alert for any signs of illness and act quickly if you think your cat is sick.

To learn more about the different types of pet meds for your dogs, cats, horse, etc., and how to get discount and cheap pet medications, make sure to visit http://www.callpetmeds.com where you will find everything on getting quality yet affordable pet medications as well as tips on how to take care of your pets like the experts.