How to look at a sick cat: signs that cats hide And when do I have to see a doctor?
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- Sick cat is not easy to see. This is because cats have evolved to hide illness and pain. At first, owners often only see a quiet, isolated cat. Before you know it, your cat may be seriously ill.
- Go to an emergency animal hospital immediately when breathing is difficult or gasping for breath. Pushing to urinate but it doesn't come out. Not urinating at all Unable to use hind legs, convulsions, pale, yellow or green-purple gums. or vomiting that is clear or bile-colored foam
- If food is not eaten in 24 hours, reach the veterinarian within that day. VCA states that it should go immediately. Because cats that don't eat are at risk of having a fatty liver.
- Signs that are often missed include hiding, sitting with an arched back, and uneven fur due to less licking. Use a different litter box and squint your eyes. Just this change from normal alone is a good idea to call for advice.
- The Feline Grimace Scale uses five facial expressions to assess acute pain: ears, eyes, nose and mouth, whiskers, and head position.
- Do not give human medicine to your cat. If you suspect your cat is hurt Call the veterinarian.
Why is a sick cat difficult to see?
The VCA explains that in nature cats are both hunters and prey of larger animals. Visible symptoms of illness tell a hunter that he or she is weak. Cats have evolved to hide sickness and pain.
The result is that in the first stage Owners often only notice that the cat has become quieter and more detached. And the cat may already be very sick before anyone realizes it. The VCA recommends that if the cat feels that it doesn't look normal, Make an appointment for a quick inspection first. Don't wait for symptoms to become clear.
Symptoms like this go to an emergency immediately.
Go to an open animal hospital immediately. No need to wait to see symptoms. If you find any of the following
Difficulty breathing, shallow breathing, gasping or gasping for breath Stretch your neck and head to breathe. or unable to sleep in a normal position
Pushing to urinate in the bed but no urine comes out. or not urinating at all. The VCA states that not urinating is a life-threatening emergency.
Suddenly unable to use his hind legs, convulsing or becoming unresponsive.
Gums, skin, or eyes are pale, yellow, or bluish-purple in color. The VCA states that delaying treatment by even a few hours can be fatal.
Vomit that is clear or bile colored. or not eating for more than 24 hours
Symptoms like this call your veterinarian today.
If it's not an emergency but clearly changed from normal Call for advice or schedule an exam as soon as possible. The VCA states that every sudden change is a reason to take your cat to the veterinarian.
Including eating less or more. Drink more or less water than normal? Weight has decreased until the ribs and spine can be clearly felt. Diarrhea or small, hard, dry stools urinating more or less Drowsiness or abnormal sleeping Licking himself non-stop until the fur falls off. Eyes have green, yellow, or white discharge. Sneezing, coughing, or mucus.
If the owner feels that the cat is not normal You don't have to wait to match this item. Because the signs of disease can be very subtle.
Subtle signs that owners often overlook
Hiding or isolating The VCA states that sick cats tend to be withdrawn and may hide. But it depends on the personality of each cat. Some become more clingy to their owners or get irritated more easily.
Sitting position and movement A cat who is uncomfortable may sit with its back arched. Can't walk as smoothly as before Not lifting the head fully, tilting the head, or holding the tail differently than normal Sometimes nothing stands out. But there are many small changes combined. A cat that doesn't jump up on furniture as usual may have joint problems.
Licking. Cats who are sick tend to take less care of their fur, resulting in more messy, greasy, clumpy, or dandruff-prone fur. On the other hand, excessive licking that causes the fur to fall off or the skin becomes red is a sign. It can come from the skin, parasites, stress or pain such as joint pain or bladder problems.
Litter box, diarrhea and constipation are signs of disease. Small, hard, dry stools are not normal and may be the first sign of kidney disease. Larger amounts of urine may be related to the kidneys, liver, or diabetes. Less urine is produced. Goes in and out of the pickup often, pushes or licks the genitals a lot. It could be a kidney or urinary tract problem.
Eyes squinted, droopy eyelids, abnormally colored eyelids The pupils dilate or contract unevenly. or a third eyelid that partially covers the eye, the VCA identifies it as a sign of an unwell cat.
Read your cat's facial expressions with the Feline Grimace Scale.
The Feline Grimace Scale (FGS) is a tool to assess acute pain in cats based on facial expressions. Developed and tested by a team of researchers from Université de Montréal, published in Scientific Reports in 2019 by Evangelista and colleagues, the FGS website states that it can be used by both veterinarians and cat owners, giving a score of 0 to 2 on each of the five points.
1. Ear position: The tips of the ears are pulled apart and rotated outward.
2. Squinting, the eye socket narrows, the distance between the upper and lower eyelids is less than half the width of the eye. Or close your eyes tightly
3. Tightness of the mouth The nose and mouth are flat and stretched from round to oval. Sometimes it looks bulging.
4. Mustache position: The mustache is directed forward and away from the face. Looks like it's erect.
5. Head position: Head lower than shoulder line or bent down, chin close to chest.
Research has established a total score for which pain medication should be considered. But giving medication is only a veterinarian's job. Owners use FGS to know what's wrong. It is not for self-diagnosis or treatment. And not seeing these expressions doesn't mean the cat is normal.
Before calling, write down something.
Write down what you notice. Since when? And is it more? Write down the time and amount you last ate and drank. Last urination and stool The nature of what comes out and the number of times vomiting
Take photos or videos of your sitting posture, breathing, or facial expressions if you can do so without delaying your trip to the doctor. Prepare new food information Medicines or dietary supplements given, congenital diseases, and the possibility of the cat eating foreign substances or poisonous plants.
If raising many people Isolate the suspect in a quiet room. To see how much they actually eat, drink, and use the pickup.
Don't do it yourself.
Do not give medicine to people, especially pain relievers, fever reducers, and anti-vomiting medicines. This is because many medications are harmful to cats and may mask symptoms. Do not give food or water to a cat that is lethargic, has difficulty breathing, or cannot swallow. Because of the risk of choking
Don't assume that your cat is just stressed or old. And don't wait until symptoms become apparent. The VCA recommends consulting a veterinarian as soon as you feel your cat is not normal.
Read on for symptoms.
When you see clear symptoms Read the manual according to your symptoms.
- The cat doesn't eat food.
- cat vomiting
- cat diarrhea
- Kitten has diarrhea
- Cat has difficulty breathing
- The cat can't urinate.
- Cat seizures
If you have to go now, take a look.List of clinics and animal hospitals 24 hours a day.
Frequently asked questions
How do you tell if your cat is sick?
Look for changes from normal, including hiding or becoming quieter, sitting with a slouched back, uneven fur, changes in eating and drinking. Use a different litter box or narrow your eyes because the cat hides symptoms. Small changes are important. If it's difficult to breathe Can't urinate Pale or yellow gums or seizures, go to emergency immediately.
What are the symptoms of a sick cat?
Common symptoms according to VCA are quiet and isolated. Energy changes, fur becomes uneven, eating and drinking changes. Changes in stool and urine, abnormal breathing, and mucus or eye discharge. Sudden changes should be consulted with a veterinarian.
What position does a sick cat sleep in?
There is no single position that can be used to diagnose the disease. The VCA states that cats with difficulty breathing often stretch their heads and necks. or unable to sleep in a normal position And cats who are uncomfortable may sit with their backs bent. If you see this type of posture combined with rapid breathing or gasping for breath, go to emergency.
My cat is sick and isn't eating. What should I do?
Adult cats that have not eaten in the 24 hours of VCA should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. Because of the risk of fatty liver During this time, do not feed or give medicine yourself. And write down when you last ate. Read more in our guide to cats not eating food.
What should I do if my cat is sick?
Evaluate whether it is considered an emergency or not. If not, call your veterinarian today. Write down your symptoms, time of eating, drinking, and excretion. Separate cats in a quiet place. and do not give medicine to people
What is the Feline Grimace Scale used to see?
It uses five facial expressions to assess acute pain: ears, squinting, mouth tension, whiskers, and head. It is not a diagnostic tool. The results are used to decide on a trip to the veterinarian.
Sources: vcahospitals.com · www.nature.com · www.felinegrimacescale.com