Luv My Critters

You may find it difficult to identify how well your kitty is feeling. And unfortunately, she can’t speak to you in specific terms to tell you. So it will be up to you to recognize behavioral changes or irregularities in routine so you can diagnose symptoms of kitty illnessI suggest you take great care in following and understanding your kitty’s normal routines. This includes level of activity, food habits and potty habits. Remember that cat’s often exhibit very subtle changes in their behavior when they don’t feel well. This makes it vital that you know their routines and habits as well as possible.

This will provide you with the additional benefit of having collected more data for your veterniarian. The more specific information you can provide your vet, the better he or she will be equipped to make a fast and accurate diagnosis. Diagnosis isn’t always easy, so you want to help your veternarian as much as possible.

Another reason you should monitor your kitty closely and learn her habits well is that the earlier you catch a cat health problem the more likely you or your veternarian will be able to successfully treat your kitty. The other benefit of treating the illness right away is to avoid behavior problems like not using the litter box. Such problems can become miserable, both for your kitty and for you.

So what symptoms might indicate a feline illness?

As I wrote earlier, alterations in your cat’s habits may be an indication that something is bothering your kitty. Yet there are still some particular symptoms you should keep in mind when you observe your cat:

• Urinating or defecating outside of the litter box
• Constipation (do you see very little feces in the litter box?)
• Diarrhea
• Straining in the litter box
• Changes in appetite
• Greater thirst
• Changes in energy level
• Change in weight
• Vomiting (other than hairballs)
• Lethargy or depression
• Frequent scratching

These are just a few potential symptoms, but anything out of the ordinary should be watched closely and discussed with your veterinarian. Never try to self-diagnose a feline illness — diagnosing needs to be done by your veterinarian. Feline illnesses can be intricate and might involve lab tests so it is best left to the professionals.

This is just a starting list. Remember, any behavior unusual to your specific kitty’s habits should be observeed closely and brought to the attention of your veterniarian. I urge you not to diagnose your cat by yourself. Your cat’s care really require the attention of a trained professional. Many cat health problems may be subtle and yet difficult and could require multiple lab tests conducted by professional lab technicians. Prevention Is the Best Medicine

Naturally it is not possible to totally prevent your kitty from getting sick, but you can try to reduce the risk of illness.

Too many casual pet owners do not seriously consider the nutrition of their precious little friend. They assume they can just buy what’s on the shelf of their local grocery store and call it a day.

This isn’t necessarily the case. To strengthen your cat’s immune system you should look at ingredients carefully and try to provide your cat a species-appropriate, healthy diet with few fillers and by-products. And of course, you should be certain he or she always has access to clean water. Don’t be cheap; buying your cat a high quality cat food (I suggest a good percentage of his or her diet be moist food) can save you money and save you and your kitty a lot of trouble and misery over the long haul.

One last thing I suggest is that you keep your cat indoors a vast majority of the time. A ton of evidence suggests that indoor cats live longer, healthier lives and aren’t exposed to diseases and parasites nearly as much as those poor outdoor kitties.

And of course… never skimp on your routine visits to the vet.