At some point, every cat owner is faced with a situation involving an ill animal and many pet parents are left to wonder if the situation is serious enough to warrant a trip to the veterinarian’s office.
“Timely veterinary care is key. Delaying care is going to take its toll on an animal’s body, making the illness or condition more difficult, and more costly to cure or treat,” explained Dr. Michael Levine, DVM.
Dr. Levine first recommends looking at the cat’s general appearance, adding, “An ill animal is going to stop eating and drinking,it's going to be lethargic and off-color…Cats often stop jumping up onto furniture, and many withdraw, becoming more scarce.”
Cats often look physically different when they're ill due to a lack of proper grooming. Usually meticulous groomers, cats will groom less frequently or not at all when they're ill.
Dehydration and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can set in in less than 24 hours, so it’s vital to seek help as soon as a pet stops eating or drinking; the situation could turn deadly in just a matter of hours.
Taking a cat’s temperature – normally between 100.4 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit – can be done rectally. A temperature outside of this range is an indicator of illness and warrants a trip to the vet’s office.
Checking gum color can also offer insight into whether a cat is ill. Normal gums should be a shade of pink. Cats tend to have a lighter normal gum color relative to dogs; it should be a light, bright pink hue, compared to many dogs who often have a darker pink gum color. Abnormal gums, which are white, grey, blue, yellow or brick red in color, can be indicative of internal bleeding, anemia, hyperthermia or a disruption of normal blood flow, which prevents proper oxygenation of blood or results in a loss of blood or red blood cells.
Pet owners can also look for signs of pain and distress. Cats are traditionally more stoic and reserved than dogs, so illness can be more difficult to detect in cats. Signs of pain can be seen in a cat who is less active than normal, and in a cat who moves more slowly and deliberately. Less jumping, or no jumping at all is an indicator that something is abnormal. Hiding and shying away from human attention and petting can also indicate discomfort. In severe cases, cats will pant due to distress, but more common is a loss of appetite and a refusal to eat.
In a cat who refuses to eat, there are a few tricks of the trade that will help keep kitty in good shape until he can visit the vet. Providing a nutritional supplement, such as Nutri-Cal, can sustain a pet when he’s not eating properly. Boosting blood sugar with a tablespoon of maple syrup three times a day can also help compensate when a pet is not eating.
In a cat who is hesitant to eat, appetence can be triggered in a couple of ways. Smear a bit of wet cat food on the cat’s nose to tempt him and trigger eating. Cats who are suffering from respiratory illnesses in particular, are often hesitant to eat. So offering a strong-smelling meal will help encourage a pet to eat. Offering a meal of tuna, or pouring tuna water over his normal cat food can make a cat more apt to eat. The same goes for chicken baby food (which must be onion-free to avoid toxicity) – it too can be given alone or with cat food to help promote eating.
For a cat who will not drink, offering the water from a can of tuna or bottled clam juice can promote drinking. However, pet owners should remember that a pet who is not drinking only has a matter of about 12 hours before it starts to experience serious symptoms from dehydration, and therefore a vet visit is urgently required to avoid organ damage or failure.
Heart rate can also be a good indicator of distress and pain. The normal heart rate varies depending on the size and age of the cat, but the normal range is between 160 and 220. A larger cat or a cat who is at rest will likely have a slower normal rate. A younger, smaller and more active cat will have a faster heart beat.
Pet owners should also make note of their cat's litter box contents for signs of decreased/increased urine or fecal output, changes in stool consistency, blood in the litter or any other abnormalities. A great deal of hair in the pet's stool can suggest a problem involving hairballs, particularly if the cat is showing other signs of a hairball-related problem, such as vomiting and a dry hacking cough, especially after eating.
In addition, owners should know what’s normal for their pet. Dr. Levine concluded, “If you don’t know what your [pet’s] gums look like when he’s healthy, you’re going to have a difficult time determining if he’s ill. Know what’s normal for your pet and detecting changes will be much easier.”
Recording your pet’s symptoms and behavior in a pet log will also make the diagnostic process much easier, as pet owners can provide complete information to the vet without having to worry about forgetting important details due to the stress and anxiety that’s often associated with caring for a sick pet.
Also, know where you can find help in advance. Locate a 24-hour veterinary clinic in your area and visit the clinic in advance so you’re familiar with its location. Pet owners shouldn’t waste valuable time locating a 24-hour clinic in an emergency situation involving their pet. Knowing where you can seek help may just mean the difference between life and death for your feline friend.
