How to Determine if Your Cat Needs Medical Care

Careful observation of daily activities and habits is key to recognizing early signs of illness in your cat. Disguising symptoms is a cat's specialty, so he may be sick for days before you notice. Read on to learn more about when he needs medical attention.

Instructions

1

Watch your cat closely. Become familiar with his normal habits and patterns of activity. The slightest variation may indicate the beginning of illness or disease.

2

Learn to monitor your cat's heart rate and respiratory rate and to take his temperature. Normal is 101.5 degrees F.

3

Listen to his chest with a stethoscope placed on his rib cage, behind the front leg, noting his normal resting heart rate of 100 to 200 beats per minute.

4

Observe his normal respiration at rest: 20 to 60 breaths per minute. Cats rarely pant unless they are in extreme heat, overly excited, unduly stressed or in pain.

5

Groom him daily (cats love this), checking for masses, swellings and sensitive areas.

6

Take note if your cat refuses food or water, is lethargic or seems reluctant to play. These are often the first symptoms of illness. Sick cats become dehydrated quickly, so a prompt response is essential.

7

Take your cat's temperature if he seems listless. Even the slightest elevation in temperature can account for a change in behavior.

8

Call your veterinarian for advice if you notice symptoms such as sneezing, runny eyes or nose or labored breathing, which can indicate a respiratory illness.

9

Be alert to coughing or hacking. These symptoms could mean just a hairball, but if they persist, call your veterinarian.

10

Know that straining to urinate, especially in male cats, is considered a sign of urinary-tract obstruction. Get medical help immediately, as this can be life-threatening. This is often accompanied by deep vocalization or howling and licking at the genital area.

11

Be aware that violent retching, attempting to vomit or unusual panting are symptoms of serious illness or pain in cats, so call your veterinarian right away.

12

Call your veterinarian as soon as you think your cat is sick. Delaying the call often leads to greater risk for the cat, prolonged recovery and increased expense.

Careful observation of daily activities and habits is key to recognizing early signs of illness in your cat. Disguising symptoms is a cat's specialty, so he may be sick for days before you notice. Read on to learn more about when he needs medical attention.

Instructions

1

Watch your cat closely. Become familiar with his normal habits and patterns of activity. The slightest variation may indicate the beginning of illness or disease.

2

Learn to monitor your cat's heart rate and respiratory rate and to take his temperature. Normal is 101.5 degrees F.

3

Listen to his chest with a stethoscope placed on his rib cage, behind the front leg, noting his normal resting heart rate of 100 to 200 beats per minute.

4

Observe his normal respiration at rest: 20 to 60 breaths per minute. Cats rarely pant unless they are in extreme heat, overly excited, unduly stressed or in pain.

5

Groom him daily (cats love this), checking for masses, swellings and sensitive areas.

6

Take note if your cat refuses food or water, is lethargic or seems reluctant to play. These are often the first symptoms of illness. Sick cats become dehydrated quickly, so a prompt response is essential.

7

Take your cat's temperature if he seems listless. Even the slightest elevation in temperature can account for a change in behavior.

8

Call your veterinarian for advice if you notice symptoms such as sneezing, runny eyes or nose or labored breathing, which can indicate a respiratory illness.

9

Be alert to coughing or hacking. These symptoms could mean just a hairball, but if they persist, call your veterinarian.

10

Know that straining to urinate, especially in male cats, is considered a sign of urinary-tract obstruction. Get medical help immediately, as this can be life-threatening. This is often accompanied by deep vocalization or howling and licking at the genital area.

11

Be aware that violent retching, attempting to vomit or unusual panting are symptoms of serious illness or pain in cats, so call your veterinarian right away.

12

Call your veterinarian as soon as you think your cat is sick. Delaying the call often leads to greater risk for the cat, prolonged recovery and increased expense.