If only cats could talk and tell us when they don’t feel well and what’s wrong. It would be so much easier if your cat could simply come up to you and say, “I feel sick to my stomach because I ate a lizard outside.” Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. By the time your cat has eaten the lizard and gotten sick, your first clue might be the vomit on your bed with little lizard parts in it.
Cats can become ill for a variety of reasons, and many illnesses and diseases can result in similar behavior changes or other signs of illness. Paying close attention to the symptoms of a sick cat can help you identify illness more quickly and diagnose and treat the problem before it becomes more serious.
Common Symptoms of Illness in Cats
Vomiting is an extremely common occurrence in cats. What can be difficult is telling the difference between a perfectly healthy cat that vomits occasionally, perhaps due to hairballs or eating something outside, and a cat who has chronic vomiting, which can be a serious disease of the intestinal and digestive tract. Cats who routinely vomit more than 3-4 times a week may have inflammatory bowel disease, an inflammation of the intestinal tract that can lead to malabsorption of nutrients and even lymphoma if left untreated.
While occasional or chronic vomiting in cats may not always be a cause for immediate concern, a cat experiencing an increased frequency of vomiting, especially sudden, acute vomiting, should be treated as a medical emergency, and veterinary attention must be sought. Unfortunately, both acute and chronic vomiting are symptoms of many other illnesses, so it may be up to your veterinarian to help diagnose the underlying cause. In kittens, acute vomiting should always be treated as a medical emergency, as it can lead to life-threatening dehydration. Common causes for vomiting in kittens include feline panleukopenia or parasite infections. In older cats, common causes of vomiting may include organ failure, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, stomach or intestinal blockages, or the development of tumors or cancer.
Another very common, but non-specific symptom of illness in cats is diarrhea. In kittens, diarrhea may occur due to feline panleukopenia, parasite infection, or a sudden change in food. In adult cats, sudden onset diarrhea is most often associated with colitis, enteritis, or gastritis (inflammation of the colon, intestine, or stomach), often caused by dietary indiscretion. However, adult cats can also develop food sensitivities or allergies, which may result in chronic diarrhea that persists for several weeks or more, despite medical treatment. While not directly life-threatening, cats with food allergies are at high risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease, which can lead to lymphoma if left untreated.
Other Signs of Illness in Cats
In older cats, sudden onset diarrhea may be a symptom of organ failure (kidneys or liver), hyperthyroidism, gastrointestinal lymphoma, or a mass in the stomach or spleen. Because of the wide array of potential causes, your veterinarian is essential in helping determine what further tests or procedures may need to be performed to properly diagnose and treat the cause of the diarrhea.
Due to their small size, diarrhea in kittens should always be considered a serious sign of illness, and medical attention should be sought promptly. Kittens can become severely dehydrated after just a few episodes of vomiting or diarrhea, which can lead to serious illness and even death.
Weight loss in older cats is very common and often the first visible sign of a medical problem that may have been developing for a long time. Cats are very stoic animals and will often have been sick for weeks or months before showing symptoms. Cats who begin to lose their appetite and stop eating will experience weight loss and may be experiencing kidney failure or other organ failure or cancer. Cats who, despite a good or even ravenous appetite, continue to lose weight may be suffering from hyperthyroidism (an adrenal problem that affects metabolism), high blood pressure, parasites, or diabetes.
Increased thirst and urination, also known as polyuria-polydipsia (PU/PD), is frequently seen in cats suffering from uncontrolled diabetes. Cats who have newly developed diabetes or are on an inadequate dose of insulin may become PU/PD as their body tries to rid itself of excess glucose in the blood. Additionally, increased thirst and urination are often signs of a urinary tract infection, which is common in cats of all ages. A routine urinalysis can quickly diagnose an underlying problem and help lead to a solution.
In contrast, cats having trouble urinating (frequently using the litter box and straining to urinate) often suffer from a form of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). This disease encompasses many conditions that affect the feline urinary tract. Stones and crystals can develop in the bladder and urine, and especially in male cats, this can lead to a blockage where a stone or accumulation of crystals becomes lodged in the urethra. Cats that are blocked will often make multiple attempts to urinate, act in pain, object loudly to being handled, and appear extremely agitated. A blocked cat is a medical emergency, and if left untreated, it can lead to severe acute kidney failure, sepsis, and death.
Many cats prone to stone and crystal development can be managed with special diets to help prevent the formation of sediment in the bladder. Blocked cats will often require hospitalization and catheterization of the urinary tract to relieve the blockage, and some may require surgery to prevent further recurrence.
Finally, skin problems and hair loss can be symptoms of underlying health issues. Fleas are the most common cause of skin irritation and hair loss in cats, but they can also be a symptom of more generalized conditions, such as immune system disorders or food allergies.
Unlike many dogs, cats often hide their symptoms of pain or disease until the condition has progressed to a point where it can no longer be concealed. As such, careful attention to your cat’s behavior and mannerisms can help you identify when something is wrong. Quick attention to medical problems, as well as a thorough examination and care by your veterinarian, can help find the cause of your cat’s symptoms and treat the underlying disease, illness, or injury.
