Know when your cat is sick
 Even
with balanced nutrition and a good amount of love and attention, cats
can still fall sick. By spotting the symptoms early, you can try to
prevent or cure your cat's illness with proper medical care. You cannot
spot these symptoms just by the way they purr, but you have to really
keep an eye on them. Let us tell you today about what you should be
aware of.
Always keep an eye out for fleas. Watch your cat closely if it shows
symptoms of having fleas, such as becoming particularly itchy, or if you
notice bites on human members of the household. To check for fleas,
groom the cat over a sheet of white paper. Check for fleas caught in the
comb's teeth or flea dirt on the
paper.
Flea dirt is actually excrement of undigested cat blood, and appears
black and comma shaped. If you place it on damp cotton wool, the flea
dirt dissolves into bloody streaks. There are medicines to cure the flea
problem. Ask your vet's advice. Watch for symptoms of an overactive
thyroid gland such as increased appetite or thirst, unexplained weight
loss (particularly muscle mass), nervousness or irritability, frequent
vomiting, lethargy and weakness, diarrhoea, or a coat that looks
uncombed.
An overactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism, is a condition where the
thyroid gland becomes enlarged and produces excess amounts of the
thyroid hormone. The condition is often provoked (initiated) by a benign
(mild) tumor on one or both lobes of the thyroid gland.
The good news is that thyroid tumors have only a 2-5 per cent chance
of malignancy (becoming harmful and uncontrollable). A cat with the
condition may not present every symptom, but the presence of two or more
symptoms should prompt a visit to the veterinarian's office.
Be mindful of your cat's litter box habits. If your cat starts
meowing a lot and jumping in the sinks or bathtubs or displays any other
unusual behaviour, be sure to have it checked by a vet. Inappropriate or
difficult and frequent urination, appetite loss, listlessness
(weakness), blood in the urine, or frequent licking of the genitals may
indicate feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).
This is a painful inflammation (swelling) of the lower urinary tract,
which has the potential to turn fatal very quickly (sometimes within 24
hours). Feline lower urinary tract disease has a number of causes, from
decreased water intake and urine retention (inability to urinate) to
viruses, bacteria or diet.
Diet is especially important to male cats that have been
neutered(sterilised), as some dry foods are prone to cause urinary
infections. As with any serious condition that could threaten your cat's
life, if you see these symptoms, call or take it to the vet immediately.
It is better to be safe than sorry.
Watch for excessive discharge at the eyes and nose. If your cat
constantly appears to be 'crying', it may have an allergy or sinus
infection. This can also be a symptom of the onset of kidney failure,
along with excessive drinking/urination, lethargy(a state of
inactivity), and a lacklustre(dull) coat.
Have your cat checked by a veterinarian if it exhibits these
symptoms. Kidney failure can be fatal and is common in older cats.
Compiled by Janani Amarasekara
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