Stroke your cat over her back and hips. If your cat sneezes frequently and it's accompanied by nasal discharge,your cat may have a cold and will need to visit the vets. 3. But those that grow quickly, ooze or bleed, or are tender to the touch are signs that your vet should check without delay. If a cat stands tall and puffs her fur, she's usually sensing a threat. If your cat's temperament changes unexpectedly, she is probably telling you something. Cold cats may hunch down closer to the ground and puff their fur up a little. Taking your cat's temperature with a thermometer is the only real way to diagnose a fever (see box below). Gradual trends are hard to spot when you see your cat every day. You'll have better peace of mind for all of your cat's 9 lives. But if she's hunched down and slightly puffed, she may be feeling cold. If your cat has been spending their nap time splayed out in the sun or lying next to the fireplace, it is understandable that this part of their body might feel warmer than usual . Conventional wisdom says to worry if your cat's nose is warm and dry instead of cold and wet. If your cat has become wet and is the temperature is cold, the feline’s temperature could easily drop. Growths and tumors can occur as cats age, and they are often benign. These signals help us If you have a kitten, take a look at our article on If you have a Sphinx cat or a breed with very little hair, it is recommended that you cover its back with a piece of special clothing for cats, so it will be adequately protected and warm.When you are at home you can turn on the heating and make the temperature of your home much more enjoyable, your cat will be grateful. They may just become picky or switch from preferring dry food to craving only canned. He's a short hair and I had no idea he would be colder in the winter so I've put a pillow near the outlet and hope he uses it. Inaccuracies can occur due to the probe's position or debris in the ear. This was helpful as my 10 year old cat has been sleeping on the heat outlet recently even though it is metal and I thought it would be uncomfortable. Liver, A tender, localized swelling, particularly in an outdoor cat, could be a bite wound abscess. Note that a sharp increase in appetite could indicate trouble as much as a decrease(i.e., This is a very important sign of illness if you're observant. The fur may appear spiky, matted, or have dandruff. Signs that come on suddenly could indicate a stroke or intoxication and are true medical emergencies.Finally, unexplained weight loss—where's there's been no diet or lifestyle change—is a subtle but important sign of illness in cats. Problems such as If your feline friend is looking like something the cat dragged in, there could be a problem. Many chronic feline ailments start with this one insidious symptom.
If you see your cat begging at the faucet or hanging by the water bowl more than usual, it could be a sign of Lets face it, some cats are vomiters—whether from hairballs, plant-eating, or the classic “snarf and barf” of eating too fast and bringing food back up. Since cats are such great pretenders, a behavior change may be your only clue that something is going on.Changes in appetite are a classic sign of feline illness, although some don't simply stop eating. Signs to watch for include cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and shallow, rapid breathing. Some might suddenly show extreme interest in your food while leaving theirs untouched. Check your cat's temperature too: Taking your cat's temperature with a thermometer is the only real way to diagnose a fever (see box below). The best recommendation is that if temperatures are very low By contrast, a laid back cat may be hyperactive, needy or meowy when he's sick. This is especially true of growths that develop on a female cat's belly. Cats with short hair or no hair are most susceptible to this type of hypothermia, as well as infants and elderly cats. Chronic, recurrent spit-ups are another concern, especially if they're accompanied by weight loss, lethargy, or The signs of respiratory disease in cats can be subtle. Others may come running at the sound of the meal being prepared only to take one sniff and walk away.