Four Cat Symptoms That Could Indicate An Emergency

Of the most common illness symptoms your cat can exhibit, these four probably have the most potential to signal a possible emergency. If any of these systems appear as I describe below, an immediate consultation with your vet is warranted. While it is possible that your cat may exhibit some of these symptoms and not have a significant problem, caution is in order.

Cats get by pretty well on their own, and they may recover from a mild illness even before you know they're sick. It's easy then, to overlook or ignore something that we are sure our cat will recover from. It's equally possible, however, that one or more of the following cat symptoms could indicate that your cat may have a significant illness or underlying condition as the cause. Pay close attention to your cat's behavior, and if you see any of the following possible symptoms, take action quickly.

While these are not the only warning signs, they are some of the most common. Be on the alert for vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to eat or drink, and lethargy. Below are some details.

Diarrhea - Diarrhea can be a sign of a more serious problem than just plain indigestion. Do not let your cat suffer from diarrhea for long without a call to the vet. The resulting dehydration can be significant.

Vomiting - Vomiting is a common thing for a cat to do. Hairballs are probably the most frequent cause of vomiting, and are usually of little concern. Well, except for the clean up. But cats can into all kinds of things, so it's not surprising they have a habit of giving some of those things back. They also have allergic reactions to plants and other items that can cause digestive distrubance. It might just be a hairball, but be alert to the possibility of a more severe problem if vomiting continues for any length of time. Poisons, intestinal disturbances, or serious illness could be the cause. Aside from the cause, vomiting can lead to dehydration. This is a serious condition that, untreated, can lead to death.

Lethargy - While cat's do need lots of sleep, they shouldn't appear sluggish. Most cats will not sleep continuously in one spot for an extended period. Lethargy is a sure sign of some kind of trouble. Since cats do sleep a lot, it may be hard to detect if they are sluggish or just taking it easy. If your cat is normally bubbly and active, but suddenly begins sleeping in a corner for an entire day, something is probably wrong. I failed to catch this behavior change with one of my cats once for about a day since she was out in the open and seemed fine. By day two, however, she was too weak to jump, and she ended up needing IV fluids and an antibiotic.

Refusing to drink or eat - Refusal to eat or drink for extended periods, or outside of your cat's normal routine is a red flag. Make sure you know your cat's eating and drinking habits well, and be observant if there are any changes. Sick animals often stop eating, so pay attention to what your cat is trying to tell you.

All in all, cats are pretty sturdy creatures, and will recover from mild problems. There will be those times, however, when cat symptoms indicate a more serious condition or danger that must be treated. Be on the alert for those times.

Kurt Schmitt writes for www.cat-lovers-only.com, the web site where you can learn more about cat illness symptoms and what they mean.

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