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4 Signs Your Cat Should See a Vet

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4 Signs Your Cat Should See a Vet

Regular check-ups are important for your cat’s health. However, your cat may exhibit certain symptoms that make you wonder whether they require a trip to the veterinarian or whether you should wait and see. While it is always a good idea to err on the side of caution and take your cat to your vet if your cat is lethargic and weak, here are 4 other signs you definitely shouldn’t ignore.

1. Strange Behaviour Around the Litter Box

If your cat has difficulty urinating, it can be caused by a build-up of stones or crystals in their bladder that go beyond an ordinary case of urinary tract infection. Changes in litter box habits, particularly in male cats, can indicate a serious health problem. Urinary obstruction is a condition that prevents the cat from passing urine and can be fatal without treatment.

Difficulty going to the toilet and other strange behaviour around the litter box can be a sign of severe inflammation, cancer, blood clots or other potentially serious medical issues which require immediate veterinary attention. If your cat suddenly begins urinating outside the litter box, straining and crying while producing little urine, or begins grooming the genital area excessively, contact your vet immediately.

2. Cat is Nauseous or Vomiting Repeatedly

Cats can vomit every now and then without it indicating any severe medical issue. But when there are more than a couple of episodes in a day or either of these are paired with any other obvious signs of illness or pain, it’s a cause for concern especially if your cat is nauseous and lethargic as well. Some harmful products that are commonly ingested include:

  • Fertilisers
  • Insecticides
  • Plants
  • Rodent poison
  • Paint
  • Medications
  • Cleaning products

If your cat has ingested something it shouldn’t and you didn’t see it, vomiting and diarrhoea can be a sign. If not related to ingesting something, profuse vomiting can also be caused by gastroenteritis, inflammations of the pancreas and bacterial or viral infections.

3. Change in Appetite

Cats have a reputation for being fussy, but you know what is normal for your pet. If you notice a sudden appetite change, with your cat showing either more or less interest in his food than usual, it can be a sign of an undiagnosed health issue. There are a variety of viruses in Australia capable of causing severe illness in cats. One of the most serious viruses is the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) which can eventually lead to feline AIDS..

FIV is estimated to infect between 14 to 29 per cent of the Australian cat population according to RSPCA. This condition can cause changes in appetite and requires medical attention as cats infected with FIV have a reduced ability to fight off infections as the disease progressively disables the immune system, culminating in feline AIDS which is similar to human AIDS

4. Dragging Back Legs

Your cat dragging back legs can be a sign of either physical trauma or of aortic thromboembolism, a serious complication that can develop in cats with heart disease. In this condition, a blood clot becomes lodged in the back legs, causing paralysis and distress. If this happens, it is absolutely vital to get your cat to the vet for medical attention immediately.

Book a Consultation Today at Kirrawee Veterinary Hospital

If your cat is lethargic and weak, or you notice any of these other signs, book an appointment as soon as possible at Kirrawee Veterinary Hospital for diagnosis and treatment. Call us today on 02 9521 6422 or contact us online to book an appointment.

 

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