Veterinarian Advice for Cat Illness & Symptoms

There are estimated to be about 73 million pet cats in American homes today. After their kitten shots and spaying or neutering, most cats will not need veterinary services often. Cat owners should, however, be aware of symptoms that necessitate a veterinary visit, as well as basic advice that veterinarians give to help these loving pets stay happy and healthy.

Symptoms That May Indicate a Need for Treatment
- Cats can't talk, but there are numerous signs of a cat in pain or distress. Veterinarians will tell a cat owner to bring their cat in for an exam if she:
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Yowls or whines.

Limps or walks stiffly.

Seems to have trouble breathing.

Seems listless, or sleeps more than usual.

Refuses to eat.

Tries to avoid touch.

Hunches her back or sucks in her stomach.

Bows her neck.

Squints or seems to have watery eyes.
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  Veterinarians tell cat owners to bring their pet in at the first sign of a problem. Some owners might think that the vets are looking for business, but the opposite is true: If an animal is treated immediately when suspicious symptoms arise, further treatment may be avoided, saving expenses and visits to the veterinary clinic in the long run.
Common Illnesses in Cats
- Some of the most common cat illnesses that vets advise cat owners to be on the lookout for are:
  
  Urinary tract infection. Vets stress that the earlier that they see a cat with a urinary tract infection, the quicker they can treat it, with the least amount of stress to the cat.
  
  Upper respiratory infection. This is a virus which passes, but secondary infections can develop without a veterinarian's preventative treatment.
  
  Feline Panleukopenia. Also called "feline distemper." This is a vicious virus that mostly attacks kittens, and there is no cure. The vet, however, can help ease the symptoms, and provide treatment to ward off a secondary infection.
  
  Chronic kidney failure. Older cats are most at risk for kidney failure, for which there is no cure, but for which a vet's treatment will make the cat's life more comfortable.
  
  Diabetes. A veterinarian will be able to individualize a treatment plan for the cat, taking into account the need for insulin and a special diet.
Keeping a Cat Happy and Healthy
- Cats can't talk, but when their health practitioner, their veterinarian, speaks for them, the advice that they give can be summed up as:
  1. Make sure that your kitten is immunized against common cat diseases for which immunizations exist.
  2. Be aware of your cat's habits. This is especially true of litter-box habits, as many diseases are associated with a cat's elimination functions and can only be diagnosed by observing the cat at the litter box.
  3. Take a cat to the veterinarian at the first sign of a health problem. In the long run, it will save time and money and result in a happy and healthy cat.