Greetings cat lovers… Skye Blake here with a question… Are you wondering if you’re seeing some symptoms of illness in your normally active cat?
Worried about that sleek tigress napping on your couch?
Noticing subtle changes in your elderly furry friend?
The information here is for general knowledge… always see your vet with questions about your cat’s individual needs.
Who Is Skye Blake?
Skye Blake, Cat Info Detective, is a curious cat researcher (not a veterinarian) who sniffs out expert, reliable sources about cats, studies their information, then passes it on to you!
Sometimes there’s not enough evidence for easy answers, so Skye gives you all sides, explains the situation as thoroughly and clearly as possible, and links you to experts on each page.
Sources are given at the bottom of each page so you can do more snooping.
Subtle Symptoms of Illness
Sometimes it’s something you can’t quite put your finger on that starts nagging at you.
Just as with people, subtle changes can be either normal life or indicate a major problem brewing.
Since cats instinctively hide pain and illness to survive in the wild, subtle changes can be symptoms of a serious illness that show up well before kitty is obviously miserable.
It can make her crouch in pain, hate being touched, and become a grumpy puss.
Be Your Cat’s Symptom Detective
By being a litter box detective, getting familiar with her peeing and pooping habits, you’ll be able to catch any number of symptoms in the early stages.
Use your detective eye when you pet or groom your cat as well.
You’ll notice anything different like lumps, bumps, cuts, dandruff, flea dirt, and ticks.
Done regularly, you’ll be catching things early, just as with litter box clues, possibly both saving your cat’s life and your wallet, too!
Discover more at “Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside the Litter Box?” and “Why Is My Cat Pooping Outside the Box?“
Regular Checkups Help Catch Illnesses Early
Your veterinarian should be your partner.
If your cat gets a good checkup once or twice a year, many diseases can be diagnosed early.
If you have questions or see symptoms in your cat that might be a particular illness, the best thing you can do is write them down and call your vet.
Working together as a team you’ll be able to deal with problems as they happen without panicking.
Regular checkups are also a good way to catch problems early, just as for people.
Discover more about vets at “What Does a Veterinarian Do?” and “Veterinary Specialists – What Kinds Are There?“
Cat Illness Symptom Resources
petmd.com – you can look up symptoms and find info about cat diseases
Feline Health Topics | Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine – A list of many feline diseases (everything from cancer to diabetes, FIV to hairballs)
Wanna know more about feline health? Discover more at “Cat Health“.
Sources
Sources used on this website are either primary or secondary.
Primary sources are always preferable and have the most reliable information because they’re original and directly referenced.
Scientific abstracts and data are good examples of primary sources.
Secondary sources are weaker because they usually consist of opinions or articles that give no sources of their own.
However, sometimes they refer to primary sources.
When I use secondary sources, most are those with some authority, such as veterinarian or cat behaviorist books and articles.
List of Sources
Feline Health Topics | Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Updated July 11, 2023