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Cat health problems are a challenge for cat owners, partly since your cat can’t tell you when she’s ill. There are many possible illnesses that your cat may face througout her life. The symptoms of these feline illnesses often overlap, just as in people.

Generally speaking, your cat is at higher risk for developing an illness if she has been stressed in some way. Those stresses may come from other pre-existing health problems, or a life change of some kind. Examples of this might include recent injury or immune disease, or a recent surgery. Life changing events may also include the addition or removal of a family member or other pet, or perhaps you’ve recently moved.

Your cat can catch the flu or a cold in same way you can. Cats may also get heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and are subject to parasite infestation. Some of these cat health problems will require treatment.

If you notice something is not right, it’s best to call your veterinarian up front and let her know. That way, if things seem to get worse, both you and your vet will be better prepared to handle the situation later. Below are some problems to watch out for.

General signs and symptoms — Cat health problems of a general nature include some of the same signs that humans experience when they have the flu, a cold, infection, or injury. Your cat may experience symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, lethargy, and nasal discharge. If your cat has the flu, or an infection, you may notice excessive drooling. Sometimes your cat may have a fever.

More serious indications of feline illnesses are excessive vomiting or blood in the vomit, signs of pain, or evidence of worms. If at any time you notice that your cat faints or falls down, has difficulty breathing, jumping, or walking, contact your veterinarian right away. You should also be concerned by rapid weight loss or gain, or a bloated appearance or tightness in the abdomen.

Change in behavior — A dramatic change in routine or behavior in your cat may be a sign of illness. If your cat is normally social, but decides to hide in a room all day, that is probably a sign that something is wrong. A sudden change in sleeping habits, excessive scratching or licking behavior, or unusual aggressive tendencies may be signs that there is a problem.

Thirst and appetite — Cats, and other animals, will often go off food when they’re ill, so loss of appetite is usually a sign of a cat health problem. Other signs may include trouble chewing or eating, or leaning over the drinking bowl but refusal to drink. Increased thirst is a sign of a number of diseases, including diabetes, and failure to drink can lead to life threatening dehrydation.

In order to stay alert to cat health problems, you’ll want to be alert to your cat’s usual behavior patterns. Cats are very good at hiding some of these warning signs. Pay attention to your cat’s habits including sleeping, drinking, eating, litter box usage, and levels of activity. If you see a change, keep a closer eye on your cat to see if there’s a problem.

Checking your cat regularly will help you work with your veterinarian to keep on top of any cat health problems that may crop up. A good time to check your cat over from head to tail is during weekly (or more often) grooming sessions. That way you can get a feel for your cat’s flexibility, and how she reacts to being touched.

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