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 | Cindy Wolff Cats are subtle creatures that typically hide their illnesses, but unusual behavior is a sign something is amiss.
The problem is many pet owners dismiss behavior problems as cats becoming mean, or changing their behavior as a form of revenge or some other human motive. Cats often lose their home or are euthanized as a result of behavior problems.
But a new education campaign - "The Great Cat Watch, for Wellness Sake!" - from Fort Dodge Animal Health and the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine explains that behavior is one of the most obvious signs for a cat owner that your cat is sick.
Here are some signs:
- Inappropriate elimination behavior. Sudden change in litterbox habits could mean a urinary tract infection or other illnesses.
- Changes in interaction. Cats that withdraw or begin to bite could be in pain.
- Changes in activity. This could be a sign of joint disease or an illness. Increased activity could be hyperthyroidism.
- Change in sleeping habits. Cats sleep about 16 to 18 hours a day. Most of that is "catnapping," which means your cat will respond quickly to a noise. Longer or deeper sleep could signal a problem.
- Changes in food or water consumption. Most cats are not finicky. If they eat less, it could be anything from an abscessed tooth to cancer. If it starts eating more, it could be diabetes or other problems. Increased water intake could indicate kidney disease, thyroid problems or other illnesses.
- Body condition: Unexplained weight loss or gain often goes unnoticed because of a cat's thick coat. Assess body condition by feeling gently along the ribs. They should be felt but not prominent. Obesity can cause several problems including diabetes and joint disease.
- Changes in grooming. Cats are fastidious groomers. If your cat stops it could be a sign of a skin condition or other illness.
- Signs of stress. Sudden changes to your cat's lifestyle, such as moving, can stress a cat, leading to decreased grooming and social interaction or spending more time awake, hiding more or withdrawing. Stress symptoms can signal an illness.
Listen up: Changes in vocalization with increased howling or meowing could mean they are in pain or anxious.
- Bad breath. More than 70 percent of cats have gum disease by age 3, according to the cat experts. An early indicator of gum disease or an infected tooth is bad breath.
- If your cat exhibits any of those signs, take it to your veterinarian to make sure there are no underlying health problems. For more information, visit catwellness.org .
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Cindy Wolff, the owner of three spoiled dogs, can be reached by e- mailing wolff@commercialappeal.com, or by sending mail to The Commercial Appeal, 495 Union, Memphis, Tenn. 38103 or by calling (901) 529-5220. Visit her Blog at blog.commercialappeal.com/pets/
(C) 2011 The Commercial Appeal Memphis, TN. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
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