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Keep medications handy in case your cat needs them
You love your cat, and you want him to be healthy. But, going to the veterinarian is not always the first step in keeping your cat healthy and happy. The first step is to know your cat.
You should be “in tune” with your cat so that you will know when something is wrong. In the wild, small cats are prey animals as well as predators, so it’s instinctive for them to hide any obvious signs of trouble for as long as they can. That means what seems to be a minor health problem may already be well on its way to becoming a serious problem. Certain signs can be a warning of an impending health problem in any cat:
* Change in behavior
* Change in appetite
* Increased vocalization
* Increased thirst
* Increased urination
* Vomiting
* Diarrhea
* Constipation
* Depression
* Lack of balance
* Lameness
* Stiff joints
* Coughing
* Sneezing
* Respiratory difficulties
* Runny eyes
These are just some of the changes that may be signs of an ill cat. Knowing your cat well will help you recognize other changes.
An important part of knowing your cat is performing regular home health exams once a week. These are not difficult to do and will help you spot physical changes you may otherwise have missed. These exams should be done during grooming sessions, and ideally started when your cat is young. (If you’ve acquired an older cat, please don’t skip the exam. It just may take a little time to accustom the cat to the handling.)
When beginning your exam, start by looking at your cat overall. Is his behavior normal? Is he standing and walking properly? Does the cat’s balance seem correct? Any noticeable changes should immediately be brought to the attention of your veterinarian.
For the physical exam, you may want to use food treats and don’t forget the praise. Keep your cat calm throughout the exam. If at any time the cat begins to get agitated, it is best to stop and continue at another time when he is more relaxed. Negative associations will only make future exams more difficult, for you as well as the cat.
Start the physical exam with the cat’s eyes. They should be bright, clear and free of excessive discharge. A small amount of clear discharge may be normal, but thick, dark discharge may be the sign of a problem, such as a blocked tear duct or conjunctivitis, and should be brought to the attention of your veterinarian. Check the lenses of your pet’s eyes. Do they seem normal? Cloudiness may be a sign of cataracts. Redness or discharge around the lids may mean conjunctivitis.
If your cat bumps into things or seems to have trouble figuring distances, you will want your veterinarian to check his eyesight. When I acquired my cat Teisha, I noticed her movements were slow and cautious. If an object was on the floor that had not been there previously, she would walk into or trip over it. Her pupils dilated normally, but a trip to the veterinarian revealed retinal detachment that caused her blindness.
Next, look into the cat’s ears. They should be clean and pink, but not red or swollen. A foul odor is the sign of an ear infection. If the ears look dirty, or if the cat scratches at them continually or shakes his head a lot, ear mites may be present.
Check in the cat’s mouth. Most cats resist this, and you will need to be easy and gentle. Place your hand over the cat’s head and, using your thumb and middle finger, press lightly on either side of the cat’s mouth until he opens it. The gums should be pink, not white, bluish or yellow.
Lifting one lip carefully, press on the gums. They should turn white at your touch, then quickly return to their natural color. There should be no foul odor from the mouth. This can mean an infection or even kidney or digestive problems. The teeth should be white, not yellow or brown.
Brushing your cat’s teeth using a pet toothpaste and finger toothbrush (ask your veterinarian or check the pet supply store) or a baking soda and water mixture is a good idea. Do not use any toothpaste made for humans, as it can make a cat ill.
It’s okay if your cat’s nose is dry, but there should be no excessive nasal discharge.
Now, feel your way down the cat’s body. Start at the neck and throat, feeling for any lumps or sore spots. Check his weight, too. If you can’t feel your cat’s ribs, it may be time for a diet. On the other hand, if the ribs are sticking out or are more prominent than normal, the cat is losing weight. This could be the indication of a serious health problem.
Next, gently pull up the skin on your cat’s neck. The skin should fall right back into place when released. If the skin remains extended, your cat may be dehydrated.
Look through your cat’s coat and check for fleas or other parasites. Flea dirt resembles tiny specks of pepper and turns red when dampened.
Become familiar with your cat’s normal pulse rate. Check it for any changes whenever you do his health check. You can feel the pulse by gently pressing right behind the cat’s left front leg over the chest area. A normal heart rate is between 140 and 240 beats per minute. Since that is a very wide range, it’s important to know what is normal for your cat.
Respiration should be even and barely audible (unless, of course, the cat is purring). Open-mouth breathing, holding the head extended while breathing or excessive chest movement is abnormal and should be checked by a veterinarian.
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