Learn when the cat symptoms your pet displays require medical intervention. Some cat symptoms seem urgent, but often you can wait a day or two before seeking veterinary care.
Vomiting as Main Cat Symptoms
Cats regurgitate food and stomach acids for dozens of reasons. The cat food may simply not be agreeing with the cat's stomach or he may have eaten a foreign object like string, grass or a houseplant.
Some cats vomit after grooming because cat hair does not digest. You'll notice hairballs mixed into the saliva and gastric juices. Adding fish oil to your pet's food can help hairballs pass quickly preventing blockages in the intestines. Also make sure you are brushing your pet's coat daily.
If the vomiting persists for more than a day or you know your pet ingested a toxin, contact your veterinarian. Blockages, cancerous tumors, inflammatory bowel disease and thyroid troubles all include vomiting as main cat symptoms.
Cat Symptoms Involving Changes to Litter Box Habits
Your cat is urinating outside of the litter box, so you clean it up and don't worry too much about it. If the cat is not fixed, it might simply be a case of territorial marking. If you've recently changed cat litter brands, your cat simply might be objecting.
However, urinating outside of the litter box occurs with a UTI. Ignoring a UTI can be dangerous. Mild urinary tract infections may clear up with dietary changes, but if the infection spreads to the bladder or kidneys, your pet's life will be at risk.
Pay close attention to your cat's urinary habits. If you see him heading to the litter box frequently and little or no urine is passing, an infection is usually to blame. If you see blood tinted, pinkish urine, call your vet because it could be a tumor or a UTI. If the cat is going outside the litter box or hanging out in the bathtub, a common area pets seek when they have a UTI, seek veterinary care immediately.
Excessive Licking and Grooming
Excessive grooming troubles many pet owners. Excessive licking cat symptoms remain hard to diagnose. It can be stress, infection, parasites or food allergies.
First, check your pet for bites and scratches, especially if your pet goes outdoors or you have multiple pets in your home. Bites should be treated by a veterinarian to avoid infection. If the pet licks the genitals consistently, a UTI or infection of the penis or vagina needs veterinary care.
If you see no signs of fleas, including the blackish flea droppings, try switching your cat's diet. Avoid foods with common allergens like corn, wheat and soy. If the licking stops after a dietary change, a food allergy is likely. Make sure to stick to foods that avoid the common allergens.
If a dietary change doesn't help, your pet is likely stressed. Are there cats that come into your yard? Can you smell cat urine outside doors or windows? Try talking to neighbors to keep their cat from your yard. Wash exterior walls, doors and other areas where you smell cat urine with a pet enzyme cleaner.