What Changes Should I Look For In The Litterbox
Both diarrhea and constipation are indicators of disease in cats. Diarrhea is usually easy to recognize in the litterbox, but constipation can be more problematic to notice. Small, hard, dry stools are never normal and are often an early indication of kidney disease.
Increased amounts of urine in the box indicate an of inability to properly conserve water and may mean that your cat is developing kidney or liver problems, or diabetes mellitus.
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Running On Empty Stomach
According to Felinecrf.org, an excess of hydrochloric acid in the stomach may explain why you spot your cat throwing up white foam.
A cat release hydrochloric acid along with gastric juices and bile into the stomach in readiness for food. When food doesnt arrive as soon as expected, the hydrochloric acid may irritate the stomach lining. As a result, your cat may vomit a white foam. The foam may also have a yellow tinge, as a result of bile, or have a white foamy liquid consistency.
Hydrochloric acid related stomach irritation, and the associated vomiting of white foam is usually seen with a change in feeding schedule. If you wish to implement this, it would help to give your feline companion a healthy snack to chew in the meantime.
Why Your Cat Is Lethargic And Wont Eat Or Drink
Just like us, cats can occasionally feel lethargic but if they are acting like this for an extended period of time and they are also refusing to eat or drink then this calls for an emergency visit to the vet. Here are the most common reasons for cats that are low in energy and also experiencing a change in eating or drinking behavior.
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Is It Normal For A Cat To Be Lethargic
Technically, lethargy in cats is never normal, but it is sometimes expected. For example, cats that have just been vaccinated are often lethargic. This happens because the immune response generated by a vaccine can make cats feel tired, achy, and generally unwell.
Many illnesses will also make a cat lethargic, so its quite likely that a sick or recently vaccinated cat will be lethargic.
In comparison, healthy kittens are never lethargic. They tend to be either fully onrunning around like maniacsor fully offresting up for another round. Contact your veterinarian if you have a lethargic kitten.
As cats age, they often spend more time quietly observing the world around them , but this isnt lethargy its growing up. Senior cats may slow down a bit more, but extreme or sudden changes are usually a sign of a health problem.
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Getting your cats paws on Untamed is easygo to our online cat food store, and your first tins will be on their way to your door in a few clicks.
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Once your trial pack arrives, you can check which flavours get the biggest thumbs-up. We will make sure you never run out of your cats favourite dishes with regular monthly meal packs to your door.
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Why My Cat Is Not Eating Or Drinking
You may have to play detective to find out why your cat isnt eating. If you live in the country, Kitty may have found an old barn infested with mice and her predatory instincts kicked in.
If shes getting food somewhere else, whether from hunting, begging or raiding trash cans, she may be too full to eat what you offer. If shes just been vaccinated, she may have temporarily lost her appetite but will get it back soon.
If youre on the move, she could have a touch of motion sickness. If she lost someone close to her, be it another feline friend or a favored human, she might not be in the mood to eat.
It could be she simply likes her food served hot. A minute or so in the microwave will solve that.
There may be a more serious reason your cat isnt eating. Kidney failure, intestinal problems, pancreatitis and several types of cancer and infections can lead to a loss of appetite.
It may be something less worrisome like a toothache or tongue or mouth injury. Has Kitty gotten into something poisonous? If you wouldnt want a toddler drinking or eating it, neither should your cat. Some plants, insects and frogs are poisonous.
One overlooked poison is opossum urine. Gnawing on something an opossum urinated on can cause necrosis of the tongue.
Making The Food You Offer More Enticing
Your cats sense of smell is as important as taste when it comes to food. If you are feeding a bland diet, and your cat has the sniffles, you can make it enticing by warming it to release a stronger smell.
If your senior cats eyesight has deteriorated, they may struggle to find their food bowl if youve moved it. You must also make the feeding area accessible for a cat suffering from arthritis or joint pain.
The best thing you can do to help your cat regain an appetite is to offer the best nutrition you can find.
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More Serious Causes For Vomiting
These are some of the more serious causes, where vomiting occurs on a more regular basis
Ingestion of foreign bodies
Cats are more particular about what they eat than dogs but we do occasionally see cats with blockages. Cotton or string can cause a blockage or trauma to the gut.
Ingestion of certain toxins
We see fewer toxicities in cats because of their fussy nature, with a few exceptions.
Some cats like to nibble on grass. If unavailable, or out of boredom, they may eat house plants such as Dieffenbachia and lilies which are toxic. Ask your vet before bringing new plants into your house or garden.
Cats like the taste of antifreeze but its especially toxic to them. Never use it in ornamental water features, keep bottles secure and labelled, and wipe up spills immediately. Vomiting, increased thirst, lethargy and lack of appetite may be signs of ingestion. Ingestion is usually not witnessed, partly why its often fatal. Call your vet immediately if you suspect ingestion.
Food allergies or new foods
Not all foods suit all cats and any diet change should be slow, taking at least a week. Its also thought some cats may actually be allergic to certain proteins in foods. If your vet suspects this, they may recommend a hypoallergenic diet using hydrolysed proteins. These are proteins that are broken down into very small pieces so are highly unlikely to cause an allergic reaction.
Parasites roundworms, tapeworms and fleas
High Levels Of Animal Protein
Untamed recipes contain twice as much animal protein as most commercial cat foods, and our meals are entirely grain-free.
With such high-quality ingredients, your cat will need less food to stay full of energy and will be able to digest each meal easilyirritable bowel syndrome, constipation, and other digestive problems should become a thing of the past.
High levels of animal protein are also crucial in managing urinary tract infections, such as cystitis or bladder stones.
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Ensure Your Kitty Has All The Resources They Need
Does your cat have all the correct resources and are they easily accessible? Your kitty likes to play, scratch their scratching post, have their own space to sleep, own food and water, and a clean litter tray. Keep food and water bowls separate and away from litter trays or any perceived threats and loud noises.
We all like to eat in peace. Ideally, you should put food up high so that your pet feels safe while eating – make sure food is always accessible by leaving doors open. Try to feed your cat little but often cats are snackers and like to eat frequent small portions – as many as six small meals a day. You should also make sure that there is an exit available so that your kitty can move away and have some quiet time if needed.
Your Cat May Be Suffering From Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure can result in fatigue and difficulty breathing, both of which can make your cat less interested in eating.
In addition, medications or a new food thats prescribed for heart disease may affect your cats appetite, especially if the new food is less palatable than what your cat is accustomed to eating.1
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How Can I Get My Cat To Eat
There are several things you can try to see if your cat will begin eating again.
- Considering stress can be a cause, ensure their dish is in a quiet area.
- Check to make sure both their food and water bowls are clean.
- Give them canned or “wet” food, or meat baby food.
- Try drenching their solid food with the juice from a tuna can.
- Cat’s don’t like cold food, so you can try heating it .
Why Is My Cat Listless And Not Eating
Why is my cat sleeping all day and not eating? If a cat is sleeping more often and/or more deeply than usual or has difficulty lying down and getting up, it could signal an underlying problem. Most cats eat well and regularly, provided they are offered food they enjoy. Increased food consumption can point to problems such as diabetes or
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This List Is Huge How Can You Possibly Find Out Whats Bothering My Pet
The search for answers starts with a complete history and physical examination. A pets history is the information you give your veterinarian about your pets illness. In a pet showing poor appetite and listlessness, this would include details about how long the pet has been ill and whether there have been changes in drinking, urination, and bowel habits. It would be helpful to know if there were any other signs of illness such as coughing, vomiting, or changes in weight. History often helps to narrow down the list of possible diagnoses. For example, an older cat that is losing weight and drinking excessively might have kidney disease, while a middle aged dog that is gaining weight and seems fine otherwise may have an underactive thyroid gland.
A thorough physical examination involves looking at all parts of the body, and typically includes listening to the heart and lungs with a stethoscope and palpating the abdomen . Physical examination can sometimes uncover the cause of a pets poor appetite and listlessness. For example, the presence of an abnormal heartbeat may indicate heart failure a mass in the abdomen could be a sign of cancer very pale gums indicates anemia.
Although history and physical examination are important first steps, your veterinarian may recommend doing screening tests. These are simple tests that provide valuable information about the overall health of your pet and often provide clues about the underlying problem.
Your Kitten May Still Be Learning What They Like To Eat
Once they start transitioning to solid food, kittens should be exposed to different types and textures of food so they learn what they prefer. If your newly weaned kitten wont eat, it could be as simple as switching from a round kibble shape to oblong.
Offer wet food and dry food with different textures and shapes . You can also try to make the food more appetizing so that the transition is easier. A cats appetite is strongly driven by their sense of smell.
Make sure that any wet food that you feed your kitten is room temperature or slightly warmer warming wet food up increases its aroma and appeal.
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What Is Sudden Lethargy
A cat experiencing sudden lethargy will lie around much of the day and show little interest in playing.
Sudden lethargy is a situation where a cat suddenly loses energy and interest in life. The definition of lethargy is a lack of energy and enthusiasm, or to use a medical definition, lethargy is a pathological state of sleepiness or deep unresponsiveness and inactivity. When a cat develops this condition, its a clear sign that something is seriously amiss.
Cats that are lethargic seem depressed and very tired, sleeping far more than normal, and not doing much else. They may also appear weak. Lethargic cats may not want to get up to use the litter box and can act sick in other ways, as well.
Lethargy in cats can have varying degrees, including:
- Mild lethargy: The cat isnt as interested in playing or being as active normal.
- Moderate lethargy: The cat seems very tired and disinterested, and wont play or engage with you at all.
- Severe lethargy: The cat doesnt even want to move and may refuse to lift up their head.
What To Feed A Sick Kitten
Depending on the age of the kitten, you can offer a milk replacement product or a high-quality canned or dry kitten food. The specifics of what you should feed a sick kitten depend on their age, so below are some guidelines for your kittens life stage. Remember to always offer plenty of fresh clean water in a clean bowl. Sometimes, providing extra water bowls can encourage a sick kitten to drink, so provide several spots to drink if you can.
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Behaviors Of A Tired Cat
A tired cat will sleep more but once awake will play, run around, explore, and behave normally while also still eating and drinking. Tired cats are only tired for a short period of time. Once they have slept off an exciting afternoon, they are ready to bounce back to their normal day of being a curious active feline.
Why Is My Cat Lethargic
If your cat seems to have low energy and isn’t as interested in their daily routines, they might be lethargic. Lethargy is a common symptom of many health problems, including kidney disease, diabetes, and food poisoning. It’s difficult to tell the cause without paying attention to the other signs.Cats naturally sleep a lot throughout the day, so a lazy cat is not necessarily a concern. Most cats will nap for 12 to 16 hours each day to save up energy for hunting. If you notice your cat sleeping more than usual, that’s a sign of lethargy, especially when paired with other unusual behaviors.Sometimes lethargy is due to old age in cats. When most animals enter their senior years, they start to slow down and rest more. However, if you suspect that it’s due to something more serious than age, then it can’t hurt to contact your vet.
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What Would Cause A Cat To Lethargic
Other causes of lethargy in cats. Regardless of temperature, any infection can cause lethargy. Cat flu and urinary tract infections are common ones. Urinary tract infections can be particularly painful too. Endocrine disorders can cause a cat to become lethargic. Common examples in cats include hyperthyroidism and diabetes
Why is my cat not eating and lethargic?
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When Should I Worry About My Cat Lethargy
When Should You Call a Vet About Lethargy in Your Cat? Call your veterinarian immediately if your cat is extremely lethargic or if their lethargy occurs in combination with other serious symptoms like difficulty breathing or severe vomiting or diarrhea.
Is my cat sick or just tired?
Cats that are ill will usually show changes in overall appearance, energy level, sociability, coat appearance and/or amount of shedding, appetite, litterbox usage, breathing, or discharges from the eyes or nose. In general, any sudden change should alert you that your cat needs veterinary attention.
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Recovery Of Loss Of Appetite In Cats
It is important that you continue to observe your cat as its appetite increases at a steady, consistent rate. A lack of eating can lead to dehydration and abnormal salt and sugar levels, so be on the lookout for signs of these issues. Your cat may benefit from the likes of electrolyte or hydration supplements, which your vet will be able to recommend. If medication is given, always follow your vets instructions to prevent the illness returning.
If changes at home are to blame for your cat not eating, then you should also address with your vet on how best to manage the situation, such as in the case of bringing in a new pet or even having a baby. Be sure to follow up with your vet to make sure your cats eating habits are returning to normal, and if there are any indications that the anorexia has returned, take your pet in for another examination as soon as possible.
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My Cat Is Lethargic: Whats Causing It
Lethargy is an abnormal amount of sleepiness or unresponsiveness.
This months blog will discuss lethargy in cats. Cats are infamous for sleeping most of the day, with short bursts of activity usually at night. When a cat becomes abnormally inactive and is sleeping even more than usual there might be cause for concern. Lethargy is defined as a pathological state of sleepiness or deep unresponsiveness and inactivity. Lethargy is a common complaint we hear from pet owners when their cat is sick. Signs of lethargy in cats include playing less, hiding or shying away from human contact, eating less and not grooming itself properly. Lethargy is not a very specific symptom and can be present in many different conditions.
In order to identify what is causing lethargy we have to take into consideration other symptoms the cat may be showing. The list of causes of lethargy is long, but with a detailed medical history from cat owners and appropriate examination and testing, we can usually identify the cause.
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