But in other cases – especially when the cat does almost nothing during the day, so that changes in its behavior are almost imperceptible and easy to miss – it is very important to pay attention to these changes in time and make the right decision.
To monitor changes in your animal, we recommend that you keep a journal and record your observations on several parameters, which we will describe below. But this, again, should not turn into some kind of complex and cumbersome procedure. A few daily entries in a notebook are all that is needed to catch any small problems before they become big ones. If you see records that match our description of signs of illness, be sure to consult your veterinarian. And now about what parameters need to be monitored.
Appearance
Before approaching your cat and picking it up, stand a little away and watch it for a few minutes. Pay attention to her posture, activity level, gait, coat and overall appearance to get an idea of her health.
Signs of ill health. Exposed areas of skin (uncovered by hair), thin or dry fur, protruding ribs, lethargy, obvious lameness or just a lack of firmness in gait, other subtle signs that you.
Weight. To find out your cat’s weight, you need to weigh yourself with her. Step on the scale with the cat in your hands, note the reading on the scale, and then weigh yourself again without the cat. The difference between the readings will be the cat’s weight. A normal cat weighs 4-5 kg, but deviations from this average can be significant, depending on gender and breed. Large cats such as Maine Coons weigh much more than 6 kg (males can weigh up to 15 kg), and this is completely normal for them.
A cat is considered to be at a normal weight for its body type if it has sufficient fat on its flanks while still being able to feel its ribs. (Chapter 10 discussed cat weight in more detail.) Try to determine a “normal” weight for your cat. A deviation from this value of ±200 grams over several months is considered normal. But a faster or more significant change in weight in any direction should be a cause for concern.
Signs of ill health. Weight change of more than half a kilogram in any direction; less significant but more rapid and sudden changes in weight; very thick or very thin body fat, even if weight remains constant; swelling of the abdomen.
Nose. Must be damp and clean.
Signs of ill health. Dry nose with cracked or irritated skin, covered with scales and crusts; presence of nasal discharge; bleeding.
Eyes. Bright, moist and clear, located in the center between the eyelids, with pupils of the same size. The whites of the eyes should not have any foreign color; only a few blood vessels may be visible. The pupils should constrict equally when exposed to bright light and dilate if the animal is excited or frightened or the room is dark.
Signs of ill health. Dull or sunken eyes that appear dry or have heavy discharge. One or both eyes are off-center or the pupils are not the same size. Yellow, brownish or reddish, inflamed eyes. Pupils that do not respond or respond differently to changes in light intensity.
Ears. The skin should be clean, dry, smooth, without wounds or other damage. The ear canal is clean and there should be no unpleasant odor coming from it.
Signs of ill health. Swelling, presence of wounds or crusts, any rashes. Scales, moisture, discharge, or a strong unpleasant odor from the ear canal. Pain when touched, unusual way of holding head or ears.
Mouth. Your cat’s teeth should be clean and white, and her gums should be a uniform pink color. Press down on your cat’s gum with your finger and release quickly. When pressed, the color of the gum will turn white, but then after a couple of seconds it should become the same as the color of the surrounding tissue. The purpose of this test is to determine the time of blood filling of the capillaries; this allows you to get a rough estimate of how well the heart and circulatory system are working.
Signs of ill health: Loose or missing teeth, tartar (hard deposits at the base of the teeth), unhealthy gums (red, bluish, pale, inflamed, painful, receding from the teeth). Swollen tongue, tumors, sores and ulcers in the mouth, enlarged tonsils. The capillary refill time is too long or too short.
Breath. The cat’s breathing should be silent and the chest should move easily. Cats have a thoraco-abdominal type of breathing, but the chest plays the main role. The abdominal wall moves quite a bit. Signs of ill health. Any unusual sounds when breathing, such as wheezing, may indicate a problem, especially if you have not noticed such sounds before. Difficult, rapid breathing, open-mouth breathing, or breathing that relies heavily on the abdominal wall. Nodules, swelling and bumps on the chest and neck can also indicate the disease.
Belly (abdominal region). Gently and carefully apply light pressure to your stomach with your hands. If the animal has just eaten, you will feel an expansion in the left side of the abdomen, just below the ribs. Continue palpating your abdomen. The abdomen should be soft, without swelling or hard knots. During your hand pressing, the animal should not feel any discomfort. Of course, you may feel internal organs, such as your kidneys, and that’s normal! It is very important to start with regular examinations of a healthy animal to get an idea of what condition of the abdominal region (and internal organs) is considered normal.
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