Is Your Cat Healthy Cat

Is Your Cat Healthy Cat

Signs of Health

• ears clean, pink & free of ear mites or dark debris
• bright eyes
• nose clean, damp and free of discharge
• mouth clean with pink gums, teeth tartar free
• shiny fur
• good appetite
• normal weight (adults about 4 to 10 pounds)
• well-formed stools
• purring
• alert
• playful & energetic

Signs of Sickness

The most valuable preventive medication for any pet is vaccination and booster shots. Pets should have a full veterinary check-up at least once a year, some need more.

• runny eyes (although this is "normal" in most Persians)
• dry, hot or runny nose
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• loss of appetite
• lacklustre fur
• dull eyes, obstructed or semi-closed (third eyelid across the eye)
• coughing, sneezing
• pitiful crying
• lethargy, listlessness
• restlessness
• scratching
• head-shaking

What excrement/stool colours may indicate and requires immediate veterinary attention:

• white: serious bowel infection (can be fatal)
• bloody/red blood: distemper (panleukopenia)
• black: bleeding high in bowel
• mucous/slimy: serious bowel irritation
• yellow: bacterial imbalance in bowel
• orange: abundance of bile in stool

Is Your Cat Lonely?

Most cats adjust very well to being alone but there are some who would rather have human companionship than to be left alone.

Ensure you leave pet toys around and that they can perch on a window with a view. You can also leave the radio on quietly during the day while you're at work, the low voices and music tend to be soothing to a cat. If you find it is constantly following you and needs your attention a lot, another kitty friend may be all that is needed. Ensure you have play sessions with your pet on a daily basis! Communicating with your cats soothes them too, they love cooing, having their presence acknowledged (i.e. saying "hi sweety!" when they enter a room, etc.) The rewards for taking your cat into consideration on a daily basis will be true unconditional love in return.

More info about cat care, please visit Purr Balls.