A compact list in a 3-page infographic of early, easy-to-read signs that your cat is ill. I hope it is useful to some. To be honest, the observant and organised cat caregiver will quickly have a hunch that ‘something is wrong’ with their cat because illness brings behavioural changes which are noticeable.
However, in some households the human-to-cat relationship is fairly loose. The cat is allowed outside and might spend a lot of time away from the home if the climate is amenable. This arrangement tends to reduce the opportunities for informed behavioural observations. Initially, signs of ill-health might be missed.
I am not a veterinarian, but for what it is worth unless urgent action is clearly required the first step when a cat’s behavioural changes – perhaps quite subtly – is to closely observe and wait to see how things develop.
Jackson Galaxy, the well-known cat behaviourist, recommended ‘detective work’ when analysing behaviour problems to get to the bottom of them. Similar advice can be applied to health issues.
I know that in some homes there is an understandable reluctance to take the cat to the local veterinarian both because it can be a little traumatic for pet and person and because of the cost. Vets have become prohibitively expensive for cat caregivers on restricted budgets. And pet health insurance is too expensive too.
This problem is not only about veterinary prices but the true expense of caring for a companion animal. It is expensive and people wishing to adopt need to be realistic and pragmatic about these 15-yearlong costs before diving in and living with a cat or dog.
You can be an excellent cat caregiver unless you’ve got a bit of money.
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