Hi everyone!

So, in this part of the Kitty Care series, I'm going to cover general signs of illness in cats. Cats are tricky animals to detect illness in, because they are very good at hiding the warning signs. I hope the info here helps some kitties stay alive.

The first thing I wanted to cover is the types of illnesses you should be on the look out for.

The main problems cats get are:

• Skin related
• Eye related
• Sinus related
• Internal, such as stomach and intestine problems
• Parasites & Fleas
• Viruses like Herpes etc.
• Teeth/mouth related

Skin related problems are usually easy to notice since they are external.

Some common things you can look out for are:

• Scruffy or Dirty appearance of fur
• Dry skin or dandruff in fur
• Sores or lesions in the skin

All of the above can be indicators for allergies, poor nutrition, depression or internal illness. If you cat stops grooming themselves, this is a very serious indicator that something is wrong! Sores and lesions can be caused by fleas or other skin parasites that cause mange-like symptoms in cats. Dry skin or dandruff can indicate that your cat is not receiving enough vitamins to keep their skin oiled properly, and you may need to change their diet.

Cats also (if left outside or if they live with another cat) can develop lesions on their skin that is from fighting. If your cat has a soft "pocket" or something that feels like a cyst (water-filled pouch) this could be an abscess which is basically a sore that has become very infected and needs to be seen by a vet. Cats can die from abscesses that are left untreated.

These type of illnesses are very easy to miss. You should be on the look-out for:

• Crust or mucous near the eye & nose
• Cloudy spots in the cat's eye
• Any type of discharge that is constant
• Wheezing or frequent sneezing
• Constant rubbing or "cleaning" over the eyes with paws
• Frequent squinting or not wanting to be touched near eyes and nose

I know that most cats do no want you to poke a finger in or near their eye and nose, but if they sharply pull away as if you have hurt them there could be something wrong. Discharge of mucous from nose & eye can indicate viruses like herpes, or some kind of internal infection that is causing other secondary infections in other areas such as the eyes and sinuses. If your cat has any of these symptoms frequently, or longer than a few days you should have them seen by a vet.

Well, this is one of the most unpleasant ones. Mostly because you have to monitor bodily excretions like feces and urine. You should look for:

• Severe depression, lack of grooming
• Diarrhea
• Feces that is not close to a brown color
• Urine that is very dark colored or appears orange

• Urine or Feces that has blood in it
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Sudden changes in mood such as extreme anger
• Cat "hides" out in dark places

All of the above can indicate something going on internally. Cats that are severely sick will often find places to hide out - they naturally have an instinct to be alone so other animals will not become sick.

If you notice your cat acting strangely you need to monitor their littler-box and try to see if anything appears bad there. There are so many different things that can happen internally in a cat that I couldn't sufficiently describe them all here. If your cat gets 1 or more of these symptoms for more than 48 hours, you should see your vet to make sure nothing serious is happening.

This is a type of illness that can be commonly overlooked.

Cats can get all types of parasites in their stomach, and they do get heart-worm just like dogs. You should always check your cat for vomiting and worms in their feces- then have your cat dewormed at the vet. The vet uses a prescription strength dewormer that eliminates several types of worms and parasites. All cats should be dewormed every 4-6 months or as directed by your vet, even if they do not have fleas.

You should also check for ear mites. Ear mites can be taken care of at home, or at the vet- each treatment costs about $15.00 per cat at the vet's office.

Most cats will have fleas if they have been outside. The safest way to deal with fleas is using a product like Frontline, or Advantage. DO NOT use grocery store, or pet store bought flea products. They contain low-grade pesticides that will likely cause your pet to become violently ill and have skin problems. Fleas can also cause your cat to become anemic if they are infested and left without treatment. Some pets are also allergic to flea bites, one of mine is- and develops sores when she gets bitten.

Cats can get many types of viruses, just like humans. You can see my section on vaccines and common deadly viruses in cats.

Cats also do get respiratory infections caused by viruses, and things like colds. Your cat may feel sick for a couple of days, but build up an immunity and be fine on their own. In cats, viruses can severely dampen their natural ability to heal, and they will develop secondary infections or issues. If you notice your cat is having any of the problems I have listed above, it may be caused by a virus and your cat needs to be seen by a vet (broken record, right?)

Just like humans, cats need dental care. Most cats will get very ill if they have teeth problems that are not taken care of. Cats get gingivitis, cavities and infections in teeth. Things to look out for include:

• Loss of appetite
• Pawing at mouth or rubbing mouth frequently
• Crunching or grinding sound (not related to eating food) when trying to eat- usually sounds like their teeth grinding together
• Severe breath odor - the kind that smells like they just ate out of the litter-box
• Red or inflamed gums
• White colored gums can indicate anemia/dehydration

Taking care of the teeth in cats can be scary! There are tooth care kits that you can buy at your local pet store to help you with this. Even simply wiping off your cat's gums and teeth with a warm damp washcloth or with a dab of baking soda can help keep out bacteria and stimulate blood flow into their gums. This helps clean off plaque and keep teeth healthy. If you notice any of the above symptoms happening for more than 24-48 hours, your cat should see the vet. The vet will clean a cat's teeth, just like yours but your cat requires sedation. This only needs to be done every 6 months to ensure that kitty keeps her teeth. Typically runs about $100.00 per cleaning; but tooth removal starts at about $150.00 not including sedation...