It’s difficult when you know your cat isn’t feeling well because she can’t tell you her symptoms or exactly how she’s feeling. Instead it’s up to you to pay close attention and monitor any changes in behavior or changes in routine so you can identify any possible signs of feline illness.

I suggest you take great care in following and understanding your kitty’s normal routines. This includes level of activity, food habits and potty habits. Remember that cat’s often exhibit very subtle changes in their behavior when they don’t feel well.

It’s important to pay close attention to any changes in your cat’s behavior and even take notes on the changes in behavior or habits.

Gathering more information about your cat’s symptoms can also help the veterinarian know where to start when working on a diagnosis for the feline illness. Sometimes the diagnosis for cat health problems is determined quickly, but other times it can be complicated and any additional information from you can be helpful.

The earlier you discover your cat has a feline illness the better. The sooner you start treatment the fewer problems you’re likely to have and you’re also likely to have a better success rate.

Another good reason to act fast is because certain feline illnesses can contribute to cat behavior problems like urinating or defecating outside of the litter box. This behavior can become an unpleasant cycle of problems so avoiding this behavior when at all possible is of course best for both you and your feline friend.

How do you know if your cat has a cat health problem?

As mentioned earlier changes in your cat’s behavior can be a sign that something may be wrong with your cat. But there are also some specific feline illness symptoms to watch for:

- Constipation (including lack of feces in the litter box)

- Diarrhea

- Urinating or defecating outside of the litter box

- Straining in the litter box

- Changes in appetite

- Increased thirst

- Changes in energy level

- Change in weight

- Vomiting (other than hairballs)

- Excessive scratching

- Depression or lethargy

These are just a few possible symptoms, but anything out of the ordinary should be monitored and discussed with your veterinarian. Never try to self-diagnose a feline illness — diagnosing needs to be done by your veterinarian.

Many cat health problems may be subtle and yet difficult and could require multiple lab tests conducted by professional lab technicians.

As I’m sure you’ve heard before prevention is the best medicine. Naturally it is not possible to prevent all feline illness but you can at least help dilute the chances of it.

Diet is the foundation of your cat’s health. Help keep your cat’s immune system strong by feeding a nutritious, species-appropriate diet and make sure she always has access to fresh water. Cats need a lot of protein in their diet and it’s best if their diet includes moist foods.

In the long run feeding your cat a good quality cat food can actually save you money and headache.

One last thing I suggest is that you keep your cat indoors a vast majority of the time. A ton of evidence suggests that indoor cats live longer, healthier lives and aren’t exposed to diseases and parasites nearly as much as those poor outdoor kitties.

Of course, do not forget the routine vet visits.