As a pet parent, keeping a constant check on your pet cats and taking them for regular vet visits will help to identify and diagnose any serious illnesses as early as possible. Here are a few signs or symptoms, if your pet cat shows any of them do not wait and seek professional help.
Lack of Interest in Eating and Drinking
If your cat is not eating or drinking, this could be an important sign that he or she is in pain or suffering from illness. If the problem persists for more than one or two days, contact your vet immediately to find out what’s wrong with him or her.
Bad odour
Your cat’s skin may become dryer as time goes on. They’ll start licking themselves excessively or become less interested in grooming. The smell of urine changes, maybe from sweet to sour. If things like these happen, then your kitty needs professional attention from a vet. Though odour can be taken as a normal condition, it is always better to take your cat to a vet if you notice an odour that persists for days.
Lethargy
If your cat seems lethargic, it could mean they are not eating well or sleeping enough or other underlying health reasons. This lack of activity could lead to weight loss – or gain – which can cause other health problems. It’s important to make sure your cat gets plenty of exercise, stimulation and fresh air so they don’t get too out of condition.
Loss of Appetite
Your cat may stop wanting food altogether. They may eat less than usual, refuse treats or even vomit after meals. This is a sign that you need to take them for a vet check.
Significant Weight Loss
If your cat has lost weight over several weeks, it’s possible he or she is not absorbing enough nutrients from his or her diet. This can happen because of illness or other health issues. Cats can lose weight when they’re sick because their body needs the energy to fight off infections and organ failure. It’s always wise to consult with your veterinarian before making drastic dietary adjustments due to changes in weight.
Difficulty Breathing
When cats breathe through their mouths rather than using their nose (dog panting is normal but not for a cat), it’s usually a serious sign that you must consult a vet as soon as possible. Normal breathing problems can go unnoticed until they get worse and panting may be the last stage and cats often go unnoticed until this stage.
Old Age
While many cats live long lives, there comes a point where even healthy older cats start experiencing issues related to age. As cats grow older, they tend to lose muscle mass, which leads to decreased mobility and appetite. This loss of strength makes them less able to climb stairs or jump up onto furniture. They also have trouble getting around on all four legs, leading to difficulty walking. Cats who suffer from arthritis often find themselves unable to move easily because of pain caused by inflammation. It may be necessary to make adjustments in their environment that is adapted to their changed abilities as suddenly they may not be able to reach vital water sources or other important areas for their best comfort in this new altered stage of life.
Vomiting/diarrhea
Consistent vomiting or diarrhea tends to deplete a lot of water and nutrients from your pet cat’s body. This can be due to various reasons such as eating too much or worm infections which can be treated but vomiting after every meal could also be the cause of an underlying liver or kidney disease, intolerances or other diseases. These overt symptoms should never be ignored.
How to take care of a dying cat?
Though all the signs and symptoms may not point towards the end of your beloved pet’s life, it is worth checking these out with your trusted vet. Your vet will be able to take a closer look and identify the root cause of the symptoms. If your pet cat is really poorly, you can take little steps towards ensuring that he or she gets the maximum attention and proper care they need to prolong their quality of life.
A soothing environment with less chaos and a clean bed will help your kitty feel safe, loved and peaceful. If your cat is able to eat and drink well, allow him or her to have their favourite meals at their regular times. Separating them from other aggressive pets can prevent your poorly cat from getting stressed, or even attacked, unnecessarily.
Saying Goodbye to Your Pet Cat:
The first thing that should come to mind when thinking about how to handle your pet’s final days is: How can you give your poorly pet the best goodbye possible? Cats rarely pass naturally or before severe suffering has taken place. Your best option for a home-loving kitty is in our opinion, a gentle euthanasia at home.
Vets2Home offer gentle, loving euthanasia at home with our tailored 2-step procedure that we ourselves have developed for delicate cats in mind especially. The first step is a gentle sedation which means that your beloved pet will just drift peacefully off to sleep in your arms or on your bed and not know anything about the final injection. Nothing abrupt or clinical is happening with our unique approach. Vets2Home helps every pet parent and their pets to go through this journey as smoothly, gently and lovingly as possible.
You can pre-book an appointment with us for at-home, gentle pet euthanasia to be sure that you are prepared in advance. We also offer aftercare services with either a 100% individual cremation or a group cremation. Every pet’s and pet family’s journey through this time is truly unique and we make sure we give the best, most loving goodbye.