Four Common Cat Symptoms You Should Not Ignore

These four common cat symptoms could signal an emergency, or at least require a consultation with your vet. While your cat may experience some of these symptoms and not have a significant problem, it is best to be cautious.

The fact is, cats are fairly self-sufficient, and they may recover from a mild illness even before you know they're sick. It's easy then, to overlook or ignore something that we are sure our cat will recover from. It's equally possible, however, that one or more of these cat symptoms could indicate that your cat may have a serious illness or underlying condition as the cause. Pay close attention to your cat's behavior, and if you see any of the following possible symptoms, take action right away.

Kittens Cats

1. Diarrhea -- Diarrhea can be a sign of a more serious problem than just plain indigestion. It also causes dehydration, so do not let this go on for long without contacting your vet.
2. Vomiting -- Vomiting is quite familiar to cats and cat owners. Hairballs are probably the most common cause of vomiting, and are usually of little concern.. But cats get into all manner of things, so it's not too surprising they have a habit of giving some of those things back. They may also have allergic reactions to plants and other items that can cause digestive distress. It might just be a hairball, but be alert to the possibility of a more severe problem if your cat is persistently vomiting. Poisons, intestinal disturbances, or serious illness could be the reason. Excessive vomiting can lead to dehydration, which is a serious condition that may require intravenous fluids, and can result in death.
3. Lethargy -- While cat's do need lots of sleep, they shouldn't appear sluggish. Most cats will not sleep continuously in one spot for an extended period. Lethargy is a sure sign of some kind of trouble. Since cats sleep so much, it may be hard to detect if they are sluggish. If your cat is normally bubbly and active, but suddenly begins sleeping in a corner for an entire day, something is probably wrong. I failed to catch this behavior change with one of my cats once for about a day since she was out in the open and seemed fine. By day two, however, she was too weak to jump, and she ended up needing rehydration and an antibiotic.
4. Refusal to eat or drink -- Refusal to eat or drink for extended periods, or outside of your cat's normal routine is a red flag. Make sure you know your cat's eating and drinking habits well, and be observant if there are any changes. Sick animals often stop eating, so listen to what your cat is trying to tell you.

Four Common Cat Symptoms You Should Not Ignore

For the most part, cats are pretty sturdy creatures, and will recover from mild problems on their own. There will be those times, however, when cat illness symptoms indicate a more serious condition that must be treated. I'm not suggesting that you run to the veterinarian every week, only that you be on the alert for those occasions. If you suspect your cat is ill, contact your vet.

Four Common Cat Symptoms You Should Not Ignore

What Is The Best Catnip and How Should It Be Given To Cats

Catnip or catmint are common names for a perennial herb of the mint family, Lamiaceae/Labiatae. Catnip was originally cultivated in Nepete, Italy, where it received its scientific name, Nepeta cataria.

Catnip grows up to about three feet high and wide. The flowers are tubular shaped, small, white and speckled with tiny purple spots. Catnip is actually very easy to grow and will thrive in almost any soil. Water requirements are moderate and it does best in full-sun.

Kittens Cats

Not all cats like catnip, it appears to be an inherited gene and either your cat likes it or couldn't care less about it. Very young kittens and older cats do not tend to be effected by catnip.

What Is The Best Catnip and How Should It Be Given To Cats

Given to the right cat, catnip can cause an amazing reaction! The cat may roll in it, chew it, paw at it and some even eat it. The cat's olfactory receptors, being sensitive to the nepetalactone in catnip, trigger this reaction, so if you are lucky your cat will love catnip.

The "high" or "trip" will last for only a few minutes, then the cat will lose interest and walk away. Remove the catnip for a couple of hours and then give them a little more and they will have the exact same response.

I suggest using catnip as a treat and not giving them a toy with catnip in it. The toys usually have some dried old stuff in them and the cat quickly loses interest, because the toy is always there. It would be better to give them toys without catnip and just keep a bag of catnip in the refrigerator, to keep it fresh, and give them a pinch of dried catnip on special occasions.

Cats are natural-born hunters and if you have ever watched a cat with a live mouse, you know that they love to play with their food! This is why I suggest not giving them a toy filled with catnip and just leaving it in the room. The cat will play with a mouse it as long as it is alive and then either eat, it if he is hungry, or simply leave it and walk away. Just like with the live mouse, the catnip-filled mouse may be exciting at first, but after a while the cat loses interest. Most cat toys have very little catnip in them and it is usually old and has lost most of its potency. Think about it, most cat toys come from China!

Cats want excitement, something different, giving them a pinch of good catnip is more of a treat!

Catnip is not harmful to your cat and they won't overdose on it. It is just a fun way of giving your cat a treat. If you have more than one cat, give each cat its own pinch of catnip to avoid competition.

Catnip is said to be a very distant relative to marijuana, but humans can not get "high" on catnip. However, catnip does make a great tea, which has a sedative effect and is soothing to the stomach. Pregnant women should not take catnip.

Catnip is an easy herb to grow and the higher altitude it is grown in, the more potent the nepetalactone or essential oil content, and the more affect it will have on the cat.

What Is The Best Catnip and How Should It Be Given To Cats