What causes a cat to become very overweight?
The most common cause is an imbalance between the energy intake and its usage; that is, the cat is eating more than it can possibly expend. Obesity also becomes more common in old age because of the normal decreases in a cat’s ability to exercise.
What are the symptoms of obesity in cats?
However, there are some telltale signs of feline obesity, including unhealthy eating habits, disinterest in physical activity, and excessive weight gain.
How does a vet diagnose a cat’s illness?
A vet may confirm a diagnosis; there are a lot of symptoms that may be deceiving and point to several illnesses. The vet will perform blood tests ( complete blood count CBC) and other tests that should reveal the cause of the cat’s symptoms. X-rays, radiographs may be performed.
What are the signs that your cat is sick?
What are the signs of cat vomiting? If your cat is going to be sick, you may see drooling, lip licking, excessive swallowing, retching and contractions of the abdominal muscles and diaphragm. Your cat may also hide away in a quiet area when she feels nauseous. What are the main causes of a cat being sick?
Is there a symptom checker for cats?
However, symptoms for cats can be much different than they are for humans. Our cat symptom checker is a great way to figure out what may be wrong with your feline friend. When cats become sick, they can’t tell us with words. Instead, cat parents need to be vigilant, keeping an eye out for any symptoms that could point to illness.
When to take your cat to the vet for vomiting?
It can, however, leak into the stomach and cause vomiting. If your cat vomits bile persistently or their sickness is accompanied by other health issues such as diarrhoea, loss of appetite or lethargy, seek urgent advice from your vet. There is a difference between vomiting and regurgitation.
What are the health risks of an overweight cat?
With extra weight, cats find it difficult to groom themselves, which can lead to skin problems. Similarly, extra weight puts pressure on your cat’s joints and they can suffer from arthritis. Cardiovascular and respiratory systems are also affected, leading to breathlessness and heart problems.
How can you tell if your cat has an illness?
… Cat illnesses may be manifested in various ways: lack of appetite, weight loss, hiding behavior, vomiting, diarrhea, depression or behavior changes. The cat illnesses may be diagnosed judging by a few symptoms, but there is also need for a few tests to detect the exact source of the disease.
Can a cat get sick all the time?
Cats can get sick all the time with many of the same ailments as pet parents. However, symptoms for cats can be much different than they are for humans. Our cat symptom checker is a great way to figure out what may be wrong with your feline friend. When cats become sick, they can’t tell us with words.
How to help my overweight cat lose weight?
1 Feed the cats separately – this is the ideal solution for multi-cat households. 2 Feed the normal weight cat up high where the overweight cat cannot go. 3 Depending on the size discrepancy between your cats, you can devise different ways to allow the smaller cat access to food where the larger cat cannot fit.