How to Look After a Poorly Cat in 3 Simple Steps

There’s nothing more upsetting than seeing an animal you love unwell, especially when you feel almost helpless. Our cats can be quite clever in terms of letting us know that they’re poorly, but what do we do to make it all better? Here’s our 3 step guide to looking after your unwell feline, no matter what their illness.

Step 1: Spot the signs
The first thing you need to do is make a note of possible signs or symptoms that show your cat is unwell. Any change in your cat’s behavior could hint at an underlying medical condition, so it is best to keep your eyes peeled. Some of the most common symptoms you may notice include; a change in eating habits (under eating or overeating), a change in drinking habits, urinating in front of you, scratching themselves a lot, not grooming or grooming too much, feeling sleepy or lack of energy. If you notice any of these symptoms or think your cat is acting strange, then it could well be that they are feeling under the weather.

Photo by Bramus

Step 2: Get a proper diagnosis
We cannot stress this point enough; get a proper diagnosis! You can use online symptom checkers to get a good idea of what may be wrong with your cat, but these aren’t as conclusive as visiting your vet and getting a proper answer. If you try to diagnose your cat yourself, then you could be putting them in a lot of danger. A basic check-up at the vet shouldn’t set you back too much, especially if you have pet insurance that covers it. You should hopefully get an answer pretty quickly, or the suggestion of further tests such as x-rays, scans or blood samples. Only when you have a proper diagnosis will you know how to take the next steps. Don’t forget, it is a criminal offense to deny your pet proper medical treatment, so make sure you take your sick cat to the vet before anything else.

Step 3: Treating your pet
Once your vet has diagnosed your cat, they will likely give you a range of treatment options. It could be that your pet has to be looked after by them for a while, surgery or perhaps just some prescribed medication to get rid of the problem. It is important that you listen to your vet’s recommendations and also contact your pet insurance provider to see what they cover. If it’s just a case of medication then you can find prescriptions for cats online that will be cost effective. However, if something more complex is needed then it could get quite expensive. Talk to your vet about any kind of repayment plans that they offer so that you can afford the right treatment for your cat. Remember to give your loving feline plenty of rest to let them recover from their illness.

We all love our cats, and it is important to us that they are happy and healthy; make sure you follow our 3 steps if you ever think that your cat may be unwell.