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Resource Center |
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| Monitoring Your Cat’s Health |
| Cats tend to conceal illness. Being alert to signs of ill-health is important. Seek veterinary advice if your cat shows signs of sickness. |
Signs of Potential Illness:
• Hiding for more than 24 hours
• Loss of appetite
• Dull look to the eyes
• Dull, dry hair and coat
• Cries listlessly
• Resents or resists handling
• Drinking excessive amounts of water or not drinking the usual amount of water
• Excessive urination or straining to urinate
• Repeated vomiting
• Blood in urine
• Failing to use litter pan
• Prolonged or severe diarrhea
• Chewing at skin, hair and coat or extremities.
• Yellowing of the white around the eye and yellow gums
• Rectal temperature higher than 103 degrees |
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* Important: Temperature above 106 degrees is life-threatening to your cat and requires immediate attention |
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Dehydration can be Life-Threatening:
To test for dehydration in your cat, pick up a fold of skin in the middle back area and then release it. Normally the skin will snap back. If it falls back slowly or remains up, dehydration is present. Immediate veterinary care is recommended to determine the cause of the dehydration and to institute re-hydration procedures. Dehydration can be caused by diarrhea, vomiting, and excessive urination associated with diabetes, heart, and renal disease. |
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| Cat Health Norms and Averages |
• Temperature Range:
• Average Weight Range:
• Average Life span:
• Heart Rate:
• Pulse Rate:
• Respiration:
• Gestation:
• Estrous Cycle:
• Estrus Length: |
100.5 degrees to 102.5 degrees
7 to 12 pounds
10 to 18 years
240 beats per minute maximum
110 to 130 bpm
20 to 30
63 days
15 to 21 days
4 days |
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* Remember, acetaminophen (Tylenol, etc) and aspirin can be deadly when given to cats. |
