Every cat is different, some are loud, some are calm, some are skittish and others are cuddlers. Thankfully they will all show similar signs when they are ill. Whether you’ve just adopted your first kitten, or are interested in confirming the health of your long-time cat companion, this blog can help you get an overall picture of your cat’s health.
Cat digestive health: It is important to keep an eye on your cat’s litter box to ensure their stool is small and firm. If their stool is runny or almost black you must take them to the vet right away. A cat wellness plan will cover cat fecal exams, bloodwork, and urinalysis while pet insurance for cats will cover additional costs.
Cat skin and coat health: If your cat’s coat is full and shiny, this is usually a great sign that they are healthy. If you notice your cat’s fur becomes patchy, has dry spots, or is matted then they are probably dealing with an illness or skin infection. Issues like this might require medication which pet insurance for cats can help cover.
Cat energy levels: While a cat’s energy levels will naturally decrease from their kitten years to their elder years, it is still important they remain playful. If your cat is still playing with toys, cuddling you, running around, and enjoying life then this is a great sign. If your animal is constantly sleeping and has a lack of appetite then they might require a trip to the vet for a checkup.
Cat teeth health: Cat’s teeth health is quite important for their overall health. If you notice yellow or darkening spots on their teeth or horribly smelly breath, these could be signs of unhealthy gums. If your cat develops gingivitis or another gum disease this can flare up the immune system and lead to a more serious illness. With a cat wellness plan, you could add dental coverage, so you can get dental cleaning and other dental issues taken care of regularly!
Cat eye health: If your cat’s eyes begin to expel discharge this could mean a number of different things. Sometimes it isn’t anything to worry about, while other times it could be signs of illness or eye infections. Discharge and cloudy pupils require a trip to the vet asap. Pet insurance for cats can help cover the vet costs and any prescription medication. As well as other treatments and surgeries for more severe, unexpected cases.
Ways To Keep Our Cats Healthy
Here are a couple of the top ways in which you can actively ensure your cat’s overall health:
Incorporate Wet Food Into Their Diet
Too much dry food can lead to cats developing type-2 diabetes because they are consuming too many carbs. In order to keep your cat the healthiest it can be, try introducing wet food into their diet. Since cats are carnivores, a can of meat can be extremely nutritious for them.
Wet food is also a lot easier on elderly cats' teeth as they no longer need to crunch down on hard kibble. Wet food is so great for helping a cat avoid dehydration. Wet food contains a lot of natural moisture compared to dry food. Dry kibbles leave a lot of cats dehydrated as they are notoriously bad at drinking enough water.
Brush Their Fur Coat Frequently
The more you brush a cat’s hair the more loose hair you are getting off their coat and skin. The less hair there is to ingest during their self-bathing routine, the healthier their belly and digestive system will be. This helps reduce the number of hairballs they cough up every year. Plus, a lot of cats thoroughly enjoy a nice brushing.
If your cat is on the sassier side and won’t let you brush them, consider getting coverage for professional grooming with a cat wellness plan. The groomers can brush and clean the cat’s coat and can get close enough to inspect their skin as well. Groomers are awesome at catching potential infections and illnesses just by inspecting the cat’s coat and skin.
Ensure Fresh, Clean Water Every Day
It’s important to do whatever it takes to ensure your cat drinks as much water as possible. They might not like to gulp their water bowl dry the way your dogs do. This is because in nature they would typically receive their water requirements from the animals they were hunting and eating. For example, a mouse is about 70% water. This is why wet food can be so beneficial to our cat’s health because a can of wet cat food can be up to 78% water.
Watch for sunken eyes, lethargy, panting, and other symptoms that might be pointing to your cat being dehydrated. Your vet can conduct urinalysis and other tests to ensure bladder and kidney health and offer you tips for helping your cat stay hydrated.
Watch For Signs of Illness
And of course, if your cat is acting ill then it’s time to take them in for a vet check-up. Usually, you will notice weird litter box behavior (peeing outside of the box for example), not having an appetite, sleeping for prolonged periods, and just not being their normal selves.
Illness and infection can creep up out of nowhere. It is important to grab pet insurance for cats if they are outdoor cats. They can get into all sorts of trouble out there and contract illnesses and infections. If your cat is an indoor cat but you have a dog that goes outside, they could potentially pass something on to your cat as well.
Vaccinations and routine health care check-ups are vital for our cats to stay healthy and happy throughout the duration of their lives. With a cat wellness plan, all of your preventative and routine cat health care can be covered. For the more serious emergency illnesses or injuries, pet insurance for cats can also be covered through Wagmo.
Take our coverage quiz today for a quote on how much a cat wellness plan or a cat insurance plan will cost. The great thing about Wagmo is that you can mix and match wellness and insurance to find the perfect plan for you and your pet!