How Often Does Your Cat Get Sick?

[MissClouseau]

I'm a first time fulltime cat owner so I can't really compare the experience to another. In 12 months, let's say, how often does your cat get sick? Including vomitting/diarrhea/loss of appetite that lasts only for a day or two.

Please also add age and any diagnosed condition and if they're indoor or indoor-outdoor cat.

 

[DreamerRose]

My kitties don't have any diseases, but they throw up a lot. Any thing can trigger it - eating too fast, eating too much, hairballs. So I have a vomit-cleanup bucket ready to go at any time.

 

[KarenKat]

We have two kitties. Gohan, who’s 8, gets a hairball every few months. Most of the time he throws it up without much drama, although this last one he had some trouble and it took a few days, where he wasn’t eating much at all and he seemed quite distressed. We kept giving him hairball paste daily and he ended up throwing it up and was back to normal.

Olive, about 4 years old, we think has Feline herpes, but her symptoms seem mild. She has more eye discharge than normal but it doesn’t seem to bother her much. She was throwing up every few days from overeating but this mostly stopped when we took away dry food and only fed wet.

Generally they are healthy kitties. We do yearly wellness checks at the vet and once every year or two we take them in for something else (vomiting for Olive, injury for Gohan).

 

[daftcat75]

Vomiting in cats is sadly common but never normal. You shouldn’t set your bar so low. Krista can go a good long time between getting sick now that I know some of her triggers. Besides her no-go foods from IBD, going too long between meals can set her off. She’s a special case and you shouldn’t emulate your cat’s care based off what is working for my 15 year old with IBD.

Getting together a cleanup kit that should include vinegar, baking soda, and an enzyme cleaner, a pail, sponge and rags will help you tackle messes quickly and hopefully not get too upset with the mess-maker(s). I find the better prepared I am for the cleanup, the less time I need to spend cursing that it happened. A Bissell Pet Stain Eraser (handheld wet vac) works really well too.

Treat every “disturbance” as abnormal and address them as best you can. Because any pattern of sickness can turn into a full blown disease process if allowed to become too common. A weekly hairball, for example, is not normal and can indicate the beginning of IBD or an impairment of digestion and motility.

 

[Kieka]

It really depends on the cat and on how well you know your cat. Cats will hide injury or illness so a lot of people never notice that their cat is sick. Also, some things like regurgitating food from eating too fast/too much or a hairball might not classify as "sick" but could be misdiagnosed as just one of those two when it is actually related to illness. So knowing how often and defining a normal for expectations will vary greatly.

That said, my experience is:

1. Childhood cat - Cinnamon, indoor/outdoor cat - almost never got sick. Never needed dental work (yes, saw a vet regularly just good teeth). Died at age 16-18, I honestly can't remember his exact age. He just didn't come home one day, hadn't been sick, but he was showing signs of mental decline in the preceding years and had slowed down greatly. Lifetime medical costs - Estimated $80 a year for annuals and shots.
2. Childhood cat - Chance indoor/outdoor cat - came to us with a bad URI, coughing blood, at age 6 months. Lifelong issues of getting kitty colds throughout the years. Big time fighter, he'd chase dogs being walked down the street to the point people crossed the street when they got to our house. Several abscess related surgeries in his lifetime. Died at age 9/10 of throat cancer after two surgeries and chemo trying to fight it. Estimated lifetime costs - $80 a year for annuals and shots, $300 per incident of abscess (about three a year), $9,000 (ish, for cancer treatment).
3. Current cat - Link, indoor/outdoor - 5 years old - Not sickly but my accident prone problem child. Broken leg (same one twice), abscess on abdomen (likely from fight), abscess on chin, (likely from fight), bug bites (he likes ant trails), constipation, arthritis. Estimated costs - $80 a year for annuals and shots, $8,000 (so far, he's five years old) in accident related costs, $100 every three months for CBD for arthritis.
4. Current cat - Nightfury, indoor/outdoor - 6 years old - Bottle baby found on the road. Frequent vomiter from speed eating/overeating. Vomiting was more frequent before diet adjusted to no poultry, now limited to hairballs or when he pushes someone out of their food bowl/eats a lot before dinner. Monitored to limit but he's a sneaky bugger sometimes. No major medical issues. Estimated costs - $80 per year for annuals and shots.
5. Current cat - Rocket, indoor/outdoor - 4 years old - Sickly former feral. First year, frequent vet visits due for coughs, sneezing and lethargy. Since first year, just annual and a few stress related incidents. On CBD for anxiety which has decreased problems. Estimated cost - $2,000 year one (including spay), $80 a year since for annual and shots, $50 every three months for CBD.

Edit: I forgot, Chance had all his teeth pulled at the shelter before we took him home. They said they pulled his baby teeth. He ended up having major dental work as an adult and had barely any teeth left by age 6.

 

[MissClouseau]

It really depends on the cat and on how well you know your cat. Cats will hide injury or illness so a lot of people never notice that their cat is sick. Also, some things like regurgitating food from eating too fast/too much or a hairball might not classify as "sick" but could be misdiagnosed as just one of those two when it is actually related to illness. So knowing how often and defining a normal for expectations will vary greatly.

That's very true and it somewhat gets easier over time. The first few months before I learned her sleep patterns on different weather days etc, I would freak out over every "unusual" sleep habit. Still though, comparing one cat to herself is the best but some sort of comparison to other cats are needed too I think.

 

[Furballsmom]

Hi!

I guess I'm wondering whether there might be something else going on with your cat that's prompted the question?

Keep in mind that there is an incredible amount of variables that can be involved for any one cat, from physiological and genetic differences and how nutritional needs were met during kittenhood, to the way harvestors and manufacturers handle commercial food ingredients that can cause digestive troubles, to environmental issues that might be physical, ingested, or absorbed through the skin or nose or even emotional, to whether a cat develops a sensitivity to an ingredient it's been exposed to for a long time or a new ingredient that's just been introduced because a manufacturer has changed the recipe.

Our world as feline caregivers can be challenging, and reading the internet is sometimes a bad idea due to so much misinformation but now that you're here, you are in one of the very best places to obtain terrific feedback, support and suggestions. (The other, best means is with email/phone/clinic conversations with your vet).

You're always welcome to start a thread with any specific issue or question you have as you go along

 

[MissClouseau]

Hi!

I guess I'm wondering whether there might be something else going on with your cat that's prompted the question?

Keep in mind that there is an incredible amount of variables that can be involved for any one cat, from physiological and genetic differences and how nutritional needs were met during kittenhood, to the way harvestors and manufacturers handle commercial food ingredients that can cause digestive troubles, to environmental issues that might be physical, ingested, or absorbed through the skin or nose or even emotional, to whether a cat develops a sensitivity to an ingredient it's been exposed to for a long time or a new ingredient that's just been introduced because a manufacturer has changed the recipe.

Our world as feline caregivers can be challenging, and reading the internet is sometimes a bad idea due to so much misinformation but now that you're here, you are in one of the very best places to obtain terrific feedback, support and suggestions. (The other, best means is with email/phone/clinic conversations with your vet).

You're always welcome to start a thread with any specific issue or question you have as you go along

I grew up as a dog person. I read a bunch of books, watched shows about dogs... I've had 3 dogs starting from childhood. The last one, Ozzy, has been with me since he was a puppy and is now a senior dog -- I understand his language super well. Like if he throws up, I can totally understand which one is "he will get better in hours/a day" and which one "OK vet time"

My cat, Hima, is my first full time cat. Her health issues aside, everything is kind of new. Like I said, in the beginning even her sleep freaked me out until I learned by experience "Okay, sometimes she sleeps 12 hours a day but not enough for her, the next day she sleeps 20 hours to make that up, NOT because she's sick and lethargic."

 

[Furballsmom]

Along with the awesome replies above, if you haven't seen these already maybe they will help a bit
First-time Cat Owner's Guide

The Secrets Of The Feline Human Bond

Playing With Your Cat: 10 Things You Need To Know

 

[DreamerRose]

My cat, Hima, is my first full time cat. Her health issues aside, everything is kind of new. Like I said, in the beginning even her sleep freaked me out until I learned by experience "Okay, sometimes she sleeps 12 hours a day but not enough for her, the next day she sleeps 20 hours to make that up, NOT because she's sick and lethargic."

Oh, yes. What cats do best is sleep. It's perfectly normal. There was a discussion about this on another thread, and it seems cats sleep a lot because they in the wild they have to reserve their energy to go out and hunt several times a day.

 

[daftcat75]

I grew up as a dog person. I read a bunch of books, watched shows about dogs... I've had 3 dogs starting from childhood. The last one, Ozzy, has been with me since he was a puppy and is now a senior dog -- I understand his language super well. Like if he throws up, I can totally understand which one is "he will get better in hours/a day" and which one "OK vet time"

My cat, Hima, is my first full time cat. Her health issues aside, everything is kind of new. Like I said, in the beginning even her sleep freaked me out until I learned by experience "Okay, sometimes she sleeps 12 hours a day but not enough for her, the next day she sleeps 20 hours to make that up, NOT because she's sick and lethargic."

I have become a connoisseur of my cat’s poops and a detective of her barfs. I almost always know if a barf is, “unfortunate but she’ll work it out in a day or two” or “time for the vet.” But that’s because I’ve spent the last year getting her health back. We’ve been through IBD, pancreatitis, dental issues, a “stuffy” gallbladder (suspected biliary obstruction), and a whole lot in between. This one is a fighter. Nowadays, she takes that fight to the vet’s office and has to be sedated before they can even take blood from her. So it’s in everyone’s best interest if I can do the detective work at home and spare the visits for when she really needs them. But that’s our dozen plus years with each other that I know her rather well now.

As for sleep, Krista is an older cat now. If nothing is bothering her, she likes a good nap under the bookcase just as much as she likes to hide down there when something is bothering her. I have a camera down there so I can usually tell which it is. But if I’m home, she frequently prefers my company even if she’s sitting on the floor across the room to sleep. So I try to leave the apartment for at least a few daytime hours so she can get a nice block of sleep without me.

Cats are creatures of habit but they can and do change their routines. Part of what makes the relationship challenging and the bond special is know what’s normal and healthy for your cat and what’s aberrant but perhaps nothing to worry about. Krista picks different sleeping locations when it’s hotter. That’s aberrant but not unhealthy.

And despite what you hear/read, hairballs are not normal. Common? Sadly so. But not normal. Cats should be able to pass the hair in their stool. If it’s coming up, it could be as simple as too much time between meals and hair that would go down with the next meal was brought up by an impatiently hungry cat. But it could be the beginning of a gut disorder. It’s worth it to get in a grooming habit with your cat and look at extra solutions to help with hairballs. My favorites are egg yolk powder and egg yolk lecithin as these both work with the cat’s body naturally without having to feed her a non-nutritive petroleum product.

How Best to Manage Hairballs

 

[Kieka]

And despite what you hear/read, hairballs are not normal. Common? Sadly so. But not normal. Cats should be able to pass the hair in their stool. If it’s coming up, it could be as simple as too much time between meals and hair that would go down with the next meal was brought up by an impatiently hungry cat.

A Hairy Dilemma

Hairballs are normal. What isn't normal is hairballs with other symptoms (lethargic or refusing to eat for example). My Mom's cats gets hairballs around this time of year because he grooms both himself and my cat frequently. I give him gel to help move things along but it still happens. Yes, pay attention so you learn normal habits. But hairballs are normal.

 

[fionasmom]

I am going to give an overview of the general trend in the lives of my cats as with feral colony work there are too many to list.

For the most part, every cat I have owned has been healthy in kittenhood and adulthood. Yes, there was the regurgitation as has been mentioned, but most problems did not occur until middle or late middle age, or older.

Breakdown:* bladder stones with surgery to remove them
* cancer deep in ear canal and surgery to remove it and part of canal
and scalp. Vet did a great job and he looked fine when it was over.
* cardiomyopathy, treated but died as a result
* 2 with lymphoma, one treated successfully, one did not respond to
treatment
* 3 diabetics, two treated successfully, one a feral who could not be
treated successfully
* cryptococcus in a long time stray, probably a dumped pet
*squamous cell carcinoma in the mouth, did not respond to treatment

Those not included eventually developed kidney disease or cancer well into old age. All personal pets were indoor only; ferals of course were not.

If I saw true vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite in a cat I would carefully assess and probably go to the vet just to make sure that it was something like food that did not agree, etc.

Have you considered pet insurance? Only one of my current cats, Jamie, has it and it has been a huge help as he is the only young one to have had some suspicious blood work (kidney related) which lead to an ultrasound.

I grew up as a dog person as well, and still have a German shepherd. For whatever reason, they have all required much more medical care in a big way than any cat I have owned.

 

[MissClouseau]

Have you considered pet insurance? Only one of my current cats, Jamie, has it and it has been a huge help as he is the only young one to have had some suspicious blood work (kidney related) which lead to an ultrasound.

The only pet insurance in Turkey is for accidents unfortunately. I have it but not useful for tests.

 

[fionasmom]

You can only do what you can do and it sounds as if you are a great pet owner. Your animals are lucky to have you.

 

[MissClouseau]

You can only do what you can do and it sounds as if you are a great pet owner. Your animals are lucky to have you.

That’s so sweet and so kind. Thank you very much! <3

 

[vince]

Have had four instances of needing the vet in the last three years: Two URIs, one cut injury where one ended up with a cut nose while playing too rough, and one foot injury because I stepped on her.

They scarf-n-barf occasionally and get a hairball once in a great while, but that kind of comes with the territory. I don't take them in for that.

 

[Graceful-Lily]

Felix is actually my first "long-term" cat. I had a kitten before him but I didn't have her for long because she died young - shortly after I got her.

Felix was born August 26th, 2010.
He's been generally healthy all his life... But things took a turn 3 years ago.

He's had struvite crystals, that's how it started.
Then, he started having allergies.
Then, hyperthyroidism.
Then, tooth resorption.

I think that's been it the past 3 years. We've spent close to $4,000 all together. I could add up all the invoices but that would just cause unnecessary anxiety. So, he hasn't been sick super often but it seems like a lot to me because it was one thing after another. Right now, he's been given a clean bill of health.

He doesn't usually vomit and stuff like that. Just hairballs. His allergies are mild but flare up in the summer. He has asthma attack like episodes but that about it.

OH! And he's strickly indoor but he likes to hang out in the backyard in the warmer months.

 

[MissClouseau]

His allergies are mild but flare up in the summer. He has asthma attack like episodes but that about it.

May I ask what kind of symptoms he shows about allergies? I’m pretty sure my cat is allergic to flea bites. Her spot on treatment is great but of course one bite outside is enough for allergic reaction. (Itching and some hair loss)

 

[Graceful-Lily]

His allergies have to do with lung irritants so we don't use perfumes around him and stuff like that. Dust also bothers him and pollen it seems. His eyes get itchy and red. He sneezes and, like I said, the asthma attacks. But we've done some work in the house (to treat mold) and he hasn't had many episodes since.

Recently, he's started reacting to flea treatment. He's been super itchy and his hair fell out in the treatment area. So, I won't be using them anymore.