It’s easy to see that our feline companions are mystical creatures that give us so much love and joy...But how can we tell when our furrrever friends are feeling under the weather ?

When your cat is sick it can be hard to notice right away. Cat's are notorious for masking their symptoms as opposed to wearing them on their paw. In fact, most cats will not show symptoms until they are very sick! At Coastal Cat Care, our sitters are trained to always take the time to monitor your feline family members and will notify you if we see any differences in their health, appearance or demeanor while your kitty is under our care. Since cats and kittens are often very secretive about how they are feeling, it’s important to recognize different cues of feline illness. Read on to learn more about the signs our cat sitters look for at every scheduled visit!

General Health

When it comes to your cat’s overall health, the first things to look for are obvious, major issues:

● Excessive vomiting and diarrhea

● Discharge from the eyes or nose

● Excessive sneezing, rapid breathing, or shortness of breath

● Blood on kitty, in home or litter box

● Limping or injury

Appearance

If your cat is feeling ill, you may notice changes in their appearance. It could be a combination of any of these subtle changes:

● Sitting or moving in an unusual way (maybe hunched over, or stiff movements)

● Weight loss

● Constricted or dilated pupils

● The way they tilt or carry their tail and head

● Excessive grooming,

● No grooming at all (when they typically do), causing a greasy coat, loose fur, dandruff, and matting

Demeanor

Recognizing changes in their daily behavior is typically easy to notice, but here are things to check for:

● Lethargy and unwillingness to play if typically alert/active

● Increased vocalizations

● Sudden changes in appetite, not eating

● Improper use of litter tray, using the bathroom in random places in home

● Sudden mood change

If we see any of the signs mentioned above we quickly alert our clients, send pics or give a detailed run down of happenings and ask the clients preferred course of action. We always let our clients know that we are happy to reach out to their veterinarian to get kitty the care they need. In the first moments of greeting your cat(s) we thoroughly check for each of these signs or symptoms. Our clients receive a detailed message, pictures and report card with every scheduled visit through our app, making communication about your cats well being our priority.

When onboarding new clients we also make sure to ask detailed questions to the pawrents to get to know the normal behavior expected of their cat. Knowing what to expect will help us look out for any red flags we need to address with the cat owner to decide if they need to be seen by a professional.

We even offer a Cat Taxi service in the event your kitty needs an emergency visit to the vet! Our team will ensure that your kitty makes it to their appointment, we'll happily act as their stand-in guardian and make sure they make it back home safely. If medications are ever needed our team is well-versed in medication administration, too!

Keep your cat well cared for with Coastal Cat Care... Even if you're away!

When it comes to caring for your cat, you know them better than anyone else. Being aware of the signs and symptoms are helpful, but only you can make the best judgment for your best cat friend.

There’s no such thing as being too cautious when it comes to your loved ones, so please never hesitate to communicate any worries with your sitter when working with us. Even if you’re gone for a few days, it’s important to have someone you can trust to look after your cats and that's where we come in!

Coastal Cat Care is just as invested in the wellbeing of your furry companions as you are... making sure they get direct attention, love and always keeping their health in mind. Rest assured knowing that when you’re unable to care for them yourself, you can rely on us to make sure your cats stay happy and healthy. Visit our website today to book your cat care with trusted cat sitting professionals!

~V💖🐈