How to tell if your cat is sick is a question I'm often asked, and the answer is not all that simple!
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In Vancouver, BC? You can meet Dr. Uri and his team at:
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Please give a video on cat arthritis. My cat is limping but the vet doesn't see her limping when we take her in for a check-up. What are some good meds for arthritis in cats?
Thank you for the suggestion, I will add it to my list. The tag line of feline veterinarians is “cats are masters of hiding disease” and your story is a perfect illustration of this! X-rays are invaluable for diagnosing these cryptic cases. As for appropriate meds, you had better talk to your family vet about that.
Find a new vet maybe.. If you're telling the vet "Hey my cat is limping" and his not doing anything.. that's kinda crappy.
Actually xrays are the gold standard for arthritis Dx in pets. They are cheaper and more vets know how to interpret them than know how to do ultrasound. Most of the time we diagnose OA based on history and physical exam alone, but we typically do xrays to rule out other bone and joint disorders in some cases.
Video is the answer! My cat was limping , made a video that I showed at the appointment so did not have to depend on cat performance. Less stress for my cat . X-ray showed fracture on elbow.
@@HelpfulVancouverVet we did get Xrays and our cat, Pretzel, does have arthritis in her elbows, legs, and back. We are giving her glucosamine every day in her soft food. Also we have a prescription of Tramadol (pill form) and Gabapenton (liquid form). She doesn't tolerate taking either of these very well. Very hard to administer. Any other suggestions?
"Independent little killing machines that choose to share their life with us." I think that should be the official definition for cats.
Took the words right out of my mouth, that's one of my favorite things about cats, they're like Mini Ninjas. Our barn cats have decimated the rodent population on our acre property. They're just brutal little killers and I love them
Cute little predators. Preying on mainly small vermin
Love this so much.
I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking like that about sharing my life with cats. It's actually quite amazing to see how sociable these perfect predators are around humans who after all so far have been omnivorous. Unfortunately in various countries peopel tend to take such thining to extreme and do want to ban owning the domestic cat. I've heard New Zealand is about to head this direction and I hope vets and cat lovers can make this country and other countries aware that such intepretation has already failed in Australia and that we do need those "little killing machines" around us even though they yes, might hunt what we do not want them to hunt-like endengared small animals or birds but they also keep rats and other huntrs at bay for those, so let's do not try to eradicate them just because they are those "middle of the food chain" predators.
😂 Feel the same! I live in an apartment, but if any bugs sneak in next morning find it dead on it's back.😁❤🐱
"Your cat's got the floofaloof, she needs three squishes after every nap and she'll be just fine"
'Dawww 😊 that's adorable
Squishy cat
“SQUISH THAT CAT”
I see that Claudia has a serious case of "elevator butt." Seriously though, thank you for your channel and this video. 😉
Tessa Ko Clawdia*
Our TommyJack does the same thing, dude loves his butt rubbin's.
I would LOVE to hear Dr. Uri's take on elevator butt :)
Well, obvious sign of affection and trust in my view. One of my cats does it and only in my presence. I've once heard someone describe it as a friendly "how you're doing" in cat's body language and I think it's the best depiction of what it really is.
My take on elevator butt is it is 90% adorable, 10% annoying. The 10% is when you are lying down and the cat jumps on your chest and faces your feet.
Cats do try to help their owners, mine got me through diabetes while I was still learning; he could tell the difference between when I was just sleeping and when I had lost consciousness and he would keep at me until I got up and medicated. He's a nag for sure, but a lifesaver!
Amazing story! Thank you for sharing.
It's amazing how intuitive and sensitive they are. I've met several cats of friends before that knew just when I was struggling/in distress, and would seek me out to help me feel better. Cats are so good.
My cat can intuit when I should be sleeping and when I should be getting up and feeding him at 5AM.
I was just going to comment on that statement! I have epilepsy and my female cat lays on me after seizures and purrs. She's my little healer!
My cat is very attentive when I'm down with migraine. Stays next to me purring, and the purring really helps as a painkiller.
Video summary: - Inappropriate elimination. If your cat is using the bathroom outside of the litter box after they’ve been trained to. Take them to the vet. - Hiding. Cats naturally try to hide from predators when sick. - Increased aggression. Probably a sign of chronic pain. - Anorexia. Cat will stop eating. - Vomiting. Frequent vomiting: once a week or more is not normal and should be discussed with a vet. - Yowling/howling. Sign of pain or behavioral issues. Sometimes it can also be in response to heat or other animals. - Limping. Animals who limp should always be checked by a vet.
Amanda Baker thanks
Thank you!
Make sure their litter box is clean and emptied often. An often overlooked reason for eliminating outside the box.
Amanda Baker - on the litterbox issue. My cat is indoor/outdoor so she does her business in and outdoors. Is that normal? I am 48 and resuced her 4 years ago. Never had a cat before.
@mark40511 maybe try interrupting her if you notice it? or maybe something *is* wrong
It’s 2:00 AM and I don’t even have a cat but these videos are adorable. “Independent little killing machines”.
I know right! hehe, and thats why I like cats best too, they are independent little killing machines :D
He’s like the Hugh Grant of veterinarians
that CHOOSE to share their lives with us. we're blessed.
This is the most helpful pet channel ever!
valnsky totally! I love it!
My cat is over 16 and her little light is waning. She has heart problems, is in the beginning stages of kidney disease, she needs her teeth pulled due to dental disease, but cannot go through the procedure because of her heart. She's too thin. My sweet girl is just old. Her latest vet visit was last week. She has appetite stimulants, anti-nausea, and pain medication to use as needed. The appetite stimulant is given every few days, the other 2 medications are only there in case she were to have a really bad day, and sometimes she does have those days that she just doesn't feel well. I suspect her teeth are the biggest culprits of discomfort. I guess she's an odd kitty because she usually let's me know. I know we dont have much time left together, so I'm trying to make her life as comfortable as possible before I can no longer justify not helping her peacefully pass. I had that big discussion with my veterinarian recently. In the meantime, she still snuggles and is affectionate, I catch her playing with her toys, she scratches, lounges, and pounce-slides on her scratch pads. She's still my little buddy, my familair. We've had a good run, her and I, and I am thankful to have had her in my life for so long. I dont even know why I'm writing this. I dont expect anyone to read this. Perhaps I'm just trying to come to terms with the inevitable.
It happened to me too. I loved your comment.
I hope that you are still enjoying time with your dear kitty!
Rest assured that all caring pet owners go through what you are going through now. You are not alone with your experience by a long shot. My new girlfriend made me a lot more aware of my cat's finite lifespan and that she might die sooner than I'd like, so I'm trying to be positive about it as long as she is still fine and healthy. Cherish the good moments more, as it were. I hope that will help me face the day when she dies with more understanding and prepared-ness (is that a word?).
ENJOY every single second with your fur baby. You will KNOW when to make THAT decision.
I think more people will understand than you realise. I lost my little dog of nearly 18 years in October '17. I still miss him every day & I think I always will. Hugs to you.
I feel very sad now, my cat died at home last Christmas aged 21, and hearing all of these signs I think she was really sick for much longer than we realised. I wish I had known this earlier so I could have had her treated and helped her.
Hey, thanks for sharing! 21 is a fantastic age for a cat! Good job :-). 21-22 is the oldest legitimate age I've ever head a cat get to so probably not much else you could have done.
I know how you feel I have the same regret with my cat that passed away from diabetes... She was eating more then suddenly eating losing Weight... We got her on insulin but the last year of her life was really bad.. We shouldve got her checked her out earlier... I wish I wouldve been more clued up😔
I was in a similar situation, but since I live with my parents and we're sometimes tight on money, I couldn't do anything. But my cat ended up being diagnosed with cancer and since she was already weak and 17 yrs old, we decided to say goodbye to her.
No worries. Your cat lived a long life.
18 year life span is common for indoor cats.
My cats a weirdo. He complains at me when he’s not well and tries to get me to fix it. Only cat I’ve had that actively seeks me out for comfort. Even the vet was surprised that he was cuddled up to me so much during his uti. Best cat.
You should let your cat have lots of babies so that the future cat race can evolve like him lol
Yeah, my cat really treats me and my parents as his family. So my mom is also his mom and when he's not feeling well (mostly when his stomach hurts due to fur buildup) he comes to her for comfort and will sit on her and cuddle, so we know the vomit is coming. 😂 But all in all he really knows how to show us that something is wrong with him. He will either come to my mom and be like "please cuddle me" (which he doesn't normally do), go pee in some container or on my parents bed in front of my mom or he will sit almost rolled into a ball in the corner and not respond to us calling him or bringing his favorite treats.
@ Princeducielruka: Must have been a dog in previous life.
Prince Du Ciel my peaches was the same way. she got very sick in the end and had to be put to sleep. she was the best cat I ever had. i miss her so much
WHY is Clawdia so darn cute? I'm dying at those close-ups!
My kitty stopped eating when she was 12 and was starting to develop heart disease. She wasn't diagnosed when she first stopped eating, our vet couldn't find why she stopped eating. We went completely crazy worried and made her fresh chicken everyday and she started eating again. A year later the heart disease was so bad she needed to be put to sleep. We think she knew she wasn't well when she first stopped eating and only stuck around for another year because she saw how panicked and worried we were. It sounds crazy but I wouldn't have been able to put her to sleep if she didn't tell me she was ready to go. After the vet told me there were no options for her I just pet her and she suddenly stopped purring and looked at me. Without that look I couldn't do it.
That's so sad.
I teared up. Pets are just the best things in our lives. Glad you had that angel in your life
it’s sad but sweet... maybe she stuck around for the chicken! Our old cat had kidney problems and lost her appetite for cat food but still liked cooked chicken!
i cried reading this...😿
I know exactly what you’re talking about, Missy! I just lost my 18 yo cat last July. She gave me that same look and I knew she couldn’t bear anymore. I knew then she was asking me for help... That was the hardest choice I’ve ever made, but I know it was the right one.
I feel guilty for not recognizing and for not being able to afford health care. Jake was my best friend and my baby. He was only 11. It's been two years. I often blame myself. I'm in therapy. I miss him often. I hate not having him here, healthy, with me. He deserved better. I gave him all my love and he his.
Here's another subtle sign: you notice your cat has been sitting in one spot for an unusual amount of time. When I was younger, I had a big black tomcat who one day sat in the corner of a room for a while. At first, we thought, "no big deal." He sat in the same spot for over a day, and then my mother got worried. Turns out, he had a stone that was blocking his urethra (more common in male cats FYI). The vets put him under to remove it, but his electrolytes were too imbalanced, and he had a heart attack on the table. If you notice your cat sitting in one spot for more than a day, check on them. Notice how they are sitting. If they are comfortable, they should lay on their side or at least change positions throughout the day. Staying in one position is a big indicator that they are in pain.
independent little killing machine, quote of the day
Yeah! And good quote for new marchandise. Text for the T-shirt maybe?
SQUISH THAT CAT!
I died
squish that cat!
Why doesn't someone SQUISH YOU??😎
Squish it NOW!
What on earth does that mean??
As a new cat parent/owner, I have a lot of anxiety about whether I'm providing for my cat in the best way, and worry about his wellbeing. This video series has done a lot to help put my irrational fears to rest, and the practical knowledge is invaluable. Thank you!
As I'm fairly new to caring for a cat, this video was very helpful and appreciated! Thank you so much! Also, Claudia is such a beatiful little lady :)
She sure is! I'll tell her. She's sitting next to my keyboard, elegantly licking her paw.
My cat is practically my wife. She's a total lush. She's got a serious case of elevator booty...
Pete Strebendt hahahah you made me laugh with your comment 😸
Pete Strebendt My boy does too
uhhhh hold up
when your cat stops licking/cleaning itself or the fur doesnt feel soft anymore it can also be a sign of illness, right?
You are correct!
Rae Owlsworth One of my cats died of cancer this year. One of the first signs besides the weight loss was that his fur became dull and lost its soft/fluffiness
My cat limped one day. The next day he seemed just fine again. Wasn't limping. A week later, we took him to the vet for castration. They found he had an infection on his back foot. And he needed his teeth cleaned I think, so got antibiotics and another appointment a week or so later for the teeth and checking up on the foot. A week later, he's in for his appointment, and when I get back down, they show me an x-ray of his foot. One of his toes was severed completely at the joint (but still attached with skin, so didn't see it on the outside). He seemed fine! Cats are crazy. He got his toe amputated. Lately he's had teeth problems and have had them all pulled after he got really skinny when I was away for a few months. (It's my family's cat.) Now he won't leave me alone ever, in hopes of getting more food. Sigh. I wanted a lap cat, but... go out , see some things, do something else!
Thank you for sharing. This is exactly the message I am trying to get across in the video: cats do not show pain even when they are really suffering so being a proactive hooman is being a good hooman.
mirawenya that’s why I keep my cats indoors only! Safer and heather
He was already an outdoor cat by the time we took him in. And even though he's had 10 day indoor due to antibiotics 5-6 times last few years, he still is happiest if he gets to go out. Our area is pretty safe, we don't have much predators, if any. Perhaps the odd eagle, but I've never seen one. The times we've kept him indoor, he has been frantic first few days before he settles in. But he was always real happy when he got to go out. He even wants out when it pours down outside. He's nuts.
For animals that hide their illness and expect no help, they are very good at seeing (or smelling I suspect) when we aren't 100%, whether it is illness or mood. They make such good furry little nurses and are so often so loving when something is wrong. The least we can do is keep a close eye on their health and be there when they need us too!
Clawdia is absolutely darling!!! She has the cutest little kittenish face
You're such a cool doc. I wish I would live in Canada just to have you to look after my pack.
Omg yes! We're in Los Angeles and I wish he was here!
Lol at me rushing to watch this video to learn how to detect whether or not my cat is sick when I do not now nor have I ever owned a cat. Can’t be too careful I suppose. 🧡
My cat takes care of me . I’m diabetic. When my blood glucose goes high or low she jump on me and pets my face. And I take very good care of her
Cats are independent killing machines!! 😂😂
My parents never took our cats to the vet except to get spayed, or when they seemed really sick. "You just let them be until they die" my mom said. We never took them to the vet in their old age except when they died. One of them showed many of these signs and it breaks my heart to think of how much pain she was in for so long. I loved her so much.
Add the obvious such as sniffling/sneezing/wheezing; eyes that seem "off" in the irises that look like crackled marbles; pale or white gums; extreme drinking of water...
Another sign is when you carress them you feel a difference in the fur, and sometimes you even can see it.
I know what you mean... my boy stops grooming when he gets ill, he's long-haired so he very quickly looks bedraggled and sorry for himself. But you can also feel dehydration when their skin doesn't move properly as you're petting them.
Yes, we have a fourteen-year-old Siamese and last winter her fur was patchy and coarse. She also lost a lot of weight. The vet diagnosed her with kidney failure and we switched to a special diet and medication (it wasn't easy). She had another blood test in June and her results were perfect! Her fur is also shiny and full again.
Nadine Ducca I’ve never heard of a cat with kidney failure get better. Wow!
My boy is on my lap as I watch this 😸 he just turned 10 last month!! I love him his name is Mouse he's in my picture!! Thanks for the tips Dr! Hi Claudia!!
I love how claudia wasn't used for any demonstration or example or anything she's just there because of course! you always need a cat in every video! bless this channel and all the videos on it
My cat had a routine dental cleaning after a clear lab report, and he didn’t react well to the procedure. He started peeing a lot and drinking a lot of water that evening, so I took him back to the vet in the morning. It turns out he was going through acute kidney failure, and if I had assumed his (expected) lethargy and increased drinking were normal, he would have died. His symptoms were pretty subtle, but they taught me to pay very close attention! After over 24h of IV fluids and supervision he came out of it, but he was wobbly for weeks. He’s since been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (renal failure), so he’s on semintra and fluids at home. Please make sure you watch carefully for extra thirst, and for dehydration - sunken eyes, loss of skin elasticity, constipation, bigger or smaller pees than usual, and bad breath. It’s important!
4mpersand Thank you for the information. My cat has beginning of kidney disease. She comes and lays by me more. She will have a tear in her eye. Her fur separates when she really doesn’t feel good! I feel sad she is going through this!
@@lindapearson3411As sad as it may be for you, you should consider how long you want your cat to go through this sickness. It's terminal and like any terminal illness, it can be a slow and painful way to die. Humans can't (yet) legally ask for help with euthanasia but your cat can't either... you have to decide when your cat's suffering may be too great to keep on living in misery. At that point, do your cat a favour and let her be put to sleep by a vet, ideally in the comfort of your home. A lot of pet owners refuse to let their pet die but a terminal illness can be such a burden to bear for the pet that euthanasia is a far better option.
My kitty didn't want to eat or drink anything, and whenever I tried to pick it up it was "crying" so to say. Took it to the vet and a couple of days later it was getting better. I took it home and pampered it like a baby. Good food, nice fluffy carpet to lie on, scratching it on the head etc. After a week or so it had fully recovered and was back to it's old self. Color me very happy :)
Thanks for another thoughtful video! Backstory: I have a chronic pain condition and several mental illnesses that can lay me out for days at a time. And my cat, Callisto, always seems to come around and keep vigil when I'm in one of those spinouts. But if, say, she gets stung by a wasp, she just runs off and poofs out her tail if you try to get close to her. So I've reached a point where if she starts fluffing, I need to see what's up with her.
This is similar to me. I have depression and colitis, and my sweet dear cat Orangy, who passed suddenly earlier this year, would be my furrynurse. She would know exactly when I needed help, would cuddle with me in bed for hours, lay on my sore tummy and purr and just love me love me love me all the time. She's greatly missed, but I never would have been able to handle the early stages of my illness without her.
My eldest cat Lucy has taken to laying on my leg, almost like she's protecting it, ever since I shattered my kneecap a couple years ago. Even when I had a huge leg brace, she would curl up on my leg & snuggle for hours on the couch with me. People always talk about dogs being loyal, but cats can be just as caring & loyal.
I have just lost a couple friends. They won't feed their cats meat. They are 'against' meat. I am seeing muscle wasting in one of the cats. They said the cats eat mice and birds but I know better...when I take them canned food they love all over me, they really appreciate it. One of their cats moved across the street where it is warm and there is canned food. I try to take canned food and leave it for them, but the woman told me not to come on her place. I have 4 cats of my own I cannot afford to feed 5 more. I tried to explain 'obligate carnivore', most of their moisture and all of their nutrients from meat.
Oh no! Cats are obligate carnivores, they will 100% die if not fed meat. Please talk to your friends about this. Cats can not live without meat.
I would contact whatever agency that see to animal protection in your area. This is a failure to provide basic survival necessity...
Time to contact animal protection and maybe “adopt” those cats (i.e. liberate)
That's something that makes me so so mad. I'm a vegetarian, mostly vegan myself but I would never deprive my cat of meat. There is no excuse for that
yeah, while kittehs can get by on dollar store cat food that isn't 100% meat (not ideal but I'm on a fixed income), they cannot be genuine vegans or vegetarians. your friends are not doing right by their kittehs, and that muscle wasting is showing it.
I wish I had known more of this sooner. My little buddy was in much rougher shape than I realized until he gave me a concrete sign (bloody diarrhea on the floor). Two days and $2000 worth of testing to rule out any other possible option, we had to agree with the vet that it was his time to go at 16 and a half years. That was just a few weeks ago and he'd been my best friend since he was a kitten and I was a 13 year old kid, so it's still more than a little raw.
Another subtle change is increased thirst and water intake- which can be a sign of diabetes. I've had 3 kitties with diabetes. I've adopted many kitties in my 54 years. 😊
Also doing a sweet kick flip or wearing ray bans is another sign your cat is sick af. I appreciate your videos they’re very informative and you seem to have a lovely sense of humor. Thank you for helping us and our furry kiddos. 💖
Thanks for the last tip on bringing older cats in twice a year. We were told once a year but I think I feel better 2x now that our little guy Peppy is 13 and has developed very early kidney disease (we noticed him getting a little thin, we only need to switch him over to kidney food though, no meds) A note on cats and hiding pain/not getting help from other cats. Years ago we moved in with my family and their two other cats (I consider all the cats our cats really) and brought our kitty with us. One morning we couldn't find any of the cats and when we did they were all huddled around Peppy. Turns out Peppy was really sick, not responding all that much. We immediately took him to the vet and the vet said he was very sick. He stayed over night and got better but if it wasn't for our other cats huddled around him it might have taken longer to find him. Our old cat, Mittens, was very very smart and I wouldn't be surprised if he did this to get our attention but I'm wondering if this is something you've ever heard of cats doing and why they might have done it? Mittens was always very protective of everyone in the family.
Cats aren't stupid. One of mine kept getting of the way of a window I was starting to replace, when the window crashed down and dislocated his jaw. He howled and howled and couldn't close his mouth. He'd been to he vet a couple times before, so when I brought out the cat carrier box, he rushed right in, knowing (I presume) he was going to the doctor. He did, and they snapped his jaw back into place and all the way home he talked to me.
Clawdia is such a beautiful kitty. I hope she never gets critically ill.
Thank you very helpful! ... and don’t forget friends to squish your cats 🤗💕
One thing I'd like to mention is that cats do sometime help out each other. Feral cat colonies will often have members which hunt more food than they need. This food often goes to those who are sick or otherwise unable to hunt. We can see this behaviour in our own pet cats when they bring us "gifts". They see us as members of the group who may no be the best at securing our own food so they step up to the plate to provide for us. I feel this is super interesting since cat colonies aren't really seen with domestic cat's closest wild relative so it's likely a product of domestication and also maybe linked to the increased availability of food sources near human settlements (leading to needing smaller territories and less hostile interactons due to competition).
i saw a documentary about a cat colony long ago. it was fascinating. there were over 20 cats and they all looked healthy. they lived on a farm, so probably got fed. there seemed to be one cat who sort of lead the rest. but they stayed together, groomed each other, slept together. i'd like to see more about this pack behavior. glad someone else has noticed this. oh, also, if they're so independent (which is not true for my cats), why do they play and sleep with each other? i've seen videos of interspecies friends, also - even an owl. one thing though, cats are a bit of a mystery :}
p.s. - i love your name, which i just noticed - how did you decide on it? mine is feralblue. wild et al. and blue. :}
I would love to do a whole series on cat colonies! Cats are individual hunters but live in colonies. Pretty rare social behavior in the animal world! So they are independent, and some cats will switch colonies regularly or wander between them, but they still enjoy many social behaviors.
Yes, Clawdia! What a good kitty!
All of a sudden my cat started hiding under my bed which was weird so I took him to the vet and it turned out he had an infection - I got some medicine and he got better! My friends thought I was silly to take him to the vet for that reason, good to know my instinct was right :)
All great advice, Dr. Burstyn. If you'll indulge a (lengthy) addendum from a non-professional, I'd like to add two signs that my cat exhibited that were quite serious, both of which occurred much later in his lifetime. If you've had your cat for a while, you probably know his/her personality pretty well. So look for both radical and subtle changes in that personality. In my case, it was easy to get my cat's attention: most noises would garner his interest (particularly his food bowl clinking). Suddenly, he just stopped being attentive. Calling his name, trying to play, clinking his food bowl... he'd just lay there like he was too sleepy or tired to be bothered. Turns out, he was diabetic and his blood sugar was dangerously low. He ended up needing regular insulin shots, and I learned eventually to rub maple syrup on his gums to stave off diabetic episodes long enough to get him to the vet if he ever started exhibiting serious lethargy (these were very rare occasions). Apparently the sugar in the syrup absorbs very rapidly through the gums (he'd almost instantly perk up). Another thing that happened was that he randomly started spinning in circles to his left (just kept walking in a counter-clockwise direction). He'd do this maybe once or twice a month. We had no idea what it was and how to stop it... we just had to wait it out which could have been anywhere from 30 mins to 2 hours. The vet couldn't diagnose it either. In 2015 he had a lethargic episode one last time. The vet couldn't bring him back to his normal levels. Even with an IV and an overnight stay, his blood glucose was unstable and his body temperature just stopped regulating itself. We eventually made the decision to put him down, a decision which still haunts me to this day and it's the reason I don't have a pet anymore. I'm so afraid of experiencing that kind of loss again. It affected me more than I thought it would or could. We never found out what was going on with him but if I had to guess, I think there was some neurological component to his spinning-ailment. Some kind of brain lesion or a tumor somewhere that affected his motor skills and/or body temp. Again, both the lethargy (diabetes) and the spinning began happening after he was about 8-9 years old. He lived to be 15 and was loved every single moment. I don't regret a second of it... but oh do I miss it with all my heart. Thank you for the videos you do, Dr. Burstyn, and for being a genuinely caring vet. You're the best.
You are right- sudden changes in behaviour are a warning sign. I have two types-introvertic and extravertic cat and both show significant changes in behaviour when they do not feel well. Intorvertic is hiding or following me everywhere- sitting where I work, occypying my seat, just waiting for me wherever I go in silence and looking at me as f she was expecting something from me. Extravertic loses interest in hunting, doesn't want to play, only wants to sleep, doesn't make her usual noise, doesn't play with her sister. She is just abnormaly quiet, calm and sleepy and this is how I knw right away- we need to visit a vet. Calmer, introvertic one is more tricky, so all owners of calm cats should observe them well. Watch out for excessive hiding or following you everywhere.
I'm a medical student, in humans diabetes destroys nerves, and causing various problems with the function of the nerve. Just a guess, your cat may have had some problems with the vestibular systems in his ears, which was controlling his balance? Anyway, I'm sorry to hear how sad you feel about it, and hope you'll one day be able to open your life to another cat :)
@@TheVietnameseCatGoblin Thank you for the kind words! Your hypothesis is definitely possible, his spinning came some time after we diagnosed his diabetes so it could very well have been a result of it. Maybe someday I'll have another cat, but for now, my brother and sister both have their own cats that I play with whenever I visit them :)
If you are feeling bad about putting your cat down, please let me say as a person who also lost a cat that I think you did the right thing and that I wish I had the strength when my cat was sick to do what was right for her and let her go peacefully and unafraid. My cat had gotten very very sicky. Kidney failure. I was given the option to try to treat her, which should it have worked, would have extended her life, or to put her down. I chose to do the treatment instead because I feared the thought of putting her down. I wanted to cling on to hope that she could get better. I wouldn't be writing this if she did, ovbiously. Instead, she went through several days of treatment where she stayed at the vet overnight. Where she was in a strange place with strange people and I wasn't there with her, even if I visited each day. I remember one day she was in the kennel, all hooked up to ivs, and when she saw me, she STILL forced herself to stand up and walk over to me despite how incredibly frail and weak she was. She missed me. She loved me. That was the last time I saw her. She ended up passing away that night. My baby died by herself in a cage without any comfort around her in the middle of the night in a strange place, probably frightened and wondering where I was. I put her through thhese things because I didn't have the courage to do what needed to be done and instead, let her go in peace. If I could redo that time, I would do what you did. I would have put her down. She would have instead died with me by her side, holding her paw. Trust me when I say that you did the right thing.
@@HauntedSidhe Wow, thank you for sharing this... it's such a painful thing to do everything you can to help your cat, and yet it all fails. It's such a helpless feeling. Either route is extremely difficult, surely. In retrospect I think I made the right choice as well, but even though I was with him, I'll never forget how low I felt when he was euthanized. I held him while the vet administered the solution intravenously. As soon as she pressed on the plunger, his left paw twitched and the finality of my decision suddenly hit me. There was no undoing things. I felt like the biggest cop-out... like I had betrayed this animal that had done nothing but love me without condition. As he started to fade I just cradled him and kept saying, "I'm sorry," over and over again until he finally went limp. I think you do have a lot of strength because you didn't give up on your cat. Sure, the circumstances sucked because you couldn't be with her 24/7, but you tried and you hoped beyond hope. I feel like I gave up on my cat-you fought to the end, bitter as it may have been, and that takes some real strength. The poet Wallace Stevens wrote, "Death is the mother of all beauty." Because things die-because life is finite-it is beautiful. We understand it's value because we know it won't last forever. So we love. We love ourselves, our family, our friends, our pets. But the more we love, the more it hurts. And that's something that you, me, and every other human being who's lost something dear to us have found out the hard way. But I don't think any of us would trade a second of those experiences or those memories for anything in the universe.
You need to add a "Squish the cat" stress ball or plushie stuffed animal to your store!!!!
I adore how careful and tender he is with this cat. The cat is adorable and so is the man.
I love these videos so much! They're so professional and informative and fun to watch!
“Squish that cat.” I can’t be the only one who clicked this video because of that.
Watching this video really opened my eyes. I lost my baby a couple of months ago and I blame myself every day because of it; yes, I know he wasn’t a real baby - being but just a cat - but he was still my child (in my mind at least). He was a beautiful Chausie with the name of Solo (Han Solo, to be exact), and I’ve been broken since his passing. He got both diabetes and cancer in the end, and I absolutely hate how his quality of life plummeted incredibly during my care toward the end of his life. He had all the signs described in this video and I can’t believe I just assumed these were all just normal behavior for a cat, and for him; I’ve never had any lessons or previous encounters over taking care of any breed of cat (since I got him from my mother without any knowledge of cat-care), but I assumed that I would know if something was truly wrong if he was not, indeed, “okay”... I was clearly wrong. His health deteriorated quickly due to my lack of knowledge, and I hate myself for it. I knew he had a bit of an attitude, but I should have known some of his behavior was not normal. He was my emotional support animal, and I miss him dearly not only for the life that was lost but also because of how much I depended on him, as well as how much I loved him. He truly deserved better. He was such a sweet and caring animal, and I appreciate every second I had with him, who I considered my precious sweetheart. I appreciate the educational material of this video and hope to pass on the information to others, and maybe if I am blessed enough to try and care for another cat I will know this for the future and hope to provide better care than that of which I have provided in the past. Also, thank you to whoever ended up reading through this mess of a comment. I hope you and whatever animal you may have under your care has a plentiful life. I hope your life is full of wonder and happiness, especially if it is accompanied by any pet or friend of even family member, regardless of size or stature.
Awwww. I love that you love your cat.
Great video - I really like how you recap all the previous points once you've introduced a new one. Really helpful teaching style, thank you!
Oh no! We find multiple cat vomits around the house every now and then. I'm not sure which of our three cats is the culprit though. 😱
Yeah, it can be tough in a multi-cat household to identify the culprit(s). Best of luck!
Good advice, thank you Dr. Burstyn. We had been feeding a feral cat outside our home for a couple of years. Recently we noticed that her fur was getting matted and she was eating less and less. Just a couple of weeks later she just disappeared and presumably died :( She was truly feral so there was not much we could do for her unfortunately.
Thanks for posting this. I didn't realise that cats over 10 needed an extra check-up a year.
Thank you so much for these videos, Dr. Uri! Very helpful and your calm way of explaining is soothing. Clawdia was also especially sweet in this video.
man I love this guy, so friendly and also replies to comments and all of that, keep it up!
Thank you for sharing this video. I lost 2 of my cats, one in June 2018 (she's 16) and one in February 2019 (also 16 yo). They displayed some signs that were discussed in this video, and I how I wish I'd watched this clip earlier and render help in time. I miss my girls.
Claudia is *such* a classic Tuxie! "Pet me here... skritch me there... Hey! I'm not done yet!" :-) Nicely done video! I have a bit of an advantage over some owners, as I work from home and am with our cats all day, so I'm very familiar with their patterns and habits. When my Tuxie - who is definitely "daddy's little boy", compared to the other two - didn't do his usual migration from morning nap location #1 to morning nap location #2 at the normal time, I noticed it right away. Which keyed me in to notice his next diversion from habit; when he did get up finally it was only to come over and lay down beside me on the couch and go back to sleep, rather than spend an hour or so playing and getting into trouble. I thought, "OK - vet time.", and I made an appointment for that afternoon. An hour or so later he started having "bubbly" sounding exhalations and before we set out he started sneezing excessively in "fits" or strings of several sneezes in a row. As it turned out, the vet said there was a viral "kitty cold" going around and seemed to be airborne, so no contact was needed to get infected (our cats are all indoor only). Fortunately it was a minor upper respiratory infection that cleared up in about 48 hours on it's own. Of course, not before the other two getting it as well so for a day or so we had THREE sick kitties to deal with. Just as you noted - pay attention to a cat's habits - that's often a first sign they are sick. Not noticing the little things before they become big things can make a small problem much, much worse.
On top of the useful and informative content i find your videos extremely relaxing to watch
The way you’re explaining is really great, thank you 👍😊
Love your videos! Thank you for your work!
So grateful for your videos, thank you!
Thank you for watching! I meant to release it tomorrow but screwed up the upload. So grateful that you guys are learning about feline welfare in the middle of the night :-)
Your so sweet. Thank you for taking YOUR time to teach us to help our family members!!! Keep on informing the public and there will be less Ferrell cats out there. 🥰🥰👏
Hey man I really appreciate your approach to sharing such knowledge. Even if some seems arbitrary and simple it is very insightful. Thank you for starting this channel
I just love your videos, they're just so sweet! Cats don't do much when you noticiably need help, but they know when you're feeling down or you're sick and offer what they can give, their companionship. When I get in my depressive episodes or I'm feeling under the weather my two kitties are always around to lay down with me and take a nap or ask for cuddles. It might not be the most useful thing, but it's the best they can do, and it's super great to feel loved in that way.
Thank you so much for this video! The part about vomiting is super informative, as that's really something that most cat owners take as "normal" for cats.
I love your channel, as a relatively new pet owner ( I'm a dad to a 5 month old male Persian) the videos you post are super helpful! Please keep posting 😸
Thank you for all the videos! Extremely helpful for a new cat owner like me!
Great info! Not click bait-y at all, just highly useful legit info 👍🏻👍🏻
Great video, thanks so much! Your videos have come all the way to Belgium! :)
Glad to hear it! I was just in Belgium last Christmas. Lovely country, and the chocolates... and the beer!
I LOVE you pet help channel!!! Thank you for all your input and advice for our furbabies :)
I LOVE YOU! You seem such a genuinely NICE person, and you definitely get cats 100%. Wish all vets were this dedicated and good at their job.
Hi Dr. Uri! Thanks for another cat tip video! Do you think you can do one on walking cats on a leash?
I actually recorded a video on this topic and am just editing it at the moment.
Please, akanichiu, don't do that! Leash and cat belong to completely different worlds
Why do you say that Adriana? I love cat walks, have been taking Mr. Pirate out for cat walks for his entire life, and love seeing people with their cat or their bunny on a leash enjoying the outdoors while their pet sniffs or eats some grass. Happy memories :-).
Helpful Vancouver Vet Once upon a time I thought friends who walked their cats were silly. Then, I adopted my cat Socrates who was abused and locked in a shed, so at 1 1/2 years he is having the kittenhood he should have had. I got him a harness, he will not “walk” but he enjoys being put down and sniffing flowers 😊 Thanks for your videos!!
Cats sniffing flowers has got to be one of the best things in life.
I love your videos! I don't have a cat but hope to have one as a friend some day 🤗
I just want to say a huge THANK YOU for your videos - they are an amazing resource library if us pet owners need recaps on things our vet may already have explained or shown us how to do, to the more general things that wouldn't necessarily pop up in a discussion with our vets but are great to know. Questions can tend to pop up out of vet hours too so it's reassuring to have professional videos that we can access 24/7 on here. Thank you for taking the time to do post these videos👍
I just love this vet! I learn so much from these videos
Claudia is so cute! Thanks for the useful video, I'll keep a lookout for these with my cat
I have to say I'm always happy to see you because you know about creatures, give good advice and are ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE.
I truly need to hug your cat. She's so loving, patient and calm. I LOVE HERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
Thanks from an Italian fan of your helpful videos!
my then 8 y/o cat stopped eating for a couple days and we found out she had an uterus tumor. then she had surgery and shes 10 y/o, healthy and alive today❤
thanks doc. for this important info. .. you voice is soooo soothing....when i can't sleep i put your channel on and listen to you voice.....so relaxing. thanks
I got so excited to see Claudia on the thumbnail I quickly tapped on the video! Thank you for this very helpful video! I love my two angel babies and they are due for a check up soon! One just turned a year last month and one will turn a year in a couple of months. So it’s time to make a visit soon!
She's adorable
Can you make a video about cat asthma, how to recognize it and what to do for your cat during an asthma attack? I really appreciate your videos
I most certainly can and will! I think that is a great topic.
Thank you so much! Your videos are so helpful, especially for people who have just recently become pet owners (or cat servants). I've gotten two adorable baby kittens a few months ago and your advice really helps me in becoming the best cat mommy I could possibly be, because you answer a lot of questions that it's hard to find a definitive answer to otherwise and always give highly valuable tips. Besides, the dedication and gentleness with which you interact with your lovely cats is truly heart-warming.
Thank you very much for taking the time to make this videos. As a cat owner I worry sick about my kitty and I’m always trying to get informed to provide better and safer living conditions for him; thank you for making that possible.
Thank you for your video! It's extremely useful to learn these tips. I have a 9 year-old kitten that can't be examined in a vet office because he gets extremely agressive, so to be able to know if something is wrong is very, very useful. Thank you 😘
I suggest you find a feline specialist in your area and still take your kitten in for annual check-ups. There is no such thing as a cat that can not be examined, only vets who can not examine a cat! You can check out the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) website for a feline-friendly practice near you!
I can attest to this! My tortie was not able to be examined at her first visit with the vet, she freaked out and started running around the room, biting and scratching and hissing, they couldn't even get her in a towel to bundle her up for the exam because towels apparently set her off even worse, so I had to take her home without a proper exam. The second time, I put her in a harness with a leash before I brought her in, and the vet grabbed the carrier and took her into the back room and did the exam super quick with several vet techs around to help if she tried to run off, lmao. A little intense, but they were able to get an exam done before she even started hissing that time! So the right vet with the right technique can manage even the worst cats.
Consider to ask your vet to make a home visit. It is a little more expensive but it might help
I love your videos!
Thank you so much. I have a multiple kitty household and though I try to be observant of everyone it is very difficult. I really appreciated your video : )
I've only had my first cat for two years and I tend to worry a lot. Your videos help a lot in easing those worries, doc. Thank you.
thank you for the lovely demonstration, Claudia is beautiful! I learned to tell when cats are in pain when their third eyelid wouldn't retract all the way, i've had a quiet cat who wouldnt make any indication that she was in pain, but noticing the third eyelid a few days in a row combined with a general lethargy allowed me to help her.
Yes, that can be a sign of pain or dehydration when combined with other abnormalities. Some cats do sleep with just their third eyelid out, eyes open more or less, an some will let it show when really relaxed (Clawdia half-closes her eyes that way when reeeeealy enjoying pats) so important not to over-interpret this. But if you've never seen your cat's third eyelid and suddenly you do AND she's acting weird then that is certainly a good trigger for a vet visit.
thank you for the clarification! also my day is made knowing her name is spelled CLAWdia 😂
hey, I will be adopting 2 FIV+ cat's soon. Would it be posible to make a video on ways to help a positive cat ? (other than watching out for infections, desease, nt taking them outside) more like dietary nutrients, supliments, vacines,...
Good question! I suggest you don't worry about it. It is very questionable whether FIV has much impact on the overall health of cats at all so I wouldn't worry about it. It may not be terribly ethical to introduce an FIV -ve cat into a household with FIV +ve cats, but beyond that... Thank you for the suggestion, I'll have to make a video on this topic, and FelV for sure!
Thanks for the response and indeed that would not be so ethical. I went to see 1 positive cat and discovered he was put together in the same foster home with another positive cat. So I decided to adopt her friend too :)
Lieselot Lenssens So awesome that you are saving these precious Animals!! Bless You and you're beautiful babies!!
Special people adopt special needs cats.
I've never had an FIV+ cat but I have had one who was FeLeuk+. She stayed with me with me for *way* longer than the odds said she should have been able to. Take good care of them, make sure your vet knows they are FIV+, and enjoy the time you have with them. If they'll deal with a harness for walks or you're set up to do a "catio" I wouldn't even say they *can't* go outside if the weather's not horrendous. (Also, thumbs up for you, FIV+ or FeLeuk+ kittehs can have trouble finding homes, and in most cases their medical stuff isn't necessarily that big a deal.)
She is so gorgeous! And these are great tips.
I’ve just adopted my tabby cat three weeks ago; these videos are amazing! I’m learning so much. Thank you Dr. Uri! 😁
How does one distinguish between vomiting from sickness and vomiting from hairballs? Because in both cases food will be regurgitated. Also you'll see cats eat plants/grass to help with vomiting.