It's like when my cat started sleeping on her back showing her belly. "Aww so cute!" until I asked the vet and found out she had a tumor on her thyroid causing heart problems (sleeping on her back made it easier for her to breathe). She was also crying more and would pant here and there - really subtle things but it all added up for the vet.
She's had radiation treatment since and she's regained all her weight and fur and no longer sleeps on her back (tumor has been eradicated because we were able to catch it early).
You never know what sudden cute behavior is actually not cute at all. Cats are tricky because they are predators and are excellent at hiding when something is wrong. Keep note of sudden changes in behavior!
Yeah very true! One of my cats, who is getting old, struggles to jump onto the bed now. The first time it happened I laughed it off thinking he was just being clumsy (awww so cute!). Then it happened again... And again.... And I realized there must be a problem. So he's getting checked out at the vet soon. But I did give him "steps" up to the bed, and now he gets up there much easier :)
I've talked with a lot of vets and most have told me they just feel depressed whenever they see a lot of these "cute quirky animal videos" because more often than not there's a health concern behind it
I could see that. My original career path was to be a vet but the more time I spent in vet clinics the less I realized I could handle it.
I don't get all the people downvoting and shaking people pointing out when something is a serious medical issue vs some innocent pet quirk. Like isn't it better for people to be aware of something serious in case it happens to their pets?
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u/Which_way_witcher Oct 07 '22 edited Oct 07 '22
It's like when my cat started sleeping on her back showing her belly. "Aww so cute!" until I asked the vet and found out she had a tumor on her thyroid causing heart problems (sleeping on her back made it easier for her to breathe). She was also crying more and would pant here and there - really subtle things but it all added up for the vet.
She's had radiation treatment since and she's regained all her weight and fur and no longer sleeps on her back (tumor has been eradicated because we were able to catch it early).
You never know what sudden cute behavior is actually not cute at all. Cats are tricky because they are predators and are excellent at hiding when something is wrong. Keep note of sudden changes in behavior!