Author: Katie Grzyb, DVM

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Facial swelling in cats is usually a noticeable sign of inflammation within or under the skin. You will usually see it around a cat’s eyes or nose area, but sometimes you can see swelling on a cat’s cheek or under their chin. Facial swelling can show up suddenly or over time and is usually a cause for concern. It can be caused by a variety of medical issues, all of which require appropriate diagnosis and therapy to make the swelling go down. What To Do if Your Cat’s Face Is Swollen If your cat’s face suddenly swells and/or is paired with any of the following, take them to the emergency veterinarian as soon as possible: Lethargy Having trouble breathing Collapse Decreased appetite Wounds Vomiting Diarrhea Hives Hair loss Having trouble eating If your cat’s face has slowly become swollen and your cat is otherwise acting happy and alert, and is eating well, then it is OK to wait a few days to see your veterinarian. There are few to no at-home remedies for facial swelling in cats, though. Do not give your cat any medications that are intended for people, as some contain ingredients that are toxic—sometimes lethal—for animals, even over-the-counter drugs.

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WRITTEN BYKatie Grzyb, DVM Veterinarian Dr. Katie Grzyb received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University in 2009. She continued her clinical training at…,The following content may contain Chewy links. PetMD is operated by Chewy.  Cats are known to hide illnesses, so it can be hard to spot the signs that your cat is sick. One great signal of your cat’s overall health is the color of their gums. A healthy cat’s gums should be a light shade of pink. If your cat has dark pink or red gums, this could be a sign of an underlying health issue. It’s also important to note if there are small, pinpoint red bruises or if the redness is only around the base of the teeth or at the gumline. Each of these can mean different things and can help determine if there is an emerging illness that requires immediate assessment by a veterinarian. Causes of Red Gums in Cats Red gums are a symptom of an underlying issue that can range from mild to potentially serious. Some of the reasons your cat’s gums might be red include: Gingivitis Gingivitis is a medical condition where the gumline becomes red and swollen. It’s caused by plaque building up along the gumline. Over time, bacteria infiltrate the plaque and trigger an immune reaction. This leads to inflammation, redness, swelling, and pain. Gingivitis is often caused by poor oral hygiene, tooth crowding, or an underlying illness. It can range from mild to severe and will get worse without appropriate dental therapy from a veterinarian. Red, inflamed gums on a cat with severe dental disease (Photo credit: Sandra Mitchell, DVM) Stomatitis Stomatitis is characterized by severe inflammation that’s spread throughout most or all of the oral cavity, including the gums, tongue, palate, or lips. It often accompanies gingivitis and may be related to an immune response to the bacteria that’s trapped in dental plaque. It is often very painful and may have symptoms like lethargy, drooling, lack of appetite, and poor grooming practices. If you see these signs at home, bring your feline to a veterinarian for evaluation.   Underlying Illness Several diseases can cause gingivitis and inflamed gums, including feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), calicivirus, diabetes mellitus, or kidney failure. You might also see severe periodontal disease or ulcerations or the gums and tongue. Heatstroke Normal cat body temperatures range from 99 to 102.5°F. Heatstroke in cats can happen when their body temperature reaches 104°F. The most common cause of heatstroke is prolonged exposure to heat without good ventilation. Cats aren’t great at regulating their body temperatures. They don’t sweat and only rarely pant—two ways of releasing heat from the body. Instead, a cat will typically move to a cooler area to lower their internal temperature. If they can’t get to a cooler spot, their internal temperature can rise to the point where it could cause organ damage or even death. Obese cats, breeds with flat faces, cats that are ill, kittens, and older cats are more prone to heatstroke. Signs of heatstroke in cats include dark red gums and tongue, rapid heart rate, vomiting, diarrhea, panting or fast respiratory rate, lethargy, disorientation, drooling, or seizures. If you suspect heatstroke, take your cat to a veterinarian immediately, as this can be fatal if left untreated.   Toxins Cyanide poisoning can cause red gums, dilated pupils, panting, and vomiting in cats. Cyanide poisoning is most commonly caused by eating certain plants, fertilizers, pesticides, or a lot of apple seeds, stems, or leaves. If you’re worried that your cat has ingested cyanide, which can be fatal, take them to a veterinarian immediately. Rat poison is another common poison that may cause gum discoloration. Some rat poison contains chemicals (anticoagulants) that stop the blood from clotting, which can lead to excess bleeding. An early sign of rat poisoning is seeing small red dots on the gums, ears, or eyes. This can progress to larger bruises on a cat’s body as well as internal bleeding. This is fatal if left untreated. Take your cat to the veterinarian immediately if you think they were exposed to rat poison or if you see red spots on their gums, ears, or eyes.

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Domestic cats are descendants of larger felines that did not require much water for everyday living. Cats drink small amounts of water throughout the day, while dogs lap up large amounts at a time. Even though cats don’t drink huge amounts of water, hydration is necessary for the body to survive and to perform vital jobs. That’s why it’s important to note when your cat is drinking less water than usual. If you start noticing that your cat is going to the water bowl less frequently, contact your veterinarian to discuss possible causes. Why Is My Cat Not Drinking Water? Cats may stop or slow down their water intake for a variety of reasons, including: They have sufficient hydration. Since cats require less water than dogs, they may already be appropriately hydrated. The water bowl isn’t clean enough. Cats pride themselves on cleanliness, so it is important to keep water bowls clean and filled with fresh water. Dust, fur, or bacteria in the bowl may cause your cat to avoid drinking from it. The water bowl is not in a cat-friendly place. Cats are creatures of habit, so they may not appreciate it if you change the location of their bowls. Placing water bowls in high-anxiety locations, such as near loud washing machines or around other alpha animals in the house, may also cause them to avoid drinking. Place several water bowls around the house in quiet, safe areas to tempt your cat to drink. Your cat may have dental disease. Tooth or mouth pain may cause your cat to stop drinking due to discomfort. Other signs of dental disease include decreased appetite, dropping food when eating, pawing at the face or mouth, facial swelling, and drooling. Your cat may have a condition that causes gastrointestinal upset. Gastroenteritis, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, cancers, and other diseases may cause your feline friend to decrease or stop water intake.

How Vets Diagnose Dandruff in Cats Taking a thorough health history and doing a physical examination are the first steps in diagnosing dandruff in cats, followed by investigating the underlying cause. Testing may include: Full blood work: complete blood count, serum chemistry, thyroid levels, and electrolytes to assess for systemic disease Fecal testing: to rule out intestinal parasite infection, which can lead to dry skin and poor haircoat Skin scraping or hair plucking: to assess for mites, lice, fleas, or ticks Skin culture: to assess for bacteria or ringworm on the skin,How to Get Rid of Cat Dandruff Treatment of dandruff is based on the underlying cause, which often requires investigation by your veterinarian. If blood work and skin testing uncover no obvious medical conditions, your vet can recommend diet changes, environmental/grooming changes, and/or holistic supplements to help treat the dandruff. Over-the-counter treatments that can be considered include omega-3 fatty acid supplements. Your veterinarian can make recommendations for feline-specific options that avoid heavy metals or other elements that may be toxic to cats but are often found in human supplementation. Anti-seborrheic shampoos and topical treatments such as Douxo-S3 or DermaBenSs can be helpful. Sometimes oral antibiotics, steroids, and/or immunosuppressive medications need to be considered if holistic supplements, appropriate grooming, appropriate diet, and appropriate temperature/humidity maintenance fail to help. Veterinarians may recommend changing to a novel protein (such as duck, whitefish, venison, rabbit) or a hypoallergenic diet if food allergy is suspected. Brushing and flea prevention are also recommended, especially for outdoor cats and/or cats that cannot groom themselves appropriately due to arthritis or obesity. If your cat has dandruff lasting more than a couple weeks, if it is paired with scabbing, itching, changes in behavior, vomiting, lethargy, or decreased appetite, or if you see fleas, mites, or ticks on your cat, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Featured Image: Adobe/chendongshan,Seborrhea, otherwise known as scaling of the skin, is an uncommon condition in cats. This scaling is made of dead skin cells (called corneocytes) that accumulate on the skin, hair follicles, or hair coat. When this scaling builds up on the hair coat, it’s called dandruff. Dandruff can be caused by several conditions that affect a cat’s entire body.

WRITTEN BYKatie Grzyb, DVM Veterinarian Dr. Katie Grzyb received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University in 2009. She continued her clinical training at…,  Eye problems are some of the most common health issues that cats face. A cloudy eye is often one of the first clinical signs noted by pet parents. Conditions that cause cloudiness in the eye can range from mild to severe. Cats of all ages can be at risk for cloudiness in the eye, although the reasons tend to differ among life stages. What To Do if Your Cat’s Eyes Are Cloudy It can be difficult to determine when eye cloudiness is a medical emergency. If the cloudiness is gradual and is noted in both eyes, then you can likely wait to see your veterinarian for evaluation. If the cloudiness is sudden or paired with pain, squinting, excessive tearing, swelling, bulging, redness, yellow/green or bloody discharge, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, swollen joints/lameness, fever, or lack of appetite, then bring your cat to your veterinarian or emergency vet as soon as possible. Many cat eye issues can worsen without appropriate treatment, even leading to blindness or rupture of the eye. So it’s important to have your cat evaluated as soon as possible if you are concerned, if it’s sudden, or if or your cat seems to be in pain.