Do you ever get paranoid about your cats health?

Just reading over the threads in the past few days, I have found myself getting a wee bit paranoid, thinking "How am I to know if there is blood in my cat's stools because they cover them immediately?" or "Hey, my cats backs sometimes twitch when I pet them, is that a problem?" or "I think I saw my kittens thrid eyelid before he fell asleep the other night" (I actually was checking all of the cats for dehydration after that)...the list can go on and on.

I know, for me, this is due in large part to the fact that we just suddenly (a few weeks ago) lost our cat to Hepatic Lipidosis, which was a disease I didn't even know existed. I am confident that my other 6 cats are healthy and acting totally normal, but I guess I cannot help but sometimes overanalyze, especially recently. I wonder if maybe this is more common amongst those of us with multiple cats, the fear of missing an important clue?

Please don't get me wrong, I am learning so much from all of the threads here and this is an awesome resource for when there are health issues. It has definitely given me things to look out for that I didn't know about. I definitely advocate looking into anything that seems out of the norm for your pets. I guess I am just wondering if anyone else finds themselves reading things here and then watching your furbabies like a hawk for similar symptoms? (surely I am not the only insane amongst us, LOL)

Does any of this make any sense to you all?

I'm vary paranoid about Rocky's health anyway. He has had health problems from day one, and if I hear him even breathing funny I worry. I've been reading this site for over a year, and I think it has made me more aware of the importance of good food. I'm trying to think if it has made me worry more if my cats have had any different symptoms. I think I did worry more about moving and adding new cats than I would if I didn't go on here, but all went well, but probably because I used the knowlege I had learned here.

and I think it has made me more aware of the importance of good food.

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You know, that is an important thing I have also gained from reading here. I never realized the difference between all of the cat foods out there.

Sending good vibes for continued good health for Rocky!

haha yes, when Samuel had diarrhea I convince myself he had every disease in the book. It was when I started looking up the symptoms of parvo that I realized I was being completely ridiculous.

Originally Posted by eupnea

It was when I started looking up the symptoms of parvo that I realized I was being completely ridiculous.

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Too funny!

Glad to hear I am not the only one out there...

I tend to do the same thing especially with one of my cats that has had health problems. In addition to worrying about them being sick I jump right to figuring out how I am going to pay a large vet bill since I have had two especially large ones with the one that has been sickly.

I think we all do it! But it is wonderful to be able to read about others' experience and then go to the vet with at least the right questions to ask if we think there is something wrong. I have learnt so much on here and I probably owe the lives of three of my cats to the heightened awareness I have gained from the forums.

I lost my Molly fast. She died within a week of starting to show odd symptoms. So yes, I am paranoid about Abby. Whenever she sneezes I start wondering if it is a URI, etc.

I know what you are saying about reading threads and looking for symptoms. I have learned SO much on this site. It's better to be aware of what could be happening to your cat and get things taken care of, instead of waiting until it is too late.

I think that a certain amount of paranoia is good for us kitty parents...it keeps us on the lookout for potiental dangerous health conditions...and yes I do admitt to being very paranoid about my Reilly

I think being paranoid might be good. Sometimes, that could save a cats life.
Also, I think if you ever lose a cat suddenly, it makes us more aware of every little thing because we realize things can be critical and we might not even know it. So just love your kitty and enjoy every minute. When things don't seem quite right, trust your instincts and call the dr.

Oh my goodness, you betcha! I mean, I think a ccertain amount of paranoia is good, but I really think I overdo it a lot of the time.

I'm sure it has a lot to do with my Lola's sudden demise from FeLV.

I constantly worry about Twitch. She cannot hear me, she has no teeth, she has trouble with mouth ulcers, she breathes loudly for no apprent reason, & she is losing her eyesight. She is only 3 years old! I don't worry that much about Lily. She is my healthy one. I haven't even gotten Ophelia to be a "pet" yet, she is still scared of me, & I am worrying about her already. I check her teeth twice a week(she hates me for it). They don't look very good already. The vet cleaned them a little when she got spayed. She is deaf, but as far as I can tell, she & Twitch don't have the same health problems(Ohpelia's aren't as bad).

I do worry about my two fosters, Chico isn't gaining weight like the vet says he should be, & Damita being blind always has me worried she will get stuck somewhere. Deep down, I know Damita won't get stuck anywhere, she is so smart & confindent, but I still worry.

This is a good thread. It is nice to be able to read that others are worry warts just like me!

Paranoid, who me??? Yeah I'm very paranoid. I sometimes wonder if there is a comment in my kitties file saying, cats are fine, but owner is CRAZY. For me I know it came from 2 years of being on what I called "death watch". Smokey died from CRF & watching her slip from me little by little every day has lead me to fear that there is something wrong with one of my kitties & if I don't do something about it i'll loose them.

Our family doctor thinks we're both careless about our health, because neither one of us will go to him unless we're "dying" (I've had emergency surgery twice, and the first time I cut it really close, as I had ruptured tonsils and septicemia), but our vets laugh about my paranoia about our pets' health. Diarrhea? Immediate call for an appointment. Bee sting? Ditto. Allergy test for $800 - of course! Annual check-up? To the day. Hubby isn't that paranoid, but decided about 20 years ago that there was no sense in objecting to vet bills, food costs, the price of cat trees, etc.. We just bought another car, and had picked out a model that we both loved when we both thought, "Will the carriers fit?" The answer was no, so we bought another model.

ALL the time!

My last cat was age 22 when she passed and ate meow mix her whole life (got her as a teenager..parents wouldnt buy anything else). I did fine w/o knowing all the "what ifs".

Now I'm constantly paranoid with Smidge! Our vet is making out like a bandit! It was so bad in the beginning I almost installed a web cam to keep an eye on her all day while I'm at work!

Originally Posted by CDubbie

It was so bad in the beginning I almost installed a web cam to keep an eye on her all day while I'm at work!

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WOuld everyone laugh at me if I told you guys I was considering doing this to watch Raph's eating habits when I'm not at home?

I'm very paranoid, but less and less every year, as I get more experience.

Oh yes. Especially since i found a lump on our Izzys tummy 5 years ago.

Cancer of the mammary gland. I found 1 lump which was operated on and succesfully removed, then 1 year later it was back again in another gland. We were advised that perhaps it should be left as Izzy was older and as it had returned it may be better not to put her through another op as it may return in any event.

We told the vet that we wanted to go ahead. She is fine, no signs of any further lumps these last 4 years (touch wood).

However as a result of that i am forever 'groping' around my cats nipples to check for pea shaped lumps.

Originally Posted by lionessrampant

WOuld everyone laugh at me if I told you guys I was considering doing this to watch Raph's eating habits when I'm not at home?

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Yes but only because it sounds like something I would do. I've actually thought of installing a camera to be sure that they aren't picking on Levi while I'm gone

I just got back from the vet because I thought Stevie's coolie looked swollen. It wasn't, I was just being paranoid!

I love this forum for all of the same reasons described in previous posts. I have learned so much! I even switched foods once I learned how TERRIBLE "grocery store" brands are!!