Your Ragdoll cat will get sick from time to time and you may not even be aware of it. Your cat cannot tell you when it’s sick; it’s up to you to recognize the symptoms. When you identify symptoms in your Ragdoll cat it is important to contact your veterinarian immediately. Call your vet right away if you notice your Ragdoll is listless, weak, or will not drink water.
Allergies
Your Ragdoll cat is not immune from allergies; like humans cats can suffer from allergic reactions, the most frequent being flea bites. As your Ragdoll cat ages their reactions to allergens such as flea bites increases. Your cat can also develop allergies to food. These allergies manifest themselves in the form of itching, dermatitis, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Diarrhea
If your Ragdoll has frequent diarrhea you should see your veterinarian. Frequent diarrhea that persists for longer than two days requires a visit to the vet with a sample of your Ragdoll cat’s stool.
Feline Diabetes
Symptoms of diabetes in your Ragdoll cat include excessive urination and drinking along with weight loss or sudden obesity. If your Ragdoll cat develops diabetes you need to carefully regulate diet and monitor blood sugar levels. Schedule and keep regular checkups with your veterinarian.
Vomiting
Vomiting is a common problem for cat owners. The most common cause for vomiting is hairballs. When your cat grooms its coat it will swallow loose hair. By regularly grooming your can you can minimize the amount of hair your cat swallows. Hairballs are not limited to longhair cats; even shorthair cats can be affected. Frequent vomiting could also be a symptom of food allergies, thyroid condition, or a kidney infection. Your veterinarian can perform blood tests for these conditions.
Make sure your cat is properly hydrated at all times and get to your veterinarian for a check up if your cat has been vomiting.
Upper Respiratory Infections
Infections of the upper respiratory exhibit cold or flu like symptoms. These include sneezing, runny noses, and red eyes. Consult your veterinarian for treatment.
It is always best to consult your veterinarian for advice regarding your Ragdoll cat rather than self-diagnosing based on what you have read on this site or elsewhere on the internet.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
My male ragdoll has a rash around the top of his eyes and keeps scratching it. The vet gave us an antibiotic which we are giving him but it isn’t going away. They said he is allergic to something but we don’t know what. Any ideas?
Lil
It is probably his food. Cats tend to be allergic to the wheat protein in dry cat food, and also to corn. Try finding a holistic cat food that does not contain wheat or corn.
my ragdoll is listless but all vet tests are clear. we give rosie 1/4 Tramal SR (50mg) once a day as vet thinks she has a virus causing joint pain. She is 1 kilo lighter than her twin brother and doesn’t play like he does in any shape or form. Any Advice wuld be greatly appreciated.