The fact is, cats are fairly self-sufficient, and you may not even know when they're sick. It's easy then, to overlook or ignore something that we are sure our cat will recover from. It's equally possible, however, that one or more of these cat symptoms could indicate that your cat may have a serious illness or underlying condition as the cause. Pay close attention to your cat's behavior, and if you notice any of the following possible symptoms, take action right away.

Vomiting - Vomiting is very familiar to cats and cat owners. Hairballs are probably the most common cause of vomiting, and are usually of little concern. Well, except for the clean up. But cats can into all manner of things, so it's not surprising they have a nasty habit of giving some of those things back. They also have allergic reactions to plants and other items that can cause digestive distrubance. It might just be a hairball, but be alert to the possibility of a more severe problem if vomiting continues for any length of time. Excessive vomiting can lead to dehydration, which is a serious condition that may require intravenous fluids, and can result in death.

Diarrhea - Diarrhea, similar to vomiting could be a sign of a more severe problem than just indigestion. It also causes dehydration, so do not let this go on for a long period without contacting your vet.

Refusal to eat or drink - Not eating or drinking for extended periods is suspect. Make sure you know your cat's eating and drinking habits well, and be alert to any changes. Animals who are ill often stop eating, so pay attention to what your cat is trying to tell you.

Lethargy - Cats sleep a lot, it's true. Lethargy, however, is one cat symptom that should not be ignored. It is an indication of a problem and a sign to watch out for. Since cats sleep so much, it may be hard to detect if they are sluggish. If your cat is normally bubbly and active, but suddenly begins sleeping in a corner for an entire day, something is probably wrong. I failed to catch this behavior change with one of my cats once for about a day since she was out in the open and seemed fine. By day two, however, she was too weak to jump, and she ended up needing IV fluids and an antibiotic.

All in all, cats are pretty sturdy creatures, and will recover from mild problems. There will be those times, however, when cat symptoms indicate a more serious condition or danger that must be treated. Be on the alert for those times.