When it comes to being a pet parent, it can be so very scary when our cats begin to act sick or strange. First their eating habits may change; they may begin to lie around and even try to find a spot to be alone. All of these signs can be very troubling to us common folk who aren't really sure what these signs are pointing to.

Tired of the constant worry that unusual pet symptoms can bring, we decided to sit down with a local vet to find out exactly what symptoms should be warrant for concern, how to handle them and what they can mean.

Refusal to Come when Called or Dark Brown Wax in the Ear Canal

If your cat seemingly refuses to come when called or if he simply begins to take a little longer to "get it", it could mean that he has gotten a case of ear mites. Another sign of ear mites is dark brown discharge in the ear . . . clear is normal - dark brown is not.

You can purchase drops especially to treat this at your local pet store. If you don't notice an improvement in your cat within two days of administering the drops, give your vet a call. When in doubt, call anyway. Sometimes the comfort brought by a talk with the nurse can make all the difference in your own well being.

Diarrhea or Blood in the Stool

While this is often scary, the cause of these things is often a lot less "messy" than they appear. Diarrhea can often be caused by temporary triggers such as food that didn't agree with kitty or contaminated food eaten from the floor. In most cases, the only reason to start worrying is over diarrhea bouts that are prolonged and become chronic.

Blood in the stool is also often more scary than it is dangerous. The most common cause of blood in the stools is constipation. However, if bleeding is profuse or it lasts longer than a day give the vet a call - it's better to be safe than worried and unable to sleep.

Other Signs that Say Something's Up

If your cat is getting ill you may notice one or more of the following . . .

- Discharge or cloudiness in the eyes

- Red tissue around the eyes . . . pink is normal

- Nose is not cool and damp

- He begins to act strange or unusually sleepy

- His coat is dull and out of his personal "norm"

If you notice any of the following, it could be a sign that your pet is coming down with something. You will probably want to give your vet a call. Before you do, here are a few useful tips for taking kitty's vitals. Knowing these can make all the difference in the doctor telling you to come in afterhours or allowing you to wait it out for a cheaper morning visit the following day . . .

Fevers and How to Determine Them in Your Cat

A good indication that your cat may have a fever is the temperature of their ears. Do they feel hot? If so, you will want to take a rectal reading. If you aren't sure how to do this, you can wait for the vet and simply give him the "news" that his ears are feeling particularly warm. If you do know how to read his temperature properly, a normal temp should read somewhere between 38 to 38.5 Celsius.

Taking Your Kitty's Pulse

Your cat's best pulse point is located right beneath his arm pits. To take his pulse gently press along this area until you find a strong pulse. Normal rates, just like human pulses will vary. A normal kitty pulse should fall between 120 and 170 . . . it just depends on the active lifestyle of your kitty. More active kitties will tend to have lower rates while overweight or less active cats will tend to have a higher rate.

Once you have all the information you need, your vet should be able to tell you what steps to take next. But until then, remember the key to keeping kitty calm is by staying calm yourself. When they see you at ease, they will be more likely to relax . . . and relaxing means getting your pet healthy again fast and right back to pouncing in your lap.

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David Beart is the owner of the PetYak. Our site covers pet related topics from puppies and kittens to raising tropical fish and caring for birds.