Should I be concerned?

Question
Hello,

I have a 2 year old, female cat. She goes out regularly and does all her business there, so I can't check her stool or urine.  She is typically active and has a good appetite.  Over the last several days, her interest in food has declined, she appears weak and this morning, I noticed her eyes look watery.  She is not vomiting, sneezing or coughing, but she is sleeping more than usual. She was at the Vet for her regular checkup and vaccinations about a month ago. Because she does go outside, I use revolution for fleas and ticks.  We live in Northern Ohio, where it has become cold and very wet the last several weeks.  Should I be concerned enough to take her to the Vet?

Answer
If she is not eating well I do think its a good idea to take her in.  Cats cannot go for very long without food or they develop liver problems, and chances are she's a little dehydrated too.  The watery eyes could be related, or it could be allergies or an ulcer.  My first thought is a possible abscess since she is an outside cat.  Cat's are notorious for getting them and if she has a fever that can certainly account for her loss of appetite and sleepiness.  Since she is an outside cat, she should also get tested for feline leukemia and FIV annually and when she is not feeling well.  Its also a good idea to have bloodwork run to check for any other problems she might be having.  There are two things I think you can do at home that are good indicators of whether or not she needs to go to the vet right now or you can give her a littler more time to feel better.  The first is check her temperature.  You will need to do this with a rectal thermometer.  The normal temperature for a cat is about 101.0.  Anything over 103.5 is considered a fever, and if gets above 105 she needs immediate medical attention.  You can also check her hydration.  This you can do by pulling up her skin (around her scruff works) and if it drops back down immediately then her hydration is good.  If it goes down slowly then she needs fluids.  Cats are normally borderline dehydrated anyway so they can often get dehydrated when they are not feeling well so aren't eating and drinking as usual.  I hope she starts feeling better.

Amanda