Has your cat ever spoken up and told you in no uncertain terms that they are sick? Probably not. Cats have a reputation for being independent, mysterious and remarkably good at hiding their weaknesses. That independence, however, can create a problem
for owners: By the time a cat shows any signs, an illness may already have been developing for some time.
So your veterinarian needs to be a true detective, and read the animal’s condition through mysterious clues. One of the most valuable tools in recognizing feline illness is simply knowing what is normal for an individual cat. Changes in eating, drinking, sleeping, grooming, litter-box habits or personality can provide important clues that something is wrong.
One of the first red flags veterinarians watch for is a sudden change in appetite. A cat that normally races to the food bowl but suddenly refuses meals should not simply be assumed to be picky. Loss of appetite can accompany dental problems, gastrointestinal disease, infection, pain and numerous other conditions.
Cats can also develop serious complications when they stop eating, particularly if they are overweight. A cat that refuses food for an extended period should be discussed with a veterinarian rather than being left to”wait it out.”
Changes in drinking habits can be equally significant. A cat suddenly drinking large amounts of water or urinating much more frequently may be showing signs associated with conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease or hyperthyroidism. A noticeable
decrease in drinking can also be concerning.
Second, vets often learn a great deal from what happens inside the litter box.
Straining to urinate, repeatedly visiting the box, producing very little urine, urinating outside the box or finding blood in the urine are all warning signs. Constipation and persistent diarrhea deserve attention as well.
For male cats in particular, difficulty urinating can become a medical emergency. A blocked urinary tract can prevent the cat from eliminating urine and can rapidly become life-threatening. A male cat repeatedly straining in the litter box without producing urine needs immediate veterinary attention.
Is your cat suddenly obsessed with being out of sight? Cats naturally seek out quiet places, but a sudden change in hiding behavior can be a warning sign. A cat that begins spending most of the day underneath a bed, inside a closet or in another unusual hiding place may be experiencing pain or illness. Cats often retreat rather than openly display weakness.
The same applies to personality changes. A normally friendly cat that suddenly becomes withdrawn, or an independent cat that becomes unusually clingy, may be communicating that something is wrong. Irritability, aggression or resistance to being
touched can also be signs of discomfort.
The fur coat we all envy in the winter may be the next big clue. A healthy cat generally takes grooming seriously. When a cat stops grooming, owners may notice a coat that becomes dull, greasy, tangled or matted. That change can be significant because grooming requires energy and flexibility. A cat experiencing pain, weakness or illness may simply stop doing it.
On the other hand, excessive licking or chewing of one particular part of the body can point toward pain, irritation or a skin problem in that area.
Just like when you go to the doctor, if there is sudden weight gain or loss, it could be significant. Slow weight changes can be difficult for owners to see, particularly when they happen over months. Unexplained weight loss is especially important in older cats. It can accompany dental disease, kidney problems, diabetes, hyperthyroidism and other illnesses. Regular veterinary examinations—and occasionally weighing a cat at home—can help identify changes before they become dramatic.
Unlike dogs, cats generally do not breathe through an open mouth simply because they are excited or tired. A cat having trouble breathing needs prompt veterinary attention. Open-mouth breathing, obvious difficulty breathing, wheezing, rapid breathing accompanied by effort or a cat repeatedly stretching its neck in an attempt to breathe can signal a serious emergency.
Has your cat stopped jumping? Cats are remarkably good at adapting to chronic pain.
Instead of limping dramatically, a cat with arthritis or another painful condition may simply stop jumping onto the sofa, climbing stairs or getting onto a favorite windowsill. Owners sometimes interpret these changes as normal aging. Veterinarians, however, may view them as clues that the cat is experiencing discomfort. A cat doesn’t have to cry or limp to be in pain.
We all have to clean up the occasional vomit, but when is it a crisis? An isolated episode of vomiting isn’t necessarily cause for panic. Cats do occasionally vomit hairballs or something that disagreed with them. Repeated vomiting, however, is another matter. Vomiting accompanied by lethargy, blood, abdominal discomfort, dehydration or an inability to keep water down warrants veterinary attention. Suspected ingestion of string, ribbon, medication, toxic plants or another foreign object should also be treated seriously.
When your pet’s face or voice changes, this could be another clue. Squinting, unusual eye discharge, cloudiness, unequal pupils or sudden changes in the appearance of the eyes deserve prompt evaluation.
Dental disease can be particularly deceptive. A cat may have significant oral pain while continuing to eat. Bad breath, drooling, difficulty chewing, dropping food or suddenly preferring soft food can all point toward a mouth problem.
A cat that suddenly begins crying, yowling or vocalizing more than usual may be trying to communicate discomfort. Vocalizing while using the litter box can be especially concerning because it may indicate painful urination or defecation. New nighttime
vocalization in an older cat also deserves investigation rather than automatically being blamed on old age. Several medical and behavioral conditions can cause changes in vocalization.
Perhaps the most important warning sign is one that doesn’t appear on a medical chart: the owner’s instinct that the cat simply isn’t acting like itself. Cats have individual routines. Owners know where their cats sleep, how enthusiastically they eat, how often they visit the litter box, how much they groom and how they normally interact with people.
A cat that suddenly seems quieter, sleeps somewhere unusual, plays less or behaves differently may be giving its owner an early warning. Veterinarians say those observations can be extremely valuable.
The goal isn’t for cat owners to diagnose their pets at home. It is to recognize that something has changed and provide the veterinarian with useful information.
For cats, early recognition can make a significant difference. A missed meal or a quieter-than-usual afternoon may turn out to be nothing. But when several small changes begin appearing together—or when a change is sudden, persistent or worsening—it is time to stop guessing and call the vet. After all, cats may be experts at hiding illness. Their owners don’t have to be experts at overlooking it.