Travel & Lifestyle: Warning Signs Veterinarians Would Never Ignore In Cats

Cat owners might be tempted to brush off subtle changes in their feline friends as quirks or temporary moods, but experts warn that even little shifts can indicate underlying health issues that need to be addressed.

“Because cats are mesopredators, meaning they are a species that hunt and are hunted, they have a remarkable ability to hide signs of illness to avoid being prey to predators,” Dr. Tracey Deiss, a veterinarian and feline pain and anxiety medical lead for Zoetis, told HuffPost. “By the time [owners] come in to see me for a suspected problem, the disease is often advanced, making management more challenging. That’s why acknowledging rather than ignoring any atypical sign ― and acting on it ― is important for cat caregivers.”

Unlike other pets, cats tend to be rather subtle creatures, so don’t overlook small shifts in their behavior or health. To help guide people with felines in their homes, HuffPost asked Deiss and other experts to identify the signs and changes they would never ignore in a cat. Read on for 13 things to look out for.

“Healthy cats spend 90% of their day sleeping, but when they are up, they are typically active, playing with toys, climbing to a favorite perch or having the zoomies,” said Dr. Ann Hohenhaus, a senior veterinarian with the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center. “Many cat owners are unaware that cats can develop arthritis. Arthritic cats don’t move around as much as they used to.”

If your cat suddenly stops engaging in any of those active behaviors during their waking hours, don’t ignore that change.

“If I notice my cat is reluctant to jump, climb, run, play or seems to be ‘slowing down,’ it could be a sign of osteoarthritis or osteoarthritis pain,” Deiss said. “Arthritis and arthritis pain doesn’t just affect older cats. Recent studies show 60% of cats 6 years of age and older and 90% of cats 12 years of age and older have signs of osteoarthritis pain. Even cats as young as 2 years of age can be affected.”

“In additional to being power sleepers, cats are also sly,” Hohenhaus said. “Finding them napping in a laundry basket, the back of the linen closet or the recently emptied Amazon box can be a challenge. Hiding is a defense mechanism. Sick cats hide because they don’t feel well enough to evade threats.”

With that in mind, she recommended paying attention if your cat starts hiding more than normal or hiding in unusual places ― which might hint at an undiagnosed illness.

“It raises red flags when a cat starts to change how they’re behaving,” said Dr. Katie Krebs, an assistant professor of clinical primary care at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. “Cats are really good at hiding when they are sick, so if the cat starts to hide more, or go to places in the home that they don’t usually spend much time, or if a normally sweet cat becomes more ornery, that’s a sign that something else might be going on.”

“Some cats may overgroom, which can lead to alopecia, or hair loss,” said Dr. Krista Williams, a veterinarian with VCA Animal Hospitals. “If you notice that your cat is missing hair, make sure to get them checked for any underlying skin disease. If your cat doesn’t have a skin disease, the alopecia may be the result of a compulsive disorder.”

She explained that this behavior can stem from stress, so if it persists, try to incorporate more calming activities into your cat’s routine, like toys with catnip or chews. Access to cardboard boxes and climbing areas can also foster positive mental stimulation and reduce the likelihood of overgrooming.

“If you have noticed your cat licking or nibbling at themselves excessively, then this could indicate a problem, especially if there are bald patches, too,” said Dr. Rebecca MacMillan, a veterinarian with TrustedHousesitters. “Parasites, allergies, pain and stress can all cause a cat to overgroom, so get a vet to check it out.”

“Cats don’t lick their paws as often as dogs do,” Hohenhaus said. “One reason for a cat to excessively lick one paw is an ingrown toenail. If cats don’t have a sturdy scratching post or if they have a nail that grows funny, the nail can grow into a complete circle and grow back around into the paw pad.”

She noted that this can cause the toe to get infected, but trimming the nail can help.

“I would not ignore a cat that has been off their food for more than 24 hours,” MacMillan said. “We all know that some cats can be fussy or might skip a meal now and then. However, a cat that has a sudden reduction in appetite or is refusing food altogether is concerning.”

A cat might stop eating for variety of reasons, but a veterinarian can help you identify the cause in a timely manner, which is crucial.

“Cats are particularly susceptible to hepatic lipidosis ― a potentially fatal liver condition ― when they stop eating for several days,” Deiss warned. “This condition occurs because their bodies start mobilizing fat to the liver for energy, which the liver cannot process efficiently, leading to fat accumulation and liver dysfunction.”

“Cats should urinate regularly, and if no urine is spotted in the litter box for more than 24 hours, that could be a sign of a blockage,” Krebs said. “If not treated promptly, that could be life-threatening for the cat.”

Although any cat can become “blocked,” male cats are particularly at risk for urethral obstructions ― which require immediate veterinary attention.

“If urine can’t be passed, it will build up in the bladder, which is
extremely painful and puts these cats at risk of electrolyte abnormalities,
kidney failure, and death,” MacMillan said. “Don’t leave it until the morning. If your cat has been in and out of the litter tray but produced no urine, then this is concerning. Your cat may also be crying excessively, licking their genitals, and have a painful abdomen.”

“A cat that has suddenly become aggressive should not be dismissed, as they are telling us that they are not happy about something,” MacMillan said. “In my experience, a cat may hiss or strike because they are in pain or feeling unwell. However, we can also see behavioral changes in animals that are stressed or anxious.”

She recommended speaking to your vet to try to get to the bottom of the issue if you observe a sustained change.

“Sudden or gradual changes in a cat’s behavior, such as increased aggression or vocalization, can be a red flag,” Deiss noted. “These changes could be indicative of a myriad of maladies like pain, stress, or underlying health conditions like chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, osteoarthritis, urinary or gastrointestinal disorders.”

“An important thing to not ignore for cats is ‘house soiling,’ or when your cat is eliminating outside their litter box or marking in places around their living space,” Williams said. “This matters beyond just the mess it makes because it can indicate that your cat may have an underlying medical issue.”

Possible health conditions leading to this behavior include bladder stones, bacterial infections, urinary tract conditions and kidney issues, among others.

“While our cats can’t directly communicate their pain to us, they can show it in other ways, such as eliminating outside their litter box,” Williams added. “If you notice your cat engaging in house soiling, you should contact your veterinarian to rule out any possible medical issues and ensure your cat is healthy.”

“Cats’ tendency for dental challenges is often overlooked, as they commonly hide pain and discomfort. They are not as likely to lick you as dogs do, exposing bad breath, which can often alert you of dental issues,” said Dr. Danielle Bernal, a veterinarian with Wellness Pet Food.

Because dental disease is very common in cats, it’s important to look out for signs like bad breath and seek care. Bernal recommended being on alert for other subtle changes in behavior and habits that can indicate dental discomfort ― like drooling, pawing at the mouth or head shaking, changes in eating or drinking habits, decreased grooming, and hiding or isolating, as well as irritability.

“Dental disease can lead to pain, infection and negative impacts to overall health,” she said. “Bacteria can spread to the kidneys, heart and liver. Good dental health is also essential to ensure cats can comfortably obtain the necessary nutrition to support overall wellbeing.”

Hohenhaus recommends using clumping litter, which can be medically useful by allowing cat owners to observe changes in pee ball size and frequency.

“If I see more pee balls than usual, I start to worry that my cat is urinating more frequently. This might mean a urinary tract infection or feline lower urinary tract disease flare-up,” she said. “Another change in pee balls that should not be ignored is bigger pee balls. Bigger pee balls suggest an increased production of urine. Cats produce more urine when they have diabetes, hyperthyroidism or chronic kidney disease.”

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In the event of fewer or no pee balls from a cat that is otherwise feeling well, Hohenhaus advised checking to see if your pet is urinating outside the box and what might be causing this behavioral change.

“Changes in stool consistency or defecation outside the litter pan can be seen with the most common feline medical conditions,” Deiss said. “Cats with osteoarthritis may have difficulty using the litter pan because of osteoarthritis pain, or cats with diabetes can have increased amount and frequency of urination.”

“In dogs, occasionally coughing isn’t something that would generally worry me, but the same is not true for cats,” Krebs said. “In cats, there is a short list of things that can cause coughing, and most of them require some medical intervention.”

Asthma, respiratory infection, allergies, heartworm, inhalation of a foreign object and cancer are among the issues that can lead to coughing in cats.

“I become more worried when coughing develops into respiratory distress or increased respiratory rate and effort,” Krebs added.

“This can be harder to identify in a cat, especially if they don’t routinely let you look in their mouth, but if an animal has gums that are paler than normal, I wouldn’t ignore it,” Krebs said. “This can be a sign that they are losing blood or have poor circulation, and when coupled with lethargy or other clinical signs, is a medical concern.”

Try to familiarize yourself with the usual color of your cat’s mouth so that you’ll recognize atypical developments and can monitor.

“Knowing my cat’s normal physical appearance helps me identify physical changes such as a dull coat or atypical matting, excessive or decreased grooming, weight fluctuations, changes in mobility,” Deiss said. “I also like to check my cats and teach my clients how to check gum and mucous membrane color, respiratory rate, heart rate, and temperature with an ear thermometer to help further investigate any suspected abnormality.”

“Cats are not usually big drinkers, so if your cat’s water bowl is being regularly emptied, don’t ignore this behavior,” MacMillan said. “A cat that is drinking much more water than usual could be suffering from an underlying health complaint.”

Diabetes, kidney disease and hyperthyroidism are among the conditions that can cause an increase in thirst, she added.

“I pay attention to any changes in my cat’s drinking habits,” Deiss said. “A change in water consumption or sudden weight loss could be early signs of several common health conditions including dental disease.”