THE TOP TEN SUBTLE SIGNS OF ILLNESS EVERY CAT OWNER SHOULD BE

There are many times during your cat's life that you may wonder if medical attention is needed.  The obvious problems of bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea, eye injury and lameness are easy.  The problem is that cats are masters of hiding their illnesses.  As discussed in previous lectures, they have an innate desire to prevent others from knowing there is a problem.  Doing so may get them injured or worse yet, killed.  That defense is great for the non-domesticated cat but what about your housemate?  Every owner needs to understand what to look for to know that their kitty may be ill.  Doing so will assist your veterinarian with early and proper diagnostic clues which will lead to a more favorable outcome in most circumstances.  Additionally, since kitties age quicker than humans, it is very important to maintain a minimum of twice yearly examinations.  The following summaries are from the Healthy Cats for Life put out by the American Association of Feline Practitioners.

1.  Inappropriate Elimination Behavior or Litter Box Use:  Inappropriate and annoying elimination behaviors by your cat can often indicate an underlying medical condition and despite what many people think, are not your cat's way of "getting back" at you.  Oftentimes, these can be signs of urinary tract issues, diabetes or even osteoarthritis which prevents your kitty from getting into the box.

2.  Changes in Interaction:  Cats enjoy their family, including people and other pets.  If there is a chanage in your cat's normal behavior, it may signal anxiety or a disease.  It could also be a sign of pain, a leading cause of aggression.

3.  Changes in Activity:  It is very important to understand that cats don't usually slow down just because they are old.  Age is not a disease.  In fact, some diseases can actually cause an increase in activity in an older cat.  Leading causes of a decrease in activity are usually related to joint discomfort or systemic illnesses.

4.  Changes in Sleeping Habits:  As noted in previous lectures, the average adult cat may sleep 16-78 hours per day.  The key to differentiating  abnormal lethargy from normal napping is knowing your cat's sleeping patterns.  Additionally, an increase in activity may signal issues such as hypertension (high blood pressure).  Also watch for any discomfort when laying down or getting up.
 
5.  Changes in Food and Water Consumption:  Most cats are not "finicky" eaters.  Look for changes, both an increase or decrease in food AND water.  Many times problems, such as intestinal cancer, can be diagnosed at earlier, treatable stages just by knowing your cat's normal appetite.

6.  Unexplained Weight Loss or Gain:  Weight changes often go unnoticed because of a cat's thick haircoat.  All cats need to be palpated to interpret body condition and muscle mass.  A change in weight does not necessarily correlate with a change in appetite.  For example, in hyperthyroidism, most cats will have a large appetite but will lose weight.  If your cat goes to the food dish and then backs away from it without eating,  there may be a problem with pain or nausea.  On the other hand, obesity is a serious health concern in cats with an increased risk of diabetes, liver failure. joint disease and other problems.

7.  Changes in Grooming:  Cats are typically fastidious groomers.  A decrease in grooming behavior can indicate a number of conditions including fear, anxiety, obesity, or other illness.  Signs of grooming changes include matting, patches of hair loss, a greasy feel to the haircoat and persistent licking or chewing at the coat.

8.  Signs of Stress:  Dr. Tony Buffington has multiple studies linking stress with disease in the cat.  Your cat can feel stress despite having an "easy" life.  Boredom and sudden changes are common causes of stress in cats.  Cats like a routine.  Stressed cats may demonstrate decreased grooming and social interaction, spend more time awake and scanning their environment, hide more, withdraw and exhibit signs of depression.  Additionally, they may have an increased or decreased appetite.

9.  Changes in Vocalization:  Increased vocalization, especially in the older cat, can be a sign of pain, anxiety or disease.  It is very important to have your cat checked for medical issues associated with this change.

10. Bad Breath:  Dental disease is considered a silent disease because without good control, secondary effects on the body, especially the kidneys can occur.  Bad breath can also be an indicator of problems within the body such as certain toxicities and kidney failure.


All cats should have regular, twice yearly examinations which include a current dietary history, activity and behavior history, medication update and physical examination.  The examination should ALWAYS include a weight check, blood pressure evaluation and a thorough check over of each body system.  If a cat is anxious , aggressive or frightened, sedatives or anxiolytics should be considered because there may be a true medical condition contributing to the cat’s behavior.  Advice is available to assist you on helping your cat have pleasant car rides and veterinary visits.  It is imperative that cats be handled in a calm manner to prevent anxiety and to allow for a beneficial visit.