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Top 5 Signs Your Cat May Be Hiding An Illness

Updated On February 5th, 2015

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Reviewed By Jessica Desrosiers

Cats can be pros at hiding their illnesses until they are very sick.

Whether it is a natural instinct to hide illness in the wild or merely your cat's own stubborn streak getting in the way, knowing the signs of potential illness in your cat is key.

If at any time you see the following signs or your cat just isn't acting himself, consider scheduling a check-up with your vet without delay.

Your cat is suddenly very talkative

An increase in vocalization is one of the first signs many owners notice when their cat is ill.

Cats tend to increase vocalizations when they are in pain or attempting to let owners know that something "isn't right".

A cat may walk around meowing or yowling aimlessly at objects or at the air, or may seek you out and follow you, never stopping even if his needs are taken care of.

Your cat is hiding more

Hiding can be another commonly seen sign of illness.

Cats may want to hide themselves from the commotion of daily activities in order to reduce stress or not alert others to a visible injury or pain. They may also hide if they are feeling ill such as with pain, fever or stomach upset.

If your cat starts suddenly hiding, he may be trying to hide illness. Take note, hiding behavior can be linked to stress or anxiety which can also be addressed by your vet.

Your cat is acting funny

Cats in pain may start to walk or act funny in an attempt to minimize the pain.

They may have a hunched back as they walk, or may protect their abdomens from being petted if they are experiencing stomach pains. They may also sit or lay more frequently to minimize use of a limb that does not feel well.

Cats may also change their routines to avoid showing a visible injury.

Your cat has sudden behavior changes

A sudden change in your cat's personality can indicate that something isn't right.

Your cat may suddenly become more aggressive towards you, striking out and biting or scratching when you attempt to do things that he loved previously.

Your cat may also suddenly become clingy or more affectionate than usual due to not feeling well or in an attempt to tell you something is wrong.

Cats may also have changes in behavior or habits if they are experiencing cognitive problems.

Your cat has accidents

A change in bowel or urinary habit is a big indicator that something is wrong.

Cats experiencing pain from arthritis or illness may miss or stop using the litter box. Cats with digestive or internal pain may also have changes in how often they urinate, or may change stool consistency.

If your cat was perfect about his bathroom habits prior, he may be telling you something with his accidents. Be sure to also bring in a sample of urine or stool to your vet if there are accidents occurring, as they can provide clues to what is causing your cat to feel ill.

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Related Questions

I have a cat that as a kitten was very ill. We got him from 7 months old. We knew he’d had cat flu prior to him coming here. He is now nearly 5 yrs old. He picks huge fights with our other cat. He keeps urinating and scratching at doors and windows around the house. We allow him to go out via the cat flap unlimited. What is happening to him

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Cats can develop what's called diabetic neuropathy, where their hindlegs become progressively weak. The best thing to do is try to get his diabetes under control as quickly as possible. Here is a link describing the conditon: http://www.diabeticcatcare.com/DCCCOK/Neuropathy.htm

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Is there a reason you want to stop the prednisone? I would recommend not stopping it and if you feel it is better to stop the prednisone then I would recommend weaning off of the prednisone. I would discuss how to wean the prednisone with your veterinarian. Thank you for using Boop by Petco.

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My 3 year old long haired tuxedo female pees just fine in the litter box, but she preferred to poop on the bathroom rug or on the carpet behind the sofa. Then, she will go weeks and everything is fine only start pooping outside the box again. I have 4 litter boxes and 3 cats. I clean all several times a day. She is the youngest. I've put wee wee pads down and she lifts them up and poops under them. Any ideas to help? Thanks!

A good first step, if you haven't already, is to rule out any health issues with your vet such as arthritis that may be causing the accidents. Secondly, making sure none of the other cats are bullying her away from the litter box may also alert you to any issues. Thirdly, a good enzymatic cleaner may help reduce the smell/discourage use of these areas in the future. That said, if you've done the above and the issue is still happening, it's probably time to call in a veterinary or animal behaviorist that can visit in person to see what may be going on. They may be able to check for stressors that could be causing the accidents where they are, look for issues with refusal to defecate in the box, or see if there is a cycle that is happening that is triggering this reaction. From there they may be able to set up a more tailored plan to help reduce the accidents and encourage use of the litter box at all times. If you're in the US, you can use this website to help find someone available in your area: https://www.dacvb.org/page/about

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