Cats can hide illness symptoms, so be aware

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DEAR PAW’S CORNER: My cat Sisko became very unaffectionate a few days ago. He hid under the bed or crouched in the corner of the living room and refused to cuddle. Then I noticed when he sat in the litter box that he meowed as if he was in distress. I called the veterinarian, and they had me bring him right in. Turns out that Sisko had a urinary tract infection! He’s doing fine now, but I wanted to tell my story so that other readers will know that a sudden behavior change in their cat could be a medical problem. – Kurt W., Parsippany, New Jersey

DEAR KURT: Thank you for sharing! You did absolutely the right thing: You noticed a sudden change in your cat’s behavior, kept a closer eye on his activities and litter habits, and contacted the vet’s office to share your observations and get advice.

Cats are very secretive about their health. It’s an instinctive behavior that helped their ancestors hide from predators. So it is common for owners not to notice when their cat is experiencing pain, such as a sore tooth or an illness like a urinary tract infection.

While the occasional hairball episode isn’t a cause for concern, there are some symptoms that should prompt a call to the vet for an appointment.

• Your cat acts withdrawn, sits hunched over, refuses to play or be petted.
• Eating or drinking habits change.
• Litter box behavior changes: meowing, missing the box or noticeable diarrhea.
• Grooming problems develop, or they have clumpy fur or irritated skin.
• Physical symptoms: eye or ear discharge, strange breathing, unusual vomiting, lethargy or drooling.

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