There are many things that can lead to behavioral problems in cats—stress, anxiety, boredom, etc. But there are a few behavioral changes that may suggest that something is happening to your cat internally, and these should be taken very seriously.
You should always have good baseline measurements of your cat’s day-to-day behaviors so that you’ll be able to quickly notice any changes to them. Behavioral problems in cats can be subtle at first, so sometimes small changes to their usual demeanor can signal the start of larger issues. That’s not to say that these types of issues will always have a medical reason behind them, but if behavioral interventions aren’t solving the issues then we need to seriously consider seeing a vet. Let’s cover the basics of a few of these behavioral changes that could warrant a trip to the vet for diagnostics.
Excessive Grooming
Sure, cats like to keep themselves relatively clean. Sometimes they’ll even groom excessively due to boredom. But if your cat is grooming until large chunks of fur are falling out or their skin is getting irritated or erupting into sores, then you need to consider seeing a veterinarian.
These symptoms may suggest something far more serious than just boredom or self-soothing at play, such as some sort of allergy, a toxin in the environment, or thyroid imbalances. You’ll need to consult a vet for testing to see if any of these are the culprit.
Litter Box Problems
Litter box issues can often result from the introduction of new animals or other variables into a cat’s once pristine environment, but they can also signal health related issues as well. People generally notice when their cat is urinating or defecating outside of the litter box, and if there haven’t been any recent environmental changes these issues should always be viewed as a possible sign that something is off internally.
And it’s not just the fact that your cat isn’t using the box that should alert you to potential problems. You should also be taking notice if the frequency, volume, color, or smell of their urine has changed, or if the frequency, mass/volume, color, smell, or consistency of their stool has changed. Drastic changes to any of these variables should grab your attention and get you monitoring their litter box usage more closely.
Oftentimes, litter box issues are the first sign of behavioral problems in cats that suggest something more serious is happening.
Hiding and Reclusiveness
This one can sometimes be subtle, especially if your cat is the independent type. But (barring any recent and obvious environmental stressors, like a new dog, big remodel, etc.) if you notice that your cat is suddenly disappearing for long stretches of time, or ending up in unusual spots that they never used to hang around in, it might be because they’re in pain.
Cats will often quarantine themselves away from the people and other animals around them when they’re not feeling good for some reason. The source of that pain could stem from many different possibilities, ranging from physical injury, to some sort of weakness in one of their organs or systems. Testing will be a necessity to really hone in on imbalances within the body, but you should keep your eyes peeled for any obvious signs that might help narrow things down a bit.
Physical injuries can often be seen through the cat’s gait, gastrointestinal problems may be accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea, urinary issues with unusual patterns of urination, liver problems with a discoloring of the skin and tissues, and neurological conditions are often signaled by loss of balance or seizures. And that’s just skimming the surface. We haven’t even mentioned heart related issues, hormonal ones, inner ear issues, etc.—hence, again, why you really need to be keeping a baseline overview of your cat’s behaviors and be ready to consult a vet if you notice anything off about them.
Hopefully you’ll never have to worry about any of these types of issues, but it’s always best to be vigilant and prepared for anything. Cats are sensitive creatures, so we really need to do our best to catch their (sometimes very subtle) signs that something is not right.
Disclaimer: I’m not a vet and I do not give medical advice.
