Cat Behaviour Changes That Could Signal a Problem

In this guide

Cats are experts at masking illness. A shift in everyday behaviour is often the earliest, and sometimes the only, clue something is wrong.

As natural prey animals as well as predators, cats have a strong instinct to hide signs of weakness or pain, since appearing vulnerable would have been dangerous in the wild. This means that by the time a cat is showing obvious symptoms, an underlying issue may already be fairly advanced. Paying attention to subtler behavioural shifts is one of the most useful things an owner can do.

Changes worth taking seriously

• A drop in appetite, or conversely a sudden increase, especially alongside weight change
• Reduced grooming, leading to a scruffy or matted coat, which can indicate pain or general unwellness
• Increased hiding, or a previously social cat becoming withdrawn
• New or increased aggression, particularly in a cat with no prior history of it, since this can point to pain being triggered by touch or movement
• Litter box changes, including straining, going more or less often, or eliminating outside the box for the first time
• Altered sleep patterns or activity levels, such as a previously energetic cat becoming noticeably lethargic
• A change in vocalising, either becoming unusually quiet or suddenly much more vocal than normal
• Disorientation, unsteady movement, or bumping into furniture, which can point to a range of issues from an ear problem to a neurological one

Why a vet visit should come early, not last

It is tempting to wait and see whether a subtle change resolves on its own, particularly since cats are so good at appearing fine most of the time. Because so many feline illnesses, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, dental pain, diabetes, present first as behavioural shifts rather than obvious physical symptoms, a vet visit for any persistent change lasting more than a day or two is the safer approach, rather than waiting for a more dramatic symptom to appear.

Keeping a simple record

Noting when a change started, how consistent it has been, and any other shifts happening around the same time, in food, environment, or household routine, gives a vet a genuinely useful starting point, and often speeds up an accurate diagnosis considerably.

One commonly missed cause worth a special mention

Dental disease is thought to affect the majority of cats over a few years of age to some degree, yet it is very often missed at home, since cats rarely stop eating altogether even with significant mouth pain, and instead show subtler signs such as chewing more on one side, dropping food, mild reluctance to eat harder kibble, or increased drooling. A yearly dental check as part of a routine vet visit catches far more of this than waiting for an owner to notice a behaviour change first.

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