My cat was hiding, now she's social. Is she recovering from illness?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The behavior you describe is definitely a little unusual. Cats are actually somewhat of a prey species, so they are very good at hiding illnesses. I recommend keeping a close eye on Hobbes, and having her seen by a vet if this continues for the next 2 days or so. She should be seen sooner if you feel that she has declined or begins to show signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite. I hope this helps and that all is well!

Hello. It does sound like some event occurred to him. You indicate he is eating, which is good, but are you sure he is using the litter box, especially urinating? If not, this might be a concern. Sometimes when there is a personality change, it is best to first rule out the possibility of an underlying illness or injury. If he is eating & you are sure he is having no difficulties urinating, just watch him over the weekend, but consider having him examined sometime next week if he still seems off. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Stress can cause cats to hide or act abnormally. For example if you had house guests or got a new pet this could stress your cat out. However medical issues can also cause cats to hide. Cats may hide if they are feeling bad. I would keep a very close eye on your cats appetite, water intake, BMs, and urine if your cat is hiding. If you notice anything that is not normal I would take your cat in for a thorough exam and some basic bloodwork. Older cats can be prone to things like diabetes, renal disease, and hyperthyriodism. These can be fairly well managed with meds once daignosed. If your cat is a male, keep a very close eye on the litter box and be sure he is urinating ok. Male cats can get thier urethra blocked and become unable to urinate. This is an emergency and can be fatal very quickly if left untreated. If it turns out to be just stress I reccomend trying a product called Feliway. Feliway mimcks the phermone produced by mother cats and has a calming effect on cats. Feliway should be available over the counter at your local vet. hope this helps

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It could be due to the stress related to that event you describe. Cats can sometimes be very sensitive to things that scare them. If this is the case, things should improve shortly. If no improvement is noted in the next few weeks or your kitty develops symptoms like inappetence or lethargy have your veterinarian take a look. Good luck!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! What clinical signs was she exhibiting that indicated she was ill: vomiting, coughing, sneezing, inappetance, etc? It is not uncommon for kittens to acquire respiratory infections if they were obtained from a shelter/rescue setting and this can certainly make them feel ill. If Luna appears back to her normal self and is eating/drinking normally, no vomiting/diarrhea, or other signs are noted then I would suspect she is okay at this point. If she is still exhibiting any abnormalities of any kind I would certainly have her evaluated by her veterinarian. Based on her physical examination with the doctor, a minimum database (complete blood count, serum chemistry, +/- urinalysis, +/- FeLV/FIV test), fecal diagnostics, or radiographs may be recommended.

Cats may hide if scared or not feeling well. Try to determine is anything has changed around the house that may have spooked her. Any new people or pets, a move, or sudden change in schedule. If you can't think of anything then monitor health closely. Eating, drinking and litter box habits. Notice any vomiting or diarrhea. And if she is acting ill take her in for a vet visit.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Vomiting can occur from many conditions such as foreign body ingestion and obstruction, pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, among other possibilities. Hiding is a sign of sicknesss or discomfort in cats usually. I recommend that you have Luna evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. This will likely require bloodwork and abdominal imaging in terms of diagnostics. Treatment would be based on findings. At the very least your veterinarian could start her on medications to make her feel better. In the meantime, keep water available at all times to try to prevent dehydration. Good luck and have a good night!