INDIANAPOLIS — Recent seasonal weather changes and temperature swings don’t just affect humans; they can take a toll on our feline friends, too, according to pet experts.
Pet Pals TV host Patty Spittler and co-host Giles joined Daybreak this morning with kitty correspondent KJ McGlinn to discuss feline health, seasonal allergies, and how to spot signs that your cat might be hurting in silence.
“We’ve had such a weather change. I don’t know that that’s good for the cats,” McGlinn said. “It’s rough, and there are a lot of allergies that affect cats, just like us, and sometimes weather changes can also affect their joints like ours.”
Because domestic cats are descendants of the African wild cat, McGlinn explained that they’re biologically programmed to hide when they don’t feel well. In the wild, showing vulnerability is considered a weakness.
Because of this survival instinct, cat owners need to pay closer attention to what their pets aren’t doing anymore, rather than just what they are doing.
“If they used to get in bed with you and they don’t jump anymore, maybe see the vet because that might be uncomfortable for them to jump,” McGlinn advised. “If they used to play with a toy a lot and they’re not as active, it may not be that they just choose not to play as much anymore; it might be uncomfortable for them.”
Another major red flag is a sudden change in bathroom habits. While owners sometimes assume a cat is acting out of anger or spite, McGlinn says that litter box issues are actually a vital communication tool.
“The litter box thing we used to think like, ‘Oh, they’re mad about something that’s actually the best way they communicate to us that something is wrong,” McGlinn said. “Whether it’s something that’s stressing them out or something is physically wrong, it’s their best way to tell us.”
One fascinating finding from ongoing research by the Waltham Pet Care Science Institute and Mars Pet Care is that cats with access to vertical perches tend to be more physically active and fit.
McGlinn says that with her own cat, Malcolm, after starting joint medication and gaining access to shelves, he began climbing and running more.
“The furniture industry has caught up to the fact that you want to have a way for your cat to get up high, and then they’re moving around more, and they’re running, and they feel safer because they can look down and see their surroundings,” McGlinn said. “Again, you’re getting in touch with that actual wild cat that’s living inside of them.”
Cat owners should also pay close attention to the sounds their pets make and avoid misinterpreting them. For instance, a purr does not always mean a cat is happy.
“One of the things that we misinterpret often is the purr,” McGlinn added. “A purr can mean that they’re happy, but a purr can also mean that they are stressed and trying to self-soothe. So if you have a cat that hasn’t usually purred that is purring a lot more, that’s another sign like, ‘Hey, maybe we need to go see the vet.’”
Other vocal changes, such as unexpected growling or hissing when picked up, can also indicate underlying physical discomfort or joint pain.
