Hypercalcaemia in cats causes non-specific signs that are frequently missed. Identifying the underlying cause is essential for effective treatment and long-term welfare management.
Hypercalcaemia causes chronic, multi-system suffering that is frequently unrecognised because its signs are non-specific. The cat presented as "off food and a bit quiet" may have calcium levels causing gastrointestinal, neurological, and renal dysfunction simultaneously. The welfare urgency of accurate diagnosis lies in the dual risk of untreated hypercalcaemia: ongoing calcium toxicity causing tissue mineralisation, and the potential to miss lymphoma or other treatable underlying conditions. Idiopathic hypercalcaemia — controllable through dietary management — has a much better prognosis than neoplastic causes, making accurate differentiation welfare-critical. Cats successfully managed on appropriate diets can achieve comfortable long-term quality of life.