Hypercalcemia (elevated blood calcium) is a common but often overlooked condition in cats that causes significant suffering if left untreated. Understanding the causes leads to effective intervention.
Cats with hypercalcemia experience multiple welfare impacts simultaneously. Elevated calcium makes them feel persistently unwell - lethargic, nauseated, and weak. The secondary kidney damage caused by high calcium further reduces quality of life. Cats with untreated hypercalcemia may gradually decline over months before owners recognize the problem. The good news is that dietary management is often highly effective for idiopathic cases - many cats respond well to prescription low-calcium diets within weeks. The welfare imperative is early detection through routine bloodwork and prompt intervention, because the suffering from this condition is both significant and largely avoidable.