Cushing's disease in cats – signs and vet care

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: International Cat Care (iCatCare)

Book a vet visit

Book a vet appointment if you think your cat has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. Cushing's disease is a condition in cats also known as hyperadrenocorticism.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet if you think your cat may have Cushing's disease
Note when you first noticed the signs, how often they happen and what else you see
Take a photo or short video to show the vet
Keep fresh water available
Let your cat rest somewhere calm

Don't

Do not give your cat any human medicine
Do not wait if your cat gets worse

What it is

Cushing's disease, also known as hyperadrenocorticism, affects cats and dogs but is uncommon in cats. [1]^[1] Successful treatment is possible in cats, although the condition is generally easier to control in dogs. [1]^[1]

Signs

Drinking more than normal and passing urine more often than normal
Increased appetite
A pot-bellied appearance
Lethargy or tiredness
Muscle loss and weakness
Poor coat condition
Hair loss
Curling of the ear tips
Thin and fragile skin

How a vet finds out

Routine blood tests may help initially rule out some more common causes of your cat's signs
Urine cortisol measurements
An ACTH-stimulation test

How vets treat it

For iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism, a vet may manage the condition with a controlled, gradual withdrawal of the cortisol-like drug being given for another condition
If needed, a vet may find an alternative drug to the one being used

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

Is Cushing's disease common in cats?

Cushing's disease is uncommon in cats. [1]^[1]

What signs can Cushing's disease cause in cats?

Signs can include drinking and passing urine more often than normal, increased appetite, a pot-bellied appearance, tiredness, muscle loss and weakness, poor coat condition, hair loss, curling of the ear tips, and thin, fragile skin. [1]^[1]

How might a vet investigate Cushing's disease?

A vet may use routine blood tests initially, followed by more specific tests such as urine cortisol measurements or an ACTH-stimulation test. [1]^[1]

Sources

International Cat Care (iCatCare)

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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