Is my aging cat's change in behavior normal or a vet emergency?

If all his bloodwork was normal that rules out kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, etc. If your vet did not test for hyperthyroidism than a test should be done. An x-ray and/or ultrasound is defintely needed and will, hopefully, provide more information. He could have an infection, cancer, or obstruction/foreign body to name a few other possibilities. If he is not able to keep food down, I am not sure waiting until Friday is a good idea. He may continue to weaken and may become dehydrated. If your vet can't take an x-ray then you could consider taking him to an emergency clinic or another vet that can. An anti-vomiting injection may be helpfull if your vet didn't give him one. I hope that his problem is diagnosed and treated soon!

Mojo sounds extremely sick. Unfortunately, without examining him, I can't determine the cause of his lethargy and inappetence. Some possible causes include a severe abscess/infection, virus, cancer, among others. Cats that do not eat normally can develop a condition known as hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) which can be quite severe. If he is not drinking normally, he is likely quite dehydrated. At this point, Mojo must be seen by a vet immediately for an exam, diagnostic testing, and may even need to be hospitalized for fluid therapy and other supportive treatments.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If Willow did not have her blood tested when she was in for her exam I would highly recommend having the vet pull a blood sample and check to see if she has any abnormal values. Kidney disease is something we quite commonly see in older cats and this certainly could be the cause of the vomiting / decreased appetite. The sooner her blood is tested the better and the faster you will know what is going on with her. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi Pamela, Sometimes basic blood work does not give us all the answers we need. If your vet did not include any treatment, I would recommend contacting them and letting them know that Moxie has continued to do poorly. They may recommend trying fluids or some other medications or may recommend rechecking her temperature and examination, then considering some additional tests. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Moxie feels better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If blood work was not performed then I would definitely recommend this. If the blood test comes back normal or did come back normal and she is still having issues, I would recommend further diagnostics such as x-rays and / or an abdominal ultrasound. I hope Martha gets better soon! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further!

These signs are probably not due to old age alone and there is likely something going on with Shadoe. Unfortunately, without a full physical exam and diagnostic testing, it is not possible to determine what could be causing these signs. However, lethargy and eating and drinking very little along with weight loss are very concerning signs that warrant a visit to the veterinarian. Here are some resources that will hopefully help you afford a vet for Shadoe: 1) You can see if your vet accepts payment plans. 2) Look for a low cost clinic in your area 3) Try to apply for Care Credit online (www.carecredit.com) 4) There is an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants (redrover.org) 5) Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website (bestfriends.org)

Hello. It would be very difficult to say if this is just a normal change in behavior, or if something is amiss. If all he is doing is napping elsewhere, has normal food & water intake, normal litter box habits, then I would just continue to observe him for a few day more. See if something else may develop or concern you, then maybe have him examined by your vet. He may be trying to develop something, or he has just decided himself to nap elsewhere. You know his habits better than anyone, so if it continues to concern you, have him seen. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.