Why is my cat eating less, crying, and climbing? When to see a vet?

If 22 years of age is accurate, that is definitely very old. While cats can live considerably longer than dogs, that is still pretty far past the average lifespan. That being said, I would still advocate taking her into the vet to be examined to see if anything can be done to either make her more comfortable, or to offer you some information as to her quality of life moving forward. Some of the most common issues we see in older cats include kidney disease, thyroid disease, lymphoma (particularly of the gastrointestinal tract), and liver problems. Some of these are addressed with medication while others are far less treatable. I certainly wouldn't advocate just letting her go at home. If anything, if they feel she is in pain then they can make her transition much more peaceful. Hope this makes sense.

Older cats can experience an over active thyroid that can make then walk around vocalizing and change their water intake. They can also experience high blood pressure and a form of dementia that can cause wandering with vocalization. With these symptoms and her age, I would take her for blood work and exam. They can evaluate her health and check her kidneys, thyroid and blood pressure and prescribe what medicine is needed.

I'm so sorry that Cleo is having these problems. Since you mentioned that she is hyperthyroid, I would be sure to check her thyroid level and her blood pressure. If either is high, it could be responsible for the behavioral changes that you are noticing. I would also recommend checking a urine sample since urinary tract infections are common in older female cats to make sure that isn't playing a role in her sudden changes. Cleo is certainly an older girl and not eating as much is certainly a worrying sign, but I would make sure there isn't any treatable explanation for her recent behavioral changes. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your questions. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Yes, I would be worried too. At home you need to make sure that she is drinking water, even if you need to give it to her with an eye dropper. I would recommend to offer her tasty meals-canned food, tuna, chicken and rice. Warmed food is better than cold food so this may also encourage her to eat. Many things could be going on and some causes can be severe. If she begins to have vomiting/diarrhea, stops eating completely or becomes lethargic, get her into the vet sooner. I hope your baby perks up!

I would take Mila into the vet. It sounds like she is painful if she's having a hard time jumping up on the bed, and pain would cause her to eat less and be less playful. The vet can diagnose if she is in pain, what's causing it, and can treat her for it. The vet can also prescribe pain medications as needed. Please do not give her any human ones, as many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Unfortunately yes, weight loss and increased meowing can often be signs of illness in cats. You don't say how old your cat is, but if she is middle-aged or older the first thing I would be concerned about is possible thyroid disease - hyperthyroidism very commonly causes both of these symptoms. It also often causes increased appetite, and sometimes soft stool. Other possible causes could be diabetes, kidney disease, or even a digestive problem like inflammatory bowel disease. I would recommend having Ittybitty examined by a vet - he/she can do a simple blood panel to check for most of these problems, and advise you on treatment options based on the results.

It is probably not normal. I suggest you schedule an exam with your veterinarian for your cat. Your cat may have dental problems (gingivitis and/or tartar, tooth infections), diabetes or another endocrine disease. Oder kitties also often have problems with their kidneys. A thorough clinical exam and blood tests can at least rule out any serious disease that could cause eating less than usual.