My 15-year-old cat hides, won't eat dry food. Is he sick or picky?

It certainly sounds as though Grey is not feeling well! Inappetance, hiding and vocalization can indicate a number of underlying conditions, but hyperthyroidism is at the top of the list. I recommend taking Grey to her vet for an exam and lab testing (CBC, chemistry, T4/thyroid hormone, urinalysis) to get to the bottom of things. Cats can develop hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) when the stop eating, so her condition is fairly urgent.

In an older cat, my first thought would be dental disease. This would be painful for Krinkle, cause him to eat less, and subsequent weight loss. It could also be that he has diabetes, kidney failure, or hyperthyroidism. Having him seen by a vet this week is a good idea. I hope this helps!

Appetite changes and weight loss in older cats are usually due to an underlying medical problem, rather than just "getting old." Some common possibilities would include chronic kidney or liver disease, diabetes, or dental problems. Many of these issues are very treatable once a diagnosis is made, so I would recommend taking Poppy to the vet for an exam when you are able to. He/she can do blood work to help diagnose the problem and get her started on appropriate treatment.

Sometimes a cat will hide in an unusual location simply because they are not feeling well. He may feel that getting wet is worth it if he feels safer in the bathroom. Given that he has been sick for a few days and he is not eating, I would recommend that you have him seen by a veterinarian. Cats that don't eat for even more than a few days can become quite ill very quickly. In the meantime, I would try to keep him as dry as possible. Perhaps provide a box or bed in the bathroom to see if he would use it rather than the area that he is getting wet in

It is pretty likely that he has a tooth ache, has severe gingivitis or other problems in his mouth that make eating hard dry food difficult, so he will not eat enough to satisfy his hunger. Keep giving him more wet food and schedule an appointment with your vet for a dental exam. Older kitties often have dental problems and eating with a tooth ache is horrible.

Older cats are prone to many diseases, including kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, infections, cancer, etc. He should be examined by a vet for a work-up with blood-work and a urinalysis to help diagnose and then determine the best way to treat and manage his problems.

Hello, and thank you for your question. Did you suddenly switch diets when the problem started? If so, I would suggest going back to his old food and trying a more gradual transition over 7-10 days. If this is not the case, then I would be worried about a more serious underlying cause. Pain, infection, pancreatitis, kidney, liver disease, dental disease, or even cancer are all possibilities. If Felix is not eating, I would recommend getting him seen by a vet within the next 24 hours. Cats that go several days without eating are at risk of secondary liver problems, so it is important that we do not leave this too long. In the meantime, you can try different diets to encourage him to eat anything. I hope this helps, and that Felix is feeling better soon.