My cat is hiding, scared, and not eating. Does he need a vet?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This does sound like relatively abnormal for Piper, and can be caused by many things because it is so nonspecific. Loss of appetite can be caused by general pain, intestinal issues such as a foreign body or parasites, and infections. I recommend keeping a close eye on Piper, if you are concerned that his energy and appetite are low, there is valid reason for him to be seen by his vet. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The behavior you describe is definitely a little unusual. Cats are actually somewhat of a prey species, so they are very good at hiding illnesses. I recommend keeping a close eye on Hobbes, and having her seen by a vet if this continues for the next 2 days or so. She should be seen sooner if you feel that she has declined or begins to show signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite. I hope this helps and that all is well!

Hello. It does sound like some event occurred to him. You indicate he is eating, which is good, but are you sure he is using the litter box, especially urinating? If not, this might be a concern. Sometimes when there is a personality change, it is best to first rule out the possibility of an underlying illness or injury. If he is eating & you are sure he is having no difficulties urinating, just watch him over the weekend, but consider having him examined sometime next week if he still seems off. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It sounds like he should be examined by a vet to rule out a medical problem. He could have an infection, parasite, metabolic, and/or endocrine disease and your vet can run blood work to help diagnose and the determine if treatment is needed. Hope he feels better soon!

Hi there. Hiding and not eating are both common signs of illness in cats. These are very vague signs that could be caused by almost anything, so it's hard to say what might be wrong without being able to examine him and run some tests. It does sound like something is wrong, so I would recommend taking Skittles to the vet for an exam as soon as you are able to. He/she can do blood work or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem and get him started on appropriate treatment.

I highly recommend bringing Kittyboy to the veterinarian for a workup of blood work at least. My concern with this is that there is something more going on whether systemic or even a foreign body. I would call your veterinarian today. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It could be that Snoopy has some pain in his neck, and that's why he's make noise when you rub his neck. Being in pain would lead to him to act lethargic and not eat. I'm not sure how long he hasn't eaten, but it can get very serious when a cat doesn't eat for around 72 hours. This is because a cat will develop a fatty liver if they don't eat for this long, and a fatty liver is fatal without treatment. I would avoid touching his neck, and try to tempt him to eat with some boiled white meat chicken, gently warmed really smelly wet food like sardine and fish based, or soaking his dry food in gently warmed beef or chicken broth. Have him seen by a vet for a health check today if possible. Do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. The vet can let you know if he is pain or if something else like an illness is causing his lethargy and anorexia. The vet can also treat him. Good luck, I hope this helps!