My 8-year-old cat is lethargic, eating less. Could it be diabetes?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Loss of appetite can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. I am more concerned about the fact that she is not eating well and that needs to be further addressed as it is unlikely to be due to a urinary tract infection. I recommend that you have Luchadora reevaluated by your veterinarian on Saturday for further assessment and treatment. Keep in mind that if she is not feeling well, they may not proceed with vaccines that day. You may take in a urine sample that day. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Hi! If Cassie were to be diabetic, she would likely be losing weight, despite a good appetite. She would also be drinking more water, and urinating more. The symptoms of a urinary tract infection in cats, are usually: bloody urine, or small frequent urinations, often outside of the litter box. Hope this helps!

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.

I would be concerned by the lack of normal urination in a diabetic pet - they are very prone to urinary tract infections due to higher than normal sugar content in their urine which can encourage bacterial infection. I strongly recommend a urine test to determine exactly what is going on. Your vet may have special cat litter to collect a urine sample or may be able to draw a sample directly from the bladder with a needle in order to investigate fully what is going on

Yes, I think that you should have Ember checked out by a vet. While diabetes is not terribly common in cats of her age, it is still possible. Other possible causes of increased thirst include kidney disease, UTI, or behavioral change. Diabetes and kidney disease can easily be screened for with routine bloodwork and urinalysis.

These signs may be compatible with either kidney failure or diabetes as you correctly suspected, but urinary inflammation/infection is possible as well. Urinary incontinence is possible but rarer in cats. A physical examination and urine analysis at least are necessary to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Unfortunately, this could be a number of things. The first thing I tend to think of in older cats in which renal disease has already been diagnosed is the development of a urinary tract infection, and especially if urinary signs (urinating outside the box, increased frequency of urination, increased drinking, etc) that should be considered. Kidney disease predisposes them to the development of UTI's, and they can quickly become serious in these patients as often times it's not a LOWER UTI (i.e. a bladder infection) but an UPPER UTI (i.e., involving the kidneys). At this point she's only missed one meal, so I wouldn't panic yet - especially because she did eat when you hand fed her. However, do be diligent and consider whether she needs another checkup (to include a urinalysis and potentially x-rays or ultrasound) if this keeps up more than 24 hours, since it's such unusual behavior for her.