Why is my 14-year-old cat lethargic and hiding after eating sardines?

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)

I am so very sorry to hear about Caddy. I am glad she is under veterinary care. I do not think the sardines in sunflower oil are related to her issue, I think it is just a coincidence that she started having problems around the same time as the sardines. The sardines could potentially cause GI upset or pancreatitis if she had a very sensitive stomach, but would not cause neurological issues.

There can be many causes for the sudden change in activity level, including unhappiness with the new food flavor, pain from arthritis or another source of pain, GI upset from food allergy or dietary intolerance, anemia, constipation, infection, among many others. I would keep a close eye on his food and water intake, and monitor his bowel movements and urinations. If he is not back to himself in 48 hours, or if additional symptoms develop, he should see a vet for and exam and appropriate diagnostics.

I'm sorry to hear that Lily has been feeling so poorly today. As Dr. Melanie mentioned, lethargy and a loss of appetite can be due to many underlying health conditions. Since she seems to prefer laying down, it's also possible that she's experiencing some degree of pain or discomfort. Some of these possible conditions include pancreatitis, infectious diseases (FIV, feline leukemia, FIP, etc.), constipation, kidney disease, liver disease, toxin exposure (did she eat a plant, medication or something else she shouldn't have?), or many other conditions. The fact that she hasn't been using the litter box normally might be a sign that she is dehydrated, even though she's drinking water when it's placed in front of her. At this point, it would be best to take Lily to her vet fairly urgently for evaluation. Your vet will need to examine her and will likely recommend some diagnostic testing, which may include blood work, an ultrasound or x-rays, to get to the bottom of this issue. I hope that she feels better soon!

Poor Garfield. At age 17 that is an awful lot going on and I'd be worried there is an underlying issue such as kidney or organ failure, disease, etc. Since he's so old and is having so many symptoms, it's best to bring him to your vet ASAP. They will likely want to run a few tests such as bloodwork or an X-ray to check his organ function, etc. If you can, bringing in urine or stool samples can also help with any testing and help streamline the process. Until you can get the vet, keeping him as comfortable as possible and keeping his eyes and nose clear with a clean washcloth can help. Some cats also do better eating if they can smell the food, so warming up his food or adding some boiled chicken that is smelly may encourage him to eat a little until you can be seen.

It is difficult to tell for sure without checking her over. It could be that her colitis is making her feel run down or it could be a slight worsening of one of her other conditions. I would recommend to keep an eye on how much she is drinking and how is her appetite and if she is having any vomiting. If she is just a little lethargic, I would book her in for a check up with your vet in the morning. Whilst if she is vomiting orhaving more diarrhoea than usual, I would recommend an earlier check up.

Poor girl. Cats typically recover from sedation within 12-24 hrs. Also they generally will still want to eat, even if its just a little bit. Try offering her some canned cat food or canned tuna to try an entice her to eat. If she got fluids yesterday, then she likely isn't thirsty yet. If she isn't herself by tomorrow, then its best to have her re-examined by your vet or get a second opinion. Her thyroid condition alone should not cause her to be quite this ill, so there may be something else going on here. I do hope that Meg is able to return to normal soon! Best wishes and take care.