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Why is my cat suddenly lethargic, not eating, and sleeping all day?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Ragdoll | Male

Hi there, my cat has recently changed behaviour. Since yesterday morning, he hasn’t been eating, drinking or moving around very much, just laying down in one or two spots every so often. My mum thinks he is in shock for some reason, whether it be a dog, or a car, etc. There are no wounds that we have found so far, just that he won’t eat or drink anything, which is concerning. Was wondering if you had any ideas of what to do, as he is just sleeping 24/7 now. Thanks in advance..

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Mara Howard, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 20th, 2017

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Jax hasn't been feeling well. Does he go outside? If he does, even if you can't find one right now I would be concerned that he suffered a bite of some kind, as cats can develop abscesses fairly easily when they suffer a trauma. I would be concerned by his behavior, as it does sound like there may be an underlying issue going on, such as an infection, GI upset, or an underlying medical issue (such as kidney disease or diabetes). If he doesn't perk up, start eating and getting some energy back, I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for his change in behavior, have any necessary testing done (xrays, bloodwork) and start any treatment he may need to resolve it. Good luck!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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