My cat is lethargic and won't eat. Is Royal Canin Urinary SO the problem?

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 think this is a very good food for treating crystalluria, and there are some differences between this food and urinary foods by other companies like Hill's. One difference that comes to mind is the calorie content - Royal Canin SO tends to be lower in calories than Hill's c/d. You may want to ask your veterinarian about the Royal Canin SO Olfactory attraction food which is supposed to be more palatable for cats, or if Bean really seems to dislike it you could ask about switching to another therapeutic diet. There are no over the counter alternatives that are proven to prevent urinary crystals in cats.

Please make sure he is passing urine. As you know male cats can get a urinary blockage that can quickly become life threatening. If he’s not urinating that is a medical emergency so take him in right away to have him checked. Vomiting and lethargy can be a sign also. They can get kidney damage from this too. Even if you are feeding the special food a blockage could still occur. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Loki.

Lethargy can be concerning and indicate a medical problem, but it's encouraging to know that he is eating and eliminating well. Sudden lethargy is not too concerning in a kitten unless you are noticing other signs of illness, heavy breathing, or pale gums. Kittens can normally appear very lethargic at certain times of the day. It would also depend on how long this has been going on. If it's less than two hours, then I wouldn't worry. If it's longer than four hours then I would be more concerned. If it's been all day, then this would be a strong indicator that something is wrong. I would have to examine butterscotch to tell if this is an emergency. I would definitely recommend an emergency visit he is breathing heavily, or has pale gums. Otherwise, he's likely OK to wait the night and go to the vet in the morning if he's still lethargic. If you have further questions or need further clarification, then you may consider having an online consult with one of our vets on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This way, you can send unlimited pictures and have a text conversation with a vet. I hope that helps and all is well with Butterscotch.

Hill's non-prescription food is safe, and it's a highly recommend food by vets. There is absolutely no scientific research saying it isn't safe, everything you are reading is anecdotal with no evidence to back it up. It's important that your cat stays on a urinary diet to keep him from getting stones again, so I'd recommend giving him Royal Canin cat urinary SO. It's a high quality food, and he may like eating it. I would have him checked out by a vet about this weight loss, however. In old cats, the weight loss could be due to a medical illness, such as hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, diabetes, or even cancer. He could also have teeth problems making it painful for him to eat. He could not be feeling well from those, causing him to not eat, so it may not be the food, it could be an illness. I recommend having a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis to check his teeth and to see how his organs are functioning to determine if there is a medical cause behind this weight loss and anorexia. Should one be found, the vet can treat him for it. I would have him seen by a vet today or tomorrow.

Yes, it sounds like Sebastian is lethargic. His symptoms are non-specific, but could indicate infection, trauma leading to injury, or endocrine/autoimmune disease. I recommend that you have him seen by a veterinarian to help determine the cause of his symptoms. Your vet may recommend blood and urine testing or even imaging such as an x-ray to help determine what is going on with Sebastian.

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!