My cat isn't eating or drinking and lost weight. What should I do?

Hi Emily. Poor Miri. A loss of appetite is a very general sign of many illnesses, and it's actually extremely serious when a cat won't eat. If she goes long enough without eating (about 72 hours), she will develop a fatty liver which is fatal without treatment. You need to take her into a vet now.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is in fact a concerning sign in cats as inappetence can be observed with conditions such as pancreatitis, kidney disease (most likely chronic in nature), dietary indiscretion and diabetes, just to mention a few possibilities. Cats can develop serious illness when they stop eating. This is known as hepatic lipidosis which is directly related to anorexia. I recommend that if Nutmeg is not eating by tomorrow morning, to have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. General labwork and thoracic/abdominal imaging may be recommended for work-up. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Mitzi does sound quite sick, and I'm concerned that she has not eaten or drank today. It's actually very serious when a cat won't eat, as they will develop a fatty liver if they go too long without eating. While a sudden switch in diet can lead to GI problems, it shouldn't cause her to not drink. I would take her into a vet immediately to get checked out. Best of luck.

I am sorry to hear about Annabelle. If she is not eating and now not drinking these are definitely signs of concern that require evaluation by a veterinarian. In particular, if she is an overweight cat (it says on your information that she is 14 pounds) then she is at risk of developing a dangerous liver condition called hepatic lipidosis if she isn't eating. There are many possible underlying causes for her symptoms, including primary GI disease (such as inflammatory bowel disease, gastritis, stomach ulcer, gi tumors, gi infection, pancreatitis, cholangiohepatitis) or disease of the liver or kidney (either of these can cause increased thirst). The vet will want to do an examination and will likely recommend bloodwork and an x-ray to try to determine the cause of her symptoms. She may need to be prescribed an appetite stimulant, and may need fluid therapy if she is dehydrated.

This is very concerning and may not related to progressing kidney, thyroid disease or diabetes. An urgent vet check and urine and blood tests is recommended. Do not delay investigation as early treatment is required

Urinary tract infection and possible metabolic disorder (weight loss and acting differently could be compatible with hyperthyroidism). A check up is absolutely needed as these signs are quite concerning and immediate assessment is required.

Missy has to see a vet as soon as possible. When a cat doesn't eat for three days, they develop a fatty liver which is fatal without treatment. She needs to see a vet now to prevent that from happening. In a senior cat like Missy, her anorexia could be caused by kidney failure, cancer, diabetes, and liver failure among other causes. It's also serious that she hasn't used the litter box in two days. She needs a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis to diagnose what is causing her symptoms so she can be treated.