My cat won't eat, is skinny, losing hair, but still drinks water. Why?

IF she isn't eating properly and losing weight, there is definitely something wrong with her, if she eats the wet food with great appetite, then the dry food must be the issue and that could be either due to a teeth disease or a partial GI blockage. either way you need to take her to the vet ASAP, she will need to be checked, especially her mouth, if nothing unusual is found during the physical examination the next step will be a blood test to try and find out what is wrong.

Have you had Skittle checked out by a vet for this weight loss? It could be due to something serious like kidney failure, liver disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or even cancer. She needs to see a vet asap for this weight loss, and I would recommend getting a geriatric blood panel and urinalysis. Please take her into her vet in the morning. I would not give any supplementary food until after she sees her vet. Best of luck.

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

Yes, I would be worried too. At home you need to make sure that she is drinking water, even if you need to give it to her with an eye dropper. I would recommend to offer her tasty meals-canned food, tuna, chicken and rice. Warmed food is better than cold food so this may also encourage her to eat. Many things could be going on and some causes can be severe. If she begins to have vomiting/diarrhea, stops eating completely or becomes lethargic, get her into the vet sooner. I hope your baby perks up!

There could be several reasons why your [cat will not eat](https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-isnt-my-cat-eating). Take a look inside your cat's mouth and under its tongue if you can do it safely. If you see any redness, inflammation or bleeding of the gums or around teeth, there may be [periodontal disease](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/dental-disease-1/) present. Confirm there are no foreign objects (or string) in the mouth or under the tongue. If you see anything that does not appear "normal", schedule an exam with your veterinarian. Other potential causes include [kidney disease](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-things-you-should-know-about-kidney-disease-in-cats), [pancreatitis](https://www.petcoach.co/article/pancreatitis) or gastrointestinal issues. These may require blood work and x-rays to diagnose. If the mouth is clear, try warming the food slightly or adding some liquid from a can of tuna to stimulate appetite. If your cat does not eat for 3+ days, see your vet immediately to avoid complications involving [liver function](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/hepatic-lipidosis/).

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Scruffy. She will need to see her veterinarian if she has been losing weight. A blood and urine sample are likely going to be necessary. Depending on her age, she could be experiencing an internal problem such as kidney disease that is resulting in weight loss. If she is a young cat, however, then intestinal parasites could be to blame. This would be diagnosed with a fecal sample. In the meantime, you can try canned food and feed her separate from the other cat to see if she is consuming the food or not. I hope this information helps!

I am sorry to hear about Sugar. My rule of thumb is that any cat who is losing weight needs to be seen by a vet sooner rather than later. I am particularly worried about kidney disease which is common in older cats. After a good physical exam, your vet may recommend bloodwork to check on the kidneys and thyroid in particular. Best of luck to you and Sugar!