My cat hasn't eaten in a week and sleeps more. Is a vet visit needed?

I am sorry Ava is not feeling well. Unfortunately Ava does need to go to a vet if she is not feeling well. A range of issues can cause her behavior from parasites, infection, virus and even trauma/toxins. The only way to determine the cause is to have a good exam and possibly test like blood work. I hope she feels better soon

It sound like your cat isn't feeling well. Anorexia (not eating) and lethargy are symptoms of many different illnesses, so without more symptoms, I can't pin down what might be causing her to act this way. I can say that any sudden change in behavior from the normal should be investigated your vet because there might be a medical cause behind it. In this case, I think it would be a good idea for your cat to see a vet, and I recommend taking her into your vet's normal business hours for a health check. Your vet would be best to determine if there is a medical illness, and how best to treat it.

Not going to the bathroom, lack of appetite and laying in one spot can be a sign of a blockage in the urethra or intestines. Without knowing more, I think it's best if you do take her for an evaluation by a vet ASAP, because this could be a serious problem. They will narrow-down the problem and at-least give treatment to make her feel better. 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 Kiki gets better soon.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This is a quite generic but concerning presentation. Differentials are many, from gastrointestinal diseases (infection/inflammations) to any disease that can spread systemically (causing lethargy for example) like infection, and anything that can cause pain/discomfort. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is immediately essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics and possibly further investigations (like abdominal imaging as ultrasound or radiographs) may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

I am truly sorry for the loss of your friend. It is critical for Hazelanne to be physically examined by your veterinarian. Cats who do not eat for 2+ days are at risk of developing serious liver related disease that may require hospitalization and supportive care. She may need blood tests to assess major organ function, especially liver function. Abdominal x-rays or ultrasound may also be recommended to assess her liver size and architecture. You can try warming her food or mixing in baby food to stimulate the appetite, but if the anorexia persists, then a vet visit is strongly advised.

The type of symptoms you are reporting combined with Keaca's age is definitely a cause for concern. While lethargy and anorexia are very non-specific symptoms, there are definitely a couple of conditions that come to mind (particularly in an overweight cat). Some of the things I would think of include liver or kidney issues, pancreatitis, diabetes, and certain types of cancer involving the gastrointestinal tract. I think a good start to find out what may or may not be wrong would be to take Keaca in for a physical exam and to have some baseline blood work obtained. This will provide you with some information to rule out several of the conditions I mentioned above. If they are not able to make any determination from that information, some diagnostic imaging may be indicated (x-rays or ultrasound). Hope this helps and that Keaca is feeling better soon!

If Sepia seems really depressed and lethargic, or if she starts vomiting multiple times in one day, then she needs to see an emergency vet right away as this may be serious. Otherwise, if she continues to not want to eat much then she needs to be seen when you can get an appointment, and I would recommend full blood work and an abdominal xray or ultrasound. She could have kidney disease or some other kind of metabolic issue going on like hyperthyroidism or pancreatitis. She is a young kitty so hopefully it's nothing serious! I hope that helps and best of luck!