My cat is in pain, growling, and not eating. Should I put her down?

Hello. Unfortunately, the symptoms you describe are pretty vague & can really fit with a lot of things. I do not know how much veterinary care is available in your country, or even what diseases are present, but it sounds like Poufpouf needs antibiotics at the least, & then have some diagnostic bloodwork done, too. This might include a complete blood count, serum chemistry analysis, urinalysis & tests for feline leukemia & aids. This is what I would recommend if you lived in the US. I hope Poufpouf is feeling better soon & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It could be that Mulan has injured herself, causing the limping and loss of appetite. It likely hurts her to have to go down stairs, which is why she won't go it. In addition, when cats are painful, their appetite goes down as well. She is in pain, and unfortunately you cannot give her any human pain medications. Many are toxic to cats, and are fatal if given. She does need to see a vet for this problem. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/ Please check out these resources to see if one can help you, and please take her into a vet as soon as possible. I hope this helps!

Hello Matthew! I am sorry to hear about Spotty. I would be very concerned about her. Cats are usually very good at hiding their pain, so if she is obviously yelping she is definitely in pain. I would recommend an examination by a veterinarian as soon as possible. They will do an exam and try to localize the pain to a certain area. I am concerned about her abdomen due to her lack of appetite. Things that would concern me in a young adult cat such as Spotty are foreign boys in the intestinal tract (did she eat a toy or a ribbon etc) or possible kidney infections. The vet will most likely want to do some bloodworm and possibly some radiographs (x-rays). If she hasn't been eating or drinking, she might need some supportive care such as IV fluids.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Snaggles! Teeth grinding, hissing and crying while eating indicates oral pain. Before you start any medications Snaggles needs to have an exam by a Vet. He could have severe stomatitis or another tooth that needs to be extracted. Antibiotics and pain medications are temporary band-aids for both conditions. Without examining Snaggles, it is against the law for us to prescribe medications. We need a valid Veterinary Client Patient Relationship that requires us to be able to physically touch your pet. Since Snaggles was just seen by your Vet in June I would try calling them and asking if those medications are appropriate for him. My recommendations, for Snaggles sake, is to take him in for an exam so you know what you are dealing with. I hope this helps and I wish Snaggles a speedy recovery!

Signs of pain could be due to a trauma to soft tissues or bones, or possibly internal diseases like a pancreatitis or a gastroenteritis. An immediate clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics 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!

If 22 years of age is accurate, that is definitely very old. While cats can live considerably longer than dogs, that is still pretty far past the average lifespan. That being said, I would still advocate taking her into the vet to be examined to see if anything can be done to either make her more comfortable, or to offer you some information as to her quality of life moving forward. Some of the most common issues we see in older cats include kidney disease, thyroid disease, lymphoma (particularly of the gastrointestinal tract), and liver problems. Some of these are addressed with medication while others are far less treatable. I certainly wouldn't advocate just letting her go at home. If anything, if they feel she is in pain then they can make her transition much more peaceful. Hope this makes sense.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Pita. I would advise taking her to your vet immediately. Anorexia, weight loss, pain, not moving normally, and the discharge are very concerning. Many things could be causing these signs so it's important to take her to your vet. Let them gather a history, perform a exam, and then advise you on diagnostics/treatment. Possibilities include hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone), diabetes, other endocrine/hormone disease, kidney/liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, cancer, among other causes. Your vet will likely advise some fecal/blood/urine tests and possibly some x-rays or ultrasound imaging studies. An accurate diagnosis will direct the proper treatment. Good luck with her. I wish you the best