My new cat is skinny, nervous, not eating, and has weak teeth. What to do?

I'm not quite sure what would cause Noodles's fur to change colors but as long as his skin underneath looks okay I wouldn't be too concerned. I am concerned about the weight loss. If Noodles has lost a tooth it is possible that he has painful dental disease that is making him not want to eat. Other possibilities include intestinal parasites, kidney disease or even diabetes. I would encourage you to see a veterinarian as soon as you can. Blood work and a fecal test would probably be recommended. You could call your local animal shelter and see if there is any subsidized veterinary care in your area, or look into Care Credit (www.carecredit.com).

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Merri. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. I worry that the extraction sites are either not healing well or are painful to her. Her veterinarian will examine her mouth and see of an infection os present. Antibiotics or pain medication may be prescribed. In the meantime, continue offering soft foods to encourage her to eat. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to cats. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your new kitten. I recommend that you seek veterinary care. The kitten appears quite thin. If he is not eating and drinking properly, this can be a sign of illness. It is worrisome that he is inactive as well. Kittens should be very playful. Infections (respiratory or gastrointestinal intestinal) are common causes of illness in kittens. Once the cause of his problems can be identified, treatment can be started. I hope this information helps!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Yes I would recommend a visit to the vet. Any weight loss in a kitten is severe. She might have a virus, a congenital malformation, intestinal worms, etc. I recommend trying to encourage her to eat, but ideally she needs to see a vet right away. Best of luck with Yume, I hope she feels better soon!

I recommend that you take Jade to the vet as soon as possible. From her history, there are a few things that I am concerned about. The first is intestinal parasites, she needs to be tested and treated accordingly. The other is viral infections such as panleukopenia. She may also benefit from bloodwork to check for malnutrition, anemia, kidney disease, etc. Continue to encourage her to eat wet kitten food, and check her thoroughly for fleas. I hope Jade will be on the mend soon!

Good Afternoon...thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I empathize with your struggle and Munchkin's picky diet. I certainly do not want to cause alarm, but many times cats will become "picky eaters" for many other reasons other than their teeth. As a veterinarian, this symptom always give me pause. Cats with dental issues still usually have a normal appetite, even with a bad tooth - they will still eat. There are many other conditions which can cause an older kitty to change their eating habits and influenced "what tastes good to them" - conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (even with no other GI symptoms), kidney disease, liver disease, and many types of cancers (that can be within any organ of the body...) can cause an older kitty to change their appetite preferences. I would want to know if Munchkin is maintaining her weight, or has she lost weight? If she has lost weight, this is also more concerning. I would recommend you monitor her weight very closely - if she is maintaining (and has not lost weight within the past 6-12 months...). You may want to consider a visit to your veterinarian for additional diagnostics including a full senior bloodwork/urine profile, and possibly an abdominal ultrasound and chest radiographs to ensure nothing more sinister may be going on. I hope this helps, good luck!

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that Sheeba has been unwell since arriving home. It is possible her behaviour is related to stress and anxiety. However, it could also be related to a medical problem. Whatever the cause, when a cat does not eat or drink for several days, this can lead to dehydration, weakness, and secondary liver problems, especially for a kitten. Because of this, I would recommend taking Sheeba to the vet within the next 24 hours. They can perform a full physical exam and run some tests to rule out a medical issue. They can also provide supportive medications to improve her hydration, appetite, and comfort. If the vet confirms she is in good physical health, you can try using Feliway, a feline pheromone spray designed to reduce stress in cats. Also ensure she has easy access to food and water in the place where she is hiding. You can gradually try interacting with her more and more, through offering treats, and speaking to her softly and gently. With time, she should start to open up and learn to trust you and be comfortable in her environment. I hope this helps, and that Sheeba feels better soon!