My cat is sleeping more, not playing, and eating less. What's wrong?

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.

Hi there and thanks for your post on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Oh, I am sorry to hear about Oreo- sounds like he is not feeling well at all. It is hard to say exactly what is going on with Oreo without examining him first. If he hasn't moved from one location in a few days, this is very concerning and tells me Oreo may be very ill. There can be many causes for Oreo's symptoms. Drinking a lot of water lately is a sign of diabetes mellitus or kidney disease. If he has only urinated a couple times in the last 3 days, he could have a urinary plug or blockage. In any case, Oreo should be taken to his nearest emergency veterinary clinic ASAP to determine the cause of his illness so he can get better soon. There is really nothing you can at home to help- taking him to a veterinarian is the best thing for him. I hope this helps and best of luck to you and Oreo. I hope he fells better soon.

I suspect Cleo is not feeling well and may be nauseous. Just like people, there are many conditions that can make pets feel sick. This could range from bacterial over growth to intestinal blockage. Also like us, diseases are best addressed early and this may result in a better prognosis. You need to monitor Cleo closely. If she is not eating or drinking well for 24 hours, if there is vomiting/diarrhea/coughing or signs of pain, I recommend to have her examined by the veterinarian today. If the lethargy lasts for 24 hours, your kitty also needs to be examined. The doctor will need to learn the underlying cause in order to give appropriate treatment. Bring in a stool sample in case the doctor needs to test it. At home, Cleo should continue resting. Encourage eating and drinking. Bring her the food and water. Fluid intake is very important when pets and people don't feel good. You may try offering her some boiled white meat chicken or canned tuna (in water not oil). Hopefully this will pass quickly. I hope Cleo starts feeling better quickly! Please feel free to post any additional questions.

Cats will often go off their food and be more lethargic when they are coming down with an illness. This is usually due to an upper respiratory infection (aka cat flu) or an infection of the stomach or intestines. While she may not be having nose/eye discharge, or diarrhea right now, you may see this in a day or two. Their are a couple of other diseases that I worry about with a fighting cat, because they can cause them to feel bad like this and be spread through biting. FIV and FeLV are two viral diseases that can depress the immune system and possibly lead to long-term infections. These can be easily tested for by a vet. If she is eating a little, then make sure there is plenty of water mixed in the food, because I worry most about dehydration. Sometimes warming up the food will entice them to eat it, so try that along with trying different, tasty foods. The best thing to do for Alba is to take her to the vet. She may be running a fever and could already be dehydrated. They also may see something else that indicates what her specific aliment is. It doesn't seem like an emergency right now, but it would be best to get her to the vet within a day or two. I hope that helps and Alba gets better soon.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sleeping and decreased energy can be signs of a cat feeling unwell. This can be caused by weakness, fever, kidney disease, and other causes. It is a very vague sign that could be many many things. I recommend that you have Kitty seen by your vet, and they might want to do some bloodwork. Thank you and I hope Kitty feels better soon!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Angie. She is a beautiful cat!! I love her markings and her face, just gorgeous. I'm concerned that she has another dental problem causing her loss of appetite or she may have an illness. Typically in cats, a loss of appetite and lethargy are the first signs of illness. I think it's best that she sees a vet for a health check. I'd take her into one first thing in the morning. I hope this helps!

Cats are SOOO good at hiding pain. I rarely find a cat will be obvious about the source of pain. The fact that she is moving slowly and carefully tells me that she does hurt, but she is hiding it. I recommend taking Shy to a veterinarian for a thorough exam. They might be able to localize the pain to a limb which is making her not want to move, or to her abdomen which causes her to lie down more. Young cats are very susceptible to foreign objects- weird things that they have eaten and get stuck in their intestines. Young cats are also susceptible to trauma especially if they are allowed outdoor. The vet will localize where the problem is and recommend blood work or x-rays for diagnostics. They will form a treatment plan to get Shy feeling back to her normal vocal self! Thanks for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.