Why did my cat stop playing? Is she sick or just bored with toys?

By the time cats are 7 years old they usually start having arthritis. It may be that he is in pain and does not want to move much. He should also have his teeth checked as there could be serious tartar, gingivitis and tooth neck lesions that are very painful and keep him from using his teeth to play with the mouse toys. So , you are right, he should be checked by your veterinarian for arthritis, pain, teeth and possibly have wellness blood work done to rule out any organ conditions that make him feel not so well.

Kittens go through different stages where they are more or less active, so it may be that he just doesn’t want to play right now. If he seems very lethargic, if his appetite is decreased, or if you notice changes to his urination or defecation habits I’d recommend having him examined by your veterinarian to rule out a medical problem.

That is unusual. It may be that he’s just growing out of the playful kitten stage. As long as he’s healthy and you’ve had him examined then I would just give him time. If there is something medically wrong you should see a specific problem if it worsens. He could just be tired or sore if he had a mild injury you didn’t see. Hopefully with rest and time he’ll be back to his playful self. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Hachiko.

With the kitten to keep him amused, the toys may not be as exciting as they once were, after all, you got him a living, breathing toy to play with. Leave the toys available, make sure they both have perches and cat trees and places to scratch and look out the windows, but don't worry too much if it's a while before he plays with them. You may try a different kind of toy than what he has, maybe a wand toy with feathers so you can play with him, or some foam or mylar balls that crinkle and he can carry around, just to see if you can entice him to play with you again.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Mittens. Abnormal behavior in a cat is often the first sign of problems. If this continues, you should have him evaluated immediately. Your vet can take a history, perform an examination, and then advise a diagnostic/treatment plan. Possible causes include pain, infection, inflammation, stress/anxiety, bite/scratch wounds if he was outside, among other things. Good luck and I hope Mittens bounces back to normal soon.

Sleeping more than normal for more than one day is not normal. Sometimes a cat may sleep more after a busy night out. However if this lasts through the weekend or if your cat stops eating or appears lethargic, you should take her to your vet on Monday for an exam and possibly a blood test.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Spencer may be feeling off. Lethargy in cats can be due to a variety of reasons, including heart disease, urinary issues, an infection, behavioral reasons, or an underlying medical issue (kidney disease, diabetes, etc), among others. If this behavior has been persistent, I would recommend Spencer be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to see if there is a medical cause for what you are seeing, have any necessary testing done (bloodwork, xrays), and determine if a treatment plan is needed from there. Good luck!