Why is my 8-year-old cat struggling to eat and pawing his mouth?

This sounds a lot like your kitty has problems with his teeth or possibly severe gingivitis or ulcers in his mouth. If he lets you have a look, inspect his mouth for red spots, a red gum line and severe tartar, especially on the molars or any swelling. He will likely need a dental cleaning under anesthesia, if he has not had one in the last year or two. Cats get so called FORL, that is the neck of the tooth often rots underneath the gum and eventually starts hurting. Typical signs would be red gums and some swelling and not letting you have a look at his mouth. Affected cats often want to eat, go to the food, eat a little and then stop only to return later for more but few bites. Please make an appointment with your vet for an exam very soon. In the meantime feed canned food which will be less painful to eat.

I would get him in as soon as you can, but not necessarily as an emergency. It could probably wait until Monday. There good be an infected tooth, inflammation in the gums, a small ulcer or mass, or something else causing this behavior.

Your cat needs to see his veterinarian ASAP. It is possible that your cat has a tooth abscess, severe periodontal disease, something lodged inside the mouth, an injury, or an oral tumor. Regardless of cause, this is a serious medical condition since it is preventing him from eating and drinking normally. Your cat is at risk of becoming dehydrated and developing a condition called hepatic liposis, which can lead to liver failure. Even going 24 hours without food can cause changes in liver functioning.

This sounds very much like she may have a tooth problem or a mouth ulcer or an injury. Since she apparently is in pain when you try to touch her around the mouth, I suggest you take her to your veterinarian for a dental exam. She may need a tooth removed or be treated for an ulcer or have tartar removed.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sam. I recommend that he sees an emergency veterinarian today. He needs to be examined. If there is a smell coming from his mouth, I worry that he has a wound. If he is painful, then he will not open his mouth. There are also other causes of not being able to use the mouth properly such as infectious and inflammatory conditions. The veterinarian will examine him and may recommend some testing. Based on these results, treatment can be started to help him feel better. I worry that he will become dehydrated from not eating and drinking properly. This may need to be addressed as well. I hope this information helps!

He may have an injury or something stuck in his mouth that makes him painful and reluctant to eat. I strongly recommend getting him seen by a vet right away, even though he's feeling better. There may still be something that can be corrected to make him feel better, and if he has swallowed something he shouldn't have or injured his mouth by chewing something he may need veterinary care in order to heal completely.

You may want to look at his teeth, especially his molars (cheek teeth). Mikkel may have a lot of tartar on his teeth and severe inflammation of his gums which then hurt when he eats dry food. If you see brown concrements on his teeth, then he should be seen by a veterinarian and get his teeth cleaned under anesthesia. There is no need to have a tooth ache, and the bacteria in tartar can actually cause heart and kidney problems.