My spayed cat gained weight, isn't eating, and struggles to jump. Vet?

Hi Courtney! It sounds like Millie is in pain, and that’s why she can’t jump on things she used to, is walking stiffly, and is sleeping a lot. Please do not give her any human pain medications as many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. You need to take her into a vet today or tomorrow to get checked out. I hope this helps!

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!

Yes it is necessary to have her seen by a vet. It's very serious when a cat eats less and in a cat her age, this can be a sign of disease like kidney failure, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, or cancer. Hyperthyroidism can make a cat more vocal, which could explain the noises she is now making. Please take her into a vet today for a geriatric blood and urinalysis. I hope this helps, you please stay safe too!

I'm sorry that Lilly isn't her normal self lately! You are correct that if she fell hard, that could be the reason why she isn't as active lately. She could be painful, even though she is still running and walking normally as cats can be good at hiding their pain. Lethargy can also be caused by a medical problem, such as systemic illness, infection, or inflammation. Given this has been going on for a week now, I'd recommend having Lilly seen by a vet for a health check. It's also way good to have a cat checked out by a vet when they are acting differently than normal. The vet can let you know if she is in pain or if there is a medical cause behind her change in behavior, and how best to treat it. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. The vet can prescribe safe medications as needed. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Sara has probably lost her ability to jump because of muscle wasting, due to the sudden weight loss. many diseases can cause sudden weight loss- cancer, kidney failure, foreign body in the GI- you must take her to the vet urgently in order to have this condition diagnosed and hopefully it can be treated.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry to hear Blackie is not feeling well. I recommend taking her to a vet to determine the source of her pain. She could have pulled a muscle or have an infection somewhere. Once the source of her discomfort is located, a vet can get her medications to help her feel better, including pain medications. Please do not give her anything over the counter until you speak with your veterinarian. Most medications over-the-counter are not safe for cats. Good luck and kisses to Blackie!

Hi! It does concern me that Myla has lost a noticeable amount of weight over the past few months. It's certainly possible that this could be due to her picky eating habits, but I wouldn't necessarily expect her to lose a considerable amount of weight from that alone since I'm assuming that she's always been a bit picky. Other causes of weight loss can include inflammatory bowel disease, a heavy burden of parasites, cancer, kidney disease, or diabetes, although we often see other changes associated with many of these conditions. I do think it would be best to take Myla to her vet for an exam and some diagnostic testing (blood work and/or imaging - x-rays or ultrasound) to try to get to the bottom of this situation. Until her appointment, try feeding her wet food in a room away from your other two cats so that you can more accurately see exactly how much she's eating. I hope that everything goes well!