My elderly cat is sleeping more in strange places. Is he sick?

Certainly as cats age - and at 10 years old Jack is considered a "senior" cat - they start to sleep more. However, cats often give us almost no real signs that they are experiencing illness other than an increase in the amount of time they are asleep. So it's easy to write off what is truly "lethargy" as just more sleeping. It may sound like an unimportant distinction, but in a species that is so difficult to interpret, I'd always default to getting a checkup before just assuming that this is a normal change associated with aging.

Sleeping a lot is a very vague sign. It can mean a number for things like low blood sugar, low blood pressure, fever, etc. Cats tend to sleep a lot normally. Since this is a new behavior, he should be examined by his veterinarian to help figure out what is wrong. Also watch closely to see if he has other signs such as not eating, not drinking, vomiting, or diarrhea. This may help guide your veterinarian to the cause of the problem.

He may be in pain from arthritis and therefore prefers not to move much. Old cats sleep a lot as well. You may want to take him to a feline veterinarian and ask about arthritis in cats, and have him checked for it. A feline vet will be more likely to prescribe a particular NSAID (off-label) for your cat if there is pain than a "regular" vet.

Moxie is such a handsome boy! While older cats do slow down as they age and sleep more, it can also be an indication of an illness. The best thing to do is have him checked out by a vet, and I would take him into the vet this week for a check up. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

It sounds like she is in good health for her age, but that being said, any abrupt change in behavior is a good reason to go to the vet for an exam and senior labwork, if you haven't had that done lately. Cats are excellent at hiding symptoms of illness, so this could be an early warning that she might be developing a medical condition that needs attention. If you're concerned enough to ask about it, then it is a significant enough change to warrant investigation.

Ajax is an older boy and while he can slow down with age, this increased sleeping could be due to a medical illness such as arthritis (it's painful to move), a systemic illness, or infection. I would have him seen by a vet today if possible for a health check.

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.