Why is my old cat's belly big, drinking lots, and breathing funny?

Hi, I think it would be better to have Bug ‘a’ Boo checked over as might have something that causes all the symptoms described that will just get worse over the course of time and might not be treatable anymore. It could be just an upper airways or chest infection. Hope she gets better soon !

This sounds like he has an enlarged liver. The liver is near the front of the abdomen and if it enlarges it can cause the symptoms you are describing. It can put pressure on the lungs so they aren’t able to expand normally which can cause difficulty breathing, usually when excited. I would continue with the treatments your veterinarian recommends. An X-ray would show if the liver is enlarged, although there may not be much to do about it with his other medical problems. We do give supplements for the liver but rarely do surgery or other treatments. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Abner.

Hi there. It's possible that she's simply gaining weight as she gets older, especially if she's not as active now as she used to be or if she's getting more food than in the past. But, an enlarged abdomen could also be caused by heart disease, liver disease, FIP (feline infectious peritonitis), or an abdominal tumor of some kind. These things are less likely if she is acting completely normal, but to be on the safe side, it would be a good idea to have her seen by a vet when you are able to. He/she can palpate her abdomen to check for any abnormalities, and may recommend x-rays or other testing if there are any concerns.

A bulge in the chest could possibly be a tumor or an abscess. I would recommend having Riley and this bulge checked out by your vet. A cytology can be performed to determine the source/cell type of the mass. Your vet may also recommend X-rays to see if the mass is invasive. I would also try to prevent Riley from sleeping in her water bowl as it could be potentially dangerous.

Zoey sounds quite ill at the moment. In senior cats, there are three common illnesses that cause vomiting, increased eating, and weight loss: Hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and kidney disease. Cancer is another differential, and that could cause an enlarged belly due to tumor growth. Zoey should see a vet right away for his symptoms. I recommend having a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, urinalysis, and x-rays done on him to diagnose what is causing his symptoms. Once a diagnosis is reached, the vet can discuss treatment with you. Please take him into a vet now.

It is impossible to answer this accurately without an indication as to what is causing her breathing problems - heart/lung disease, pain, infection, inflammation and swellings in the nose or throat could all be contributing and options for treatment would depend on exactly what is causing her issues. Please seek a full health check for her as soon as possible in order to identify the source of her problem and discuss management options

I'm sorry to hear that Midnight is doing so poorly. As Dr. Darvishian mentioned, breathing changes are a medical emergency and should be addressed by an emergency vet right away. It's possible that Midnight's breathing changes, coughing, weight loss, weakness, appetite and drinking changes, and lethargy could be due to congestive heart failure, asthma, cancer, or many other issues. She's likely experiencing restlessness and a loss of appetite because she can't breathe well enough to comfortably lay down or swallow. I strongly recommend taking Midnight to an emergency vet right away. This is not a situation that can be managed at home. I hope that everything goes well.