My old cat won't eat, is losing weight, and seems weak. What to do?

I believe these very general symptoms are very worrying, i cannot tell you what is the cause as there are many options but i strongly advise that you take him to the vet urgently to have a blood test done and get this checked.

With the symptoms you are describing I tend to test for advanced kidney disease or hyperthyroidism. I would encourage him to eat as best you can and get him to a veterinarian. With blood work and a urinalysis they should be able to give you a diagnosis and help direct you as to what is next

I would recommend the bloodwork if possible. Many of the symptoms your describe could be due to hyperthyroidism which can often be managed with diet or medication. Renal disease diabetes are also concerns. Speak with your vet to determine what they suspect is most likely and find out if it is possible to test for one thing at a time instead of running a full panel at once. The vet will suggest the best options but often if you explain financial constraints we can work with owners. If unable to do the diagnostic testing then euthanasia is a reasonable option to prevent her from suffering. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

It is common for cats to hide when they don't feel well. She needs to be taken to a vet to have the lethargy and bloody urine addressed. They will do blood work to check her kidneys function and a urine sample to check for an infection. Weight loss and dehydration can occur quickly in older cats. Your vet can better guide you in her quality of life based on the diagnostics.

I am sorry to hear about Sugar. My rule of thumb is that any cat who is losing weight needs to be seen by a vet sooner rather than later. I am particularly worried about kidney disease which is common in older cats. After a good physical exam, your vet may recommend bloodwork to check on the kidneys and thyroid in particular. Best of luck to you and Sugar!

Please get him seen by your vet as soon as possible, behavior changes and weight loss in an older cat are always a concern. I would recommend blood and urine tests to rule out a uti, kidney issues or a hormonal condition such as diabetes or thyroid disease

These signs are probably not due to old age alone and there is likely something going on with Shadoe. Unfortunately, without a full physical exam and diagnostic testing, it is not possible to determine what could be causing these signs. However, lethargy and eating and drinking very little along with weight loss are very concerning signs that warrant a visit to the veterinarian. Here are some resources that will hopefully help you afford a vet for Shadoe: 1) You can see if your vet accepts payment plans. 2) Look for a low cost clinic in your area 3) Try to apply for Care Credit online (www.carecredit.com) 4) There is 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 (redrover.org) 5) Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website (bestfriends.org)