My old cat is thin, weak, and has nasal congestion. What's wrong?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Andrew! Causes of nasal congestion are: upper respiratory infection either viral or bacteria, fungal infections, and cancer. If the congestion has been going on for awhile he should be evaluated and at a minimum started on antibiotics. The weight loss concerns me in an older cat. I recommend full blood work: CBC/Chem/T4 and urine. Common causes of weight loss in older cats are: kidney or liver disease, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), diabetes and cancer. I would take him in to your Vet for an exam and blood work. I hope this helps and I wish Andrew the best!

Gianni sounds very ill. He needs to be seen by a veterinarian ASAP, Being skinny in an old cat can be due to hyperthyroidism, bad teeth and gingivitis, kidney disease, a bad infection and a few other reasons. Your vet will need to do blood work to rule out hyperthyroidism (easily treated) and kidney disease, He probably missed you also, which can lower his immune system and made him ill. Please take him to your vet for an exam and treatment,

Poor Garfield. At age 17 that is an awful lot going on and I'd be worried there is an underlying issue such as kidney or organ failure, disease, etc. Since he's so old and is having so many symptoms, it's best to bring him to your vet ASAP. They will likely want to run a few tests such as bloodwork or an X-ray to check his organ function, etc. If you can, bringing in urine or stool samples can also help with any testing and help streamline the process. Until you can get the vet, keeping him as comfortable as possible and keeping his eyes and nose clear with a clean washcloth can help. Some cats also do better eating if they can smell the food, so warming up his food or adding some boiled chicken that is smelly may encourage him to eat a little until you can be seen.

Taken individually, the symptoms wouldn't be too concerning, but with several things going on at the same time, I recommend getting him seen by your vet for an exam. Since he's been feeling a bit off since the move, it's even more important to get him checked to see what's going on. Also, as an older cat, he could be starting to have some kidney concerns which, if identified early can be managed at home with instruction by your vet. You vet will do an exam, bloodwork, possibly x-rays as well if indicated. Based on these resuts you vet will be better able to tell you what is going on and how best to treat it.

Aww poor Thomas! I agree that he looks quite thin. I think you should get him to a veterinarian very soon because it sounds like he make have an upper respiratory infection and need antibiotics. There are many other reasons for weight loss so a vet will also help you determine if it's just a respiratory infection or something more serious. You can try placing Thomas in the bathroom with the shower running because sometimes steam will help reduce mucous and open air says. However, I really think Thomas needs to see a veterinarian soon.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Mecia is having trouble breathing, she should be seen by a vet immediately as she may require stabilization such as fluids or supplemental oxygen to make her more comfortable. A vet may recommend euthanasia, but no vet will euthanize Mecia without your consent.

Morris needs to be examined by the veterinarian. It sounds like he has multiple issues and these can only be addressed by the veterinarian. He needs bloodwork to look for kidney disease, hyperthyroidism or cancer. It's possible he has a heart condition and dental disease as well. The drooling likely indicates tooth problems and this can indicate pain. Have him examined soon. Just like humans, if these conditions are diagnosed and treated earlier, they have a better prognosis. I hope this helps.