Why is my senior cat having accidents, meowing, and not eating?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Loss of appetite can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. The falling over may be due to weakness or possibly neurological disease. That can also be why she is sleeping more. Urinating in unusual places is almost always due to a urinary tract condition such as an infection, stones, among other possibilities. I recommend that you have Sophie evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery! 


I am sorry to hear about Sadie. There are several different possible causes for the accidents. You don't mention if this is urination, bowel movements, or both. With urinary accidents we can have changes in habit due to urinary tract infection, bladder diseases, kidney disease, diabetes, and thyroid disease. Fecal accidents can occur due to a variety of problems including constipation, intestinal parasites, anal sac infection/impaction, inflammatory bowel disease, or other bowel disease. If your kitty is having urine and bowel movement accidents then we would be concerned about things like arthritis causing discomfort resulting in her not wanting to travel all the way to the litterbox. We can also have cognitive decline in older pets that can lead to accidents, or anxiety issues. I would recommend an exam by your vet to try to pinpoint the underlying cause which will determine the treatment. In the meantime, I would consider moving a litterbox into the room she likes to spend her time in!

Certainly personalities can change as cats get older, but i would recommend making sure there isn't a medical explanation for her behavior. We see conditions like hyperthyroidism (a high thyroid level) which can cause increased activity as one of its first signs. If her exam and bloodwork is all normal, it might just be a behavioral change as Princess gets older and is nothing to worry about. I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This overgrooming can be a sign of a medical illness such as hyperthyroidism, which can be common in senior cats. The urine accident could be due to kidney disease, another common illness. I'd have Noel seen by a vet for a geriatric blood panel and urinalysis.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! A few main concerns are coming to mind for Bubbles. 1) Hyperthyroid disease- the vocalizing fits with this but usually an increase in appetite is noted. We also usually see weight loss. This can be diagnosed with a blood test that may or may not be a part of the "regular" bloodwork done. 2) Pain - a severe arthritis flare up can cause vocalizing and reluctance to move. If bloodwork comes back normal, x-rays and or a pain medication trial would be my next steps. 3) Cognitive dysfunction (senility) or other neurological problem - Though it is not as well documented in cats as in dogs, we do definitely see cats that have dementia. This usually manifests as: wakefulness/vocalizing at night, loss of litterbox training, seeming to be lost, sudden anxiety, and other signs. I have seen cats act like this with sudden blindness (a few underlying causes) because they are anxious to leave the places they know best (bed, food, litter box). Finally, brain tumors, clots in the brain (underlying heart disease) and other neurological problems may manifest similarly to this. Long story short, get a good eye exam and some bloodwork done. Then consider x-rays and/or a pain medication trial. If none of these help, discuss possible next steps with your vet. Best wishes to you and Bubbles!

I'm sorry to hear that Cleo isn't eating as well as she normal does. Hyperthyroidism typically causes weight loss despite an increase in appetite, although rare cats may experience a decreased appetite. The change in Cleo's appetite alone may or may not be associated with hyperthyroidism. Other causes of this sudden lack of interest in food and lethargy could be related to a gastrointestinal virus, kidney disease, parasites, liver disease, among many other conditions. If she still isn't eating normally in the next day or two, Cleo should go to her vet for evaluation and likely blood testing. However, if she becomes experiences extreme lethargy, experiences profuse vomiting or diarrhea, or will not drink water, Cleo should go to the vet immediately. I hope this helps and that Cleo feels better soon!

It certainly sounds as though Grey is not feeling well! Inappetance, hiding and vocalization can indicate a number of underlying conditions, but hyperthyroidism is at the top of the list. I recommend taking Grey to her vet for an exam and lab testing (CBC, chemistry, T4/thyroid hormone, urinalysis) to get to the bottom of things. Cats can develop hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) when the stop eating, so her condition is fairly urgent.