Why is my senior cat breathing hard, clumsy, and very lethargic?

Cassie sounds very ill at the moment, and at her age, there are a number of things that could be causing her symptoms such as heart disease, kidney failure, liver disease, or cancer to name a few. I think she needs veterinary care now. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck.

Hi there, sorry to hear this about Bussia! I would definitely get her checked out by a vet asap as I am concerned that their could be something serious going on. For example if she has a heart condition this could effect her breathing and cause fluid accumulation in her belly. Unfortunately she could also have tumours effecting her lungs and belly. It could also be something really simple such as a chest infection and maybe another condition going on concurrently. I'm afraid that I can't give you a more specific diagnosis without examining her as there are so many possibilities. I would stress to you that it is really important to have her examined soon.

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'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.

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.

This can be a sign of a respiratory infection, but in a senior cat, it can also be a sign of heart disease. If possible, I'd take Heidi into a vet now. Otherwise, rest her, keep her indoors if she's allowed outside, keep her comfortable, and get her into a vet tomorrow. I hope this helps.

With any cat showing potential signs of respiratory distress this is an immediate emergency. I strongly recommend going to the ER clinic now. I cardiac disease in cats often goes undetected until the point that they have difficulty breathing. Hopefully it's not that serious but it is worth erring on the side of caution and getting her checked as soon as possible. Best of luck to Maud and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach