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Senior cat crying, not eating. Is she in pain? Should I see a vet?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 22 years and 9 months old | 13 lbs

Cootie is obviously old and this is part of life but I want her last days to be comfortable. She seems to be crying a lot more and not keeping food down. Does this necessarily mean she's in pain? And what can I feed her and do to help her with this? Also we just moved into a new apartment that has been completely refurbished and I know there was some smell from the new products they used, could this be affecting her as well? At her age should I take her to the vet or should I just let her go?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jeffrey Milner

Veterinarian

Published on October 21st, 2017

If 22 years of age is accurate, that is definitely very old. While cats can live considerably longer than dogs, that is still pretty far past the average lifespan. That being said, I would still advocate taking her into the vet to be examined to see if anything can be done to either make her more comfortable, or to offer you some information as to her quality of life moving forward. Some of the most common issues we see in older cats include kidney disease, thyroid disease, lymphoma (particularly of the gastrointestinal tract), and liver problems. Some of these are addressed with medication while others are far less treatable. I certainly wouldn't advocate just letting her go at home. If anything, if they feel she is in pain then they can make her transition much more peaceful. Hope this makes sense.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on February 16th, 2017
When there is a sudden change in behavior from the normal, it could be due to a medical illness. Lucky may not be feeling well, and that's causing her to act aggressive towards the younger cat. I would have her seen by a vet for a health check, including a geriatric blood panel and urinalysis, to check if she is suffering from any health issues. Common health issues in senior cats include kidney failure, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and cancer. If a medical illness is found, the vet can discuss treatment options with you.

Should Lucky be heathy, I would separate the cats, and slowly reintroduce them to each other. Take Lucky, and put her in her own room with her own food, water, and litter box. Keep the door closed, and for a few days, feed them both treats on other side of door so they associate each other's smell with a good experience. Then let the other cat in Lucky's room while she is in a cat carrier. They can smell each other, but not be in contact. If either becomes upset or show signs of aggression, remove the second cat from the room, and try again later. Praise them when they interact appropriately. When they are interacting well with each other through the carrier, you can let Lucky out of her room, and see how she interacts with the other cat. Praise them when they interact appropriately, and separate them with any sign of aggression or upset. I would get a cat tree with lots of shelves to give the cats vertical space to get away from each other. I would keep Lucky in her room when you go out until they are comfortable with each other.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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