My senior cat is frail, losing weight, and drinking lots. How long?

This is very concerning and may not related to progressing kidney, thyroid disease or diabetes. An urgent vet check and urine and blood tests is recommended. Do not delay investigation as early treatment is required

My concern with Menie is that he can have one of a few different things going on. As cats age they can become diabetic, have chronic kidney disease or even become hyperthyroid. With all these diseases you will see an increase in drinking and weight loss. I would recommend taking Menie to the veterinarian and having blood work and a urinalysis performed to see exactly what is going on with him. The urine will also show if there is a urinary tract infection, which they can have if they have diabetics, kidney disease or even if they don't have another disease going on. I hope Menie feels better soon and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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)

It sounds like the poor chap is going to pass away so according to the duty of care stated in the animal welfare act you will have to prevent further suffering and take him to your closest veterinary surgery that it’s open. I would not wait any longer. Hope this helps giving you the strength fir making that trip to the vet !

I'm so sorry G is so sick. I work for an home euthanasia service, so I face these kinds of questions frequently with my clients. I would look at G's quality of life in make the decision as to when to euthanize him. If he's in pain, losing weight, having diarrhea, detached, and head pressing, his quality of life isn't very good. When a cat is in constant pain, they will be suffering daily, and in my opinion, that is when it is time to let them go peacefully. It's never easy to say goodbye to a beloved pet, and they are often ready to go before we are ready to let them go. By letting G go peacefully and without further pain, you will be giving him one last great gift. If you'd like to discuss this further with me, I'd be happy to consult with you. Just click the "consult online" button under my answer. Again, I'm sorry he's so ill :-(

I'm sorry your cat is so ill! If your cat isn't eating or drinking and has all these health issues, euthanasia would be the best option. Should she not be eating or drinking, she will be slowly staving to death and that will be extremely painful for her. It would be cruel to allow a cat to stay in that state for longer than 24-48 hours, even though they could last significantly longer than that without eating or drinking. I would recommend following your vet's suggestion. Again, I'm sorry she is so ill!

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