My senior cat is barely eating. When should I worry and see a vet?

It is probably not normal. I suggest you schedule an exam with your veterinarian for your cat. Your cat may have dental problems (gingivitis and/or tartar, tooth infections), diabetes or another endocrine disease. Oder kitties also often have problems with their kidneys. A thorough clinical exam and blood tests can at least rule out any serious disease that could cause eating less than usual.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. If Willow did not have her blood tested when she was in for her exam I would highly recommend having the vet pull a blood sample and check to see if she has any abnormal values. Kidney disease is something we quite commonly see in older cats and this certainly could be the cause of the vomiting / decreased appetite. The sooner her blood is tested the better and the faster you will know what is going on with her. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

I recommend to have Esther examined by her veterinarian with some bloodwork to check her kidneys. Cats who have an upset tummy or just don't quite feel right will exhibit this behavior. They are excited about eating and the ritual of getting the food but when it's actually time to eat, they don't feel up to it. It's best to play it safe. There is a blood test called an SDMA which will detect kidney disease before the kidney enzymes elevated. This may be a good test to include in the testing. I hope this helps.

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

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Azriel. Yes, I would be concerned that she is not eating. Cats are very good at hiding signs of illness. So when it becomes apparent that they are not feeling well, there is typically significant disease. I would recommend that she has bloodwork and urine testing to determine the cause of her inappetance. From there, treatment can be prescribed. She will likely need fluids as she is most likely dehydrated due to not eating properly. In the meantime, continue to try to offer food and water. If she will not cat food, you can try meat baby food, tuna or boiled chicken. I hope this information helps!

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)

In an older cat, my first thought would be dental disease. This would be painful for Krinkle, cause him to eat less, and subsequent weight loss. It could also be that he has diabetes, kidney failure, or hyperthyroidism. Having him seen by a vet this week is a good idea. I hope this helps!