My senior cat stopped eating for days, now better. When to see a vet?

Hello, and thank you for your question. Did you suddenly switch diets when the problem started? If so, I would suggest going back to his old food and trying a more gradual transition over 7-10 days. If this is not the case, then I would be worried about a more serious underlying cause. Pain, infection, pancreatitis, kidney, liver disease, dental disease, or even cancer are all possibilities. If Felix is not eating, I would recommend getting him seen by a vet within the next 24 hours. Cats that go several days without eating are at risk of secondary liver problems, so it is important that we do not leave this too long. In the meantime, you can try different diets to encourage him to eat anything. I hope this helps, and that Felix is feeling better soon.

Poor Lilly sounds extremely ill, and I would have her seen by a vet immediately. When a cat doesn't eat for at least three days, they develop a fatty liver which is fatal without treatment. She could have a number of serious problems wrong with her causing her anorexia, such as kidney failure, liver failure, severe dental problems, or even cancer. I would have her seen by a vet now for a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis to diagnose what may be causing her symptoms. Once a cause is found, the vet can discuss treatment options with you.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I am sorry to hear that Kitty is not feeling very well. With the description and blood results, I worry about a condition known as hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) or triaditis (inflammation of the pancreas, liver and small intestines). For fatty liver disease, a feeding tube is generally recommended to help bring cats out of this condition as nutritional support is key and extremely important in these cases. I would recommend an abdominal ultrasound as the next diagnostic step to help better determine what the cause could be. If Kitty is still not wanting to eat, you need to consider hospitalization and feeding tube placement to help her get through this. 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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear that Tilly is not doing well. Lethargy and loss of appetite can be signs of significant disease in cats. These signs are common across multiple diseases including diabetes mellitus which is very common in cats, especially when they enter ketoacidotic state (DKA). Because of this I would strongly advise that Tilly be seen by a veterinarian tonight if possible. Your veterinarian may want to start with blood and urine testing. Other tests may be recommended based on what they find on physical examination and discussion with you. I hope this help and that Tilly gets better soon.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Toots! I would bring a stool sample and have Toots examined by your Vet. I would recommend full blood work including Feline Leukemia and FIV. If that is normal then I would consider maldigeetion and malabsorption blood work (tests B12, folate and 2 pancreatic enzymes and consider an ultrasound of his belly to rule in or out underlying intestinal disease like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or small cell lymphoma. Most IBD cats are treated with a prescription diet and anti-inflammatories. Since he is getting worse I recommend starting a work up. I wish you and Toots the best!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Princess. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. Cats typically hide signs of illness well. So when there is a decrease in appetite, this is significant. She will be examined and will likely need laboratory work to help diagnose her problem. Kidney disease, thyroid disorders, pancreatitis and diabetes are commonly seen in older cats. I hope this information helps!

Poor guy. His symptoms indicate he may have severe arthritis or an underlying organ malfunction. It is best to get him examined by your vet to determine which is likely. For older cats, bloodwork analysis on a yearly basis is key to checking on their health and determining if they need management for any underlying disease processes. Also, if he does have arthritis, which can be detected on an x-ray, he can be managed medically with joint supplements and pain medication. I hope that your pet Loco gets well soon! Best wishes and take care.