Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

    rewards header
    Become a member today!
    Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
    Already a member? Sign in
    Petco Pay LogoBecome a credit card member today!

    Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
    when you use Petco Pay!

    APPLY NOW
    Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My senior cat is thin, lethargic, and not eating. Is he sick?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 14 years and 1 month old

I'm concern about my 14 year old cat. He has gotten very thin in a short time. He eats and drinks very little. He goes though. He sleeps most of the time and has very little energy. When he does eat he's very picky I have to change foods just to get him to eat. I wonder if it's just old age or something else. We want to take him to the vet but right now we're out of work and vets are expensive.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Joy Fuhrman, DVM, MBA, CPA

Answered By Joy Fuhrman, DVM, MBA, CPA

Veterinarian

Published on June 5th, 2017

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)
Vote Icon1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    This is a quite generic but concerning sign. Differentials are many, from gastrointestinal diseases (infection/inflammations often dietary related) to any disease that can spread systemically (causing lethargy for example) like infection, endocrine diseases and anything that can cause pain/discomfort.

    The approach must be logic, starting from offering different kind of food. A check up is needed if inappetence last for more than 24hours.

    Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

    Vote Icon

    0Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 12th, 2017

    Bootsy is a handsome boy! Yes, I would have him seen by a vet for this behavior. It is concerning that he is very lethargic and he doesn't want to eat. The increase in thirst can be due to a medical condition such as diabetes, kidney disease, or hyperthyroidism. The best thing to do is take him into a vet today for a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis. These tests will help the vet identify what is causing his symptoms so he can be treated.

    Vote Icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Vet Q & A
My senior cat is thin, won't eat, and can't jump. What's wrong?
I strongly recommend a vet visit for Sam with possibly booodwork. Weight loss and weakness is not a normal symptom of old age. His not wanting to eat and weight loss indicates that he has something else going on. In older cats kidney disease, heart disease or metabolic/endocrine diseases can be common. With treatment Once you have an accurate diagnosis as to why Sam isn't feeling well then you can tailor diet and care to make his golden years as comfortable as possible. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My senior cat is sick, not eating, and lethargic. Is it old age?
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.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My senior cat is losing weight, lethargic, and ill. What's wrong?
Poor Garfield. At age 17 that is an awful lot going on and I'd be worried there is an underlying issue such as kidney or organ failure, disease, etc. Since he's so old and is having so many symptoms, it's best to bring him to your vet ASAP. They will likely want to run a few tests such as bloodwork or an X-ray to check his organ function, etc. If you can, bringing in urine or stool samples can also help with any testing and help streamline the process. Until you can get the vet, keeping him as comfortable as possible and keeping his eyes and nose clear with a clean washcloth can help. Some cats also do better eating if they can smell the food, so warming up his food or adding some boiled chicken that is smelly may encourage him to eat a little until you can be seen.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
What to do for senior cat lethargy, weight loss, and vision problems?
Your cat needs to see the veterinarian today. The weight loss and lethargy are concerning for many conditions including kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes or cancer. Other causes are also possible. Many of these conditions can be managed if caught early. The veterinarian will need to check from blood and urine test results. I hope this helps.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Vet Q & A
My senior cat is very sick, losing weight, and I can't afford a vet.
CJ really needs a vet visit when you can manage it. In older cats hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease are possibilities and require bloodwork to diagnose. The good news is many of the conditions can be treated or managed but you need a diagnosis in order to determine the best treatment. Some areas may have low cost clinics or many vets accept Care credit http://www.carecredit.com/apply/ I would contact local humane societies to see if they can offer any suggestions. Some have programs that may help with vet bills. Good luck and thank you for using PetCoach.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
Why is my senior cat eating less and losing weight but not sick?
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!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My old cat is not eating, losing weight, and very lazy. What's wrong?
I believe these very general symptoms are very worrying, i cannot tell you what is the cause as there are many options but i strongly advise that you take him to the vet urgently to have a blood test done and get this checked.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Related Searches

Cat FoodCat SuppliesSenior Cat FoodWet Cat FoodSenior Cat Vitamins & SupplementsCat Health & WellnessCat LaxativesCanned Cat FoodVeterinary Diet Cat FoodCat Vitamins & SupplementsCat Thyroid MedicationElectrolytes for CatsGrain Free Cat FoodCat First AidWeight Management Cat TreatsVaccines and Shots for CatsCat TreatsPain Meds & Arthritis Relief for CatsCat MedicineCat Multivitamins & Supplements
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Share

Styled arrow button