Why is my senior cat thin and not eating? Is he underweight?

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!

Wet food actually helps cats lose weight. It has a higher moisture content, so it takes more of it to give a cat their daily caloric requirements I would have him seen by a vet today or tomorrow. In a senior cat, this weight loss can not only be caused by dental problems, but also diabetes, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, or cancer. I recommend having a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis to diagnose what is causing his weight loss. Once the cause is found, the vet can discuss treatment options.

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)

Yikes! Depending on how rapidly Hobbes has been loosing weight, that's could be very concerning. I would focus on trying to figure out why his weight is down so much. At a minimum, he needs some blood work that checks his kidney values, thyroid level, and urine. If your vet has already done all of that, ask if they would refer to somewhat to have a full abdominal ultrasound. I'm worried about hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, or even cancer for Hobbes.

Hi there. I would have Salem see your vet for a physical exam and blood work. Older cats can lose weight for several reasons and your get can test for those on blood work (like kidney disease, thyroid disease, etc). Your vet can then help find a way to help Salem. Best to you and Salem!

I would recommend taking Oliver Paul into for an exam by a veterinarian. They can do a full exam, and a geriatric blood work panel. They may also take his blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause weight loss in older kitties. It can also cause eye problems. Another common and treatable condition in older kitties is hyperthyroidism. They get benign (non-cancerous) tumors on their thyroid gland that causes them to produce too much hormone which up regulates their metabolism. They will eat a lot and continue to drop weight. A veterinarian can get Oliver on a plan to recovery! Thanks for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Unfortunately it is impossible to know what is wrong with Tom without a physical exam and bloodwork. There are many conditions which will cause cats to become thin. Kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, cancer, liver disease or parasites can all cause pets to lose weight. Bloodwork and an exam is needed to determine the cause. At home there may not be much you can do because you don’t know what’s wrong. Certainly feeding a high-quality cat food and ensuring water intake will help but it may not be enough. I recommend to have Tom examined by the veterinarian a soon as you can. Best of luck.