My senior cat tucks chin & moves oddly. Is it age or a health issue?

It sounds like she is in good health for her age, but that being said, any abrupt change in behavior is a good reason to go to the vet for an exam and senior labwork, if you haven't had that done lately. Cats are excellent at hiding symptoms of illness, so this could be an early warning that she might be developing a medical condition that needs attention. If you're concerned enough to ask about it, then it is a significant enough change to warrant investigation.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may or may not be abnormal or represent a condition that needs any sort of therapy as this may be a sign of discomfort. However, keep in mind that this may also be normal and just be something behavioral. If this continues, I recommend you have Maya evaluated by a veterinarian who can perform and examination and recommend accordingly. Good luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I would recommend taking Charlie to the vet. He is getting older, but isn't very old when some cats live into their 20s. There are some diseases that can cause weakness or loss of muscle, or her may have some arthritis making jumping difficult. The vet may recommend bloodwork to assess his overall health, possibly x-rays and may be able to prescribe medication to help Charlie get back to normal activity. DO NOT give any human or over the counter medications to cats, as many can cause a fatal toxicity. I hope Charlie is back to normal soon.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Hobo. Poor boy. Favoring the leg means he is in pain. I recommend resting him for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Keep him indoors if he is allowed outside, and limit his movements to a small room. If he still appears painful after this time, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. He may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. I hope this helps!

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.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry that Majo is having these issues. Studies have shown that 95% of cats over the age of 8 have some form of arthritis, and often it is undiagnosed because cats hide their illnesses well. This could be the cause of Majo's inability to jump up. Other causes could be related to being overweight, neurological problems that can include both structural issues in her back, or metabolic conditions such as diabetes. Weakness from other medical conditions can also cause this type of behaviour. What I recommend is a visit to the vet to make sure there is no medical cause that needs to be addressed, and to assess her body condition to see if weight loss is needed. Otherwise, ramps are a great idea to help our furry friends get up on the bed. If arthritis is the issue, you can talk with your vet about different types of food and supplements that will help support joints. Best of luck with Majo!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These are general signs that can be seen with a lot of conditions. It could be due to a neurologic condition or perhaps an orthopedic condition causing some kind of pain or discomfort. If this continues, I recommend you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to start with a good physical examination and possibly diagnostics to get to the bottom of this so that therapy if any can be started. Have a great day!