Why is my senior cat gaining weight, bloated, and has dry, flaky fur?

Please have her assessed by a vet as soon as possible, the abdominal enlargement in the face or persistent vomiting and diarrhea is a huge concern. Fluid build up , liver disease and tumors are all possibilities, early diagnosis is required in order to fully assess all options for her care

Zoey sounds quite ill at the moment. In senior cats, there are three common illnesses that cause vomiting, increased eating, and weight loss: Hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and kidney disease. Cancer is another differential, and that could cause an enlarged belly due to tumor growth. Zoey should see a vet right away for his symptoms. I recommend having a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, urinalysis, and x-rays done on him to diagnose what is causing his symptoms. Once a diagnosis is reached, the vet can discuss treatment with you. Please take him into a vet now.

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.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! From the X-rays, I can see that Mara's abdomen appears to be filled with fluid. It is obscuring his liver and intestines from being seen and there may even be a small amount in his lungs. Unfortunately it is impossible to tell what the fluid is from the x-ray alone. His blood work shows some abnormalities with his electrolytes, which may be if he is not eating or from fluid in the abdomen. Mara also has a high white blood cell count, these are the cells that are responsible for fighting off infections and increase if there is one present. Your vet can run some additional diagnostics, and perform a tap and remove the fluid as well as a blood test to determine if Mara is infected with FIP, a mutated form of a common virus that cats are exposed to. I hope this helps!

I see what you mean about the fur loss. I'm wondering if his belly getting fat is because he doesn't go outside anymore. When he was outside, he would have been more active, burning more calories. Because he lives indoors now, he won't be as active, so he won't be burning as many calories, leading him to gain weight. You should speak to his vet about cutting back his food to help him lose weight. The fur loss may be normal, my cat's belly looks just like that as well but I'd still have it checked out by a vet to be safe. I hope this helps.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Tiny. An older cat's back bone becomes apparent secondary to weight loss that is usually accompanied by significant muscle loss. There is likely an underlying disease that is causing this sign and the enlarged belly. She will need to see her veterinarian to determine the cause of her symptoms. For example, she could be experiencing kidney problems, elevated thyroid hormone or diabetes. I hope this information helps!

Hi there, sorry to hear this about Bussia! I would definitely get her checked out by a vet asap as I am concerned that their could be something serious going on. For example if she has a heart condition this could effect her breathing and cause fluid accumulation in her belly. Unfortunately she could also have tumours effecting her lungs and belly. It could also be something really simple such as a chest infection and maybe another condition going on concurrently. I'm afraid that I can't give you a more specific diagnosis without examining her as there are so many possibilities. I would stress to you that it is really important to have her examined soon.