older cat losing weight and lethargic

Older cats may have a hard time grooming themselves and paired with a declining appetite may lose weight or become dehydrated. When a cat becomes hyperthyroid their metabolism goes into overdrivethey lose weight are ravenously hungry all of the time have a very high heart rate and often meow at night and have trouble sleeping.

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Dental disease is extremely common to older cats and may make eating difficult or even painful causing your cat to loose weight.

. If the lethargy has been going on for a while they might show signs of weight loss or have muscle atrophy. Some lethargic cats also have a fever an upset stomach with vomiting or diarrhea or arent interested in food water or their favorite treats. To get your cat to eat high-calorie food and gain weight warm up its meals and add flavors to stimulate appetite.

My 16 yr old cat has not been eating and losing weight. Help with gentle grooming if your cat will let you. A marked decrease in urine output.

Some cats will even revert back to normal after several months of treatment. Older cat losing weight and lethargic. Lazy and inactive older cats dont use the muscles in their bodies for climbing jumping and playing.

They may also drink a lot of water and urinate large amounts. In these cases it is observed that the cat approaches with interest and desire to the feeder. They may have trouble using the litter box.

Due to the diseases sluggish progression early symptoms are often overlooked. Common symptoms include increased appetite vomiting weight loss diarrhea increased thirst increased urination and even behavioral changes. Place the food bowl away from the water bowl and keep other.

However despite the increase in. Signs of diabetes include weight loss increased appetite thirst and urination and lethargy. Either you see him in pain as he eats or walks away from his bowl come mealtime.

3 Diabetes is typically managed with insulin and a diet change. Another reason behind cat losing weight is kidney disease. Often cancer-related weight loss is accompanied by a loss of appetite lethargy and hiding by your cat.

Teeth chattering Chewing on one side of the mouth Dropping food You may try and encourage your cat to eat by giving him wide shallow and easily accessible food and water dishes. Kidney disease is more common in old cats and symptoms are excessive water intake and urination along with weight loss. Gradually this loss of muscle mass causes further weight loss.

Tooth or Gum Problems Most tooth and gum diseases are progressive meaning that. Worms also cause diarrhea bloating and vomiting. Thyroid problems stem from tumors most often benign located on the thyroid gland.

As the days wear on you see him leave his bowl filled with food either sleeping or preoccupied with something else. The symptoms of diabetes are similar to those in humansincreased thirst and increased urination. It makes you wonder.

Many cats experience weight loss in the final weeks or months due to loss of appetite Weakness the cat may have difficulty standing walking accessing the litter tray or climbing stairs Extreme lethargy the cat spends most of his or her day sleeping and doesnt have much energy Active-dying phase. Weight loss despite increased hunger is the most prevalent indication of hyperthyroidism in cats. Chronic kidney failure or CKD is very common in seniors and can be a reason for weight loss in older cats.

Other signs include drinking and urinating excessively. Is your cat sick. More common in senior felines an older cat not eating is another common sign.

Signs of feline dental disease are. Intestinal parasites or worms may also be the cause of weight loss. Wet food is easier to chew especially for older cats with bad or missing teeth.

Your vet will do bloodwork to see if this is the cause of the weight loss. Which induces them to eat less than they need and consequently lose weight and be very thin. It also leads to increased thirst and urination.

Cats can also be upset by the disappearance of another pet or by a change in a routine. The veterinarian will do a urine analysis to determine kidney disease and prescribe medication accordingly. Thyroid problems usually occur in older cats but they can happen at any stage of life.

Gastrointestinal Problems Any issue in the GI tract can affect a cats weight. Other medications may be used. Being overfed leading to obesity Being under exercised leading to boredom and apathy Parasitic infection Stress Depressiontoo little stimulation Medication side effects Arthritis in older cats Hairballs can become serious if causing blockage Obesity Infection with a minor common virus such as cat flu.

However as the disease progresses it can lead to a. Lethargic and Wobbly Cats who are wobbly could be suffering from a neurologic problem or metabolic disease or they could simply be very weak. One of the most common issues that older cats experience is the degradation of their kidney function leading to kidney failure according to the cornell university college of veterinary medicine.

Feline diabetes is a condition where the body does not produce enough insulin to balance blood sugar or glucose levels. In its early stages kidney failure causes increased thirst combined with weight loss. Common causes of lethargy.

Other reasons why an apparent cat is losing weight are oral problems. You may have noticed that as your cat grows older he TENDS to lose his appetite quickly. Providing early diagnosis is made theres a good chance the disease can be managed.

Lethargic and Losing WeightA poor appetite can lead to weight loss but so can diseases like hyperthyroidism or diabetes even if your cat is eating well. Free-feed your cat so that it doesnt lose out on a meal due to temporary inappetence. Another cause for an older cat to lose weight is feline diabetes.

Although not all cat weight loss is caused by cancer it. As its a slow progressing disease your kittys weight loss will be gradual. The lack of energy being effectively taken from the diet causes lethargy and weakness.

If your cat has inflamed gums bad breath and signs of decay on its teeth it may. The most frequent are the pain and gingivitis that present pain when chewing. Diabetes is where your cat cannot control its blood sugar levels effectively.

This can give your cat an unkempt or scruffy appearance. Has he reached that age where he. This condition does also tend to be more common in obese cats.

Additional symptoms include vomiting diarrhea hyperactivity excessive drinking and urination and an untidy hair coat. There can be varying degrees of lethargy in cats.

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