I think my cat is starting to feel his age...

BroadfordQueen

BroadfordQueen

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My cat is 16 years old, but has always been very active and was still catching mice last summer.
Recently though, his health has taken a turn for the worse. He is very skinny, and can't eat hard food anymore. However he does still have a good appetite and eats his soft meat food. The last few days he has been very quiet and subdued- he is usually getting under everyones feet and begging for fuss! He hasn't moved at all today from the sofa. He used to be an "outdoor" cat, but we don't have the heart to put him outside now- he is so skinny, he must really feel the cold
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We wormed him last week to see if he picked up, but he hasn't. Its sad to watch, he has been with me for all of my life, when I wanted a dog when I was little I used to pretend Tom was a dog
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I used to carry him around everywhere, poor thing!
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We are keeping the dogs away from him now- although they get on well, the dogs are just too boisterous for him, I think he needs a quiter life now.

I may be fretting over nothing, but I know him well enough to know that he isn't himself. I just think he is feeling older and more vunerable now, he isn't moving fluently anymore either.

What shall I do for him? Is it worth taking him to the vets? There is nothing obviously wrong with him, and a trip to the vet will just upset him.
I just want him to have a happy end to his life, be it days, weeks, months or even years. I owe him, he is a brilliant cat, helped me through a lot when I was younger, and if I ever need something to cuddle he will be there (even though he dribbles when he is happy!
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You could phone the vet for a chat as they could suggest food that could help the cat put some weight on?

I know how you feel though, Beastie dog is starting to feel her age (she's justa bout to turn 8
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Very gentle hugs for your little kitty xx
 
I would take him for a check up. It may be that there is something that will make his lfe a lot more enjoyable. On the down side it may just be his "time". Hope he picks up.
 
Thanks,
He doesn't like trips to the vet- last time he went due to an absess in his foot, freaked out in the pet carrier and hissed at the vets
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Although we could get a vet to come here, as we have a vet who comes for the dogs (they don't trave very well!l) for check ups/jabs.
He is having Whiskas senior stuff in pouches, he loves it and eats it up, but when you stroke him you can feel all his bones
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I hope he picks up, I really do. Such a loveable kitty
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It could be general old age, or with the weight loss, maybe kidney, thyroid related, I would maybe ring the vets....but inevitabely, he will need blood tests.......I think u are right not to stress him, this could take it's toll even more, maybe the vet will take some bloods from home.
 
16 is a fabulous age for a cat you have obviously given him a wonderful life. I am not an advocate for prolonging life just because it is medically possible to do so and if you think his time has come you should congratulate yourself on being the best cat owner a cat could know.

Whatever the outcome I send you and Tom lots of well wishes.
 
Hi

In april of this year, my cat of unknown age (rescue) became very different to her normal behaviour. She had always had an odd appetite but was still eating a bit, but she was getting v thin, and didn't want to move either. She would still go out for her business, but at night when she'd normally come up to bed with me she seemed unable to really make it up the stairs. I gave her the w/end to see if it was just an odd turn.

Anyway, I took her to the vets thinking she just had a cold or something. sadly they x-rayed her, and she'd lost 80% of her lung capacity to a tumor, so it wasn't an option to take her home. Very sadly she was put to sleep in my arms. It makes me cry to even write this, but it may not be the same for your cat, but it is worth getting her checked out.

My cat also hated the vets and the travel basket, but I made her sleep on a towel the night before I took her so she at least had some of her scent with her for the joiurney.

I'm hoping you don't have such bad news, but its only right to get the cat seen to if there is a marked difference in behaviour esp at that age.

Best wishes
Bx
 
I have a 14 year old kitty like yours is starting to feel her age as she's getting thinner no matter how much she eats (adlib royal caine senior biscuits) but still goes out and stays out long periods of the day. She's happy in her self. As she hates vets/cars/baskets i make most of it by discussing with the vet. Misty had Urine problems most of her life, there is times when it got so bad i thought it was her time but she kept trucking on! She also had a tumor removed from her neck when she was 4 and it had spread but stablised since, the vet gave us poor progisis, and she is still here 10 years on!! Cats are resilent and strong.

If i were you i would think a chat with the vet is good idea, he may suffer from simple infection, who knows. Only you and the cat knows when they are ready.

Do keep us up dated.
 
I def think you should chat to the vet. Has this happened suddenly or has it been gradual weight loss? There could be any reason, 16 is a good age for a cat but some can go into their 20s. I think common problems are kidney failure, tumours and thyroid problems. These can be treatedto some degree at least to make your cat mroe comfortable.

Or, have you checked your cat's mouth? Not sure if possible (depends whether you want to keep tyour fingers!) but if he's suddenly stoppped eating hard food could it be he has something lodged in his mouth (ie a bone of something if he's an outdoorsy hunting type cat) or a tooth infection, broken tooth, injury to his gums etc etc.

You know your cat, if you truly just think it is old age and it has happened gradually then i would maybe just leave him be unless you think he is actually suffering. If not then get a vets second opinion. I don't think many animals relish a trip to the vets but a simple blood test could give you an answer and enable you to make what decision you feel is right.
 
If he's skinny I would take him for a quick check up to see if there is anything they can do for him, sadly when cat's start sleeping a lot it's a bad sign HOWEVER our old cat did this and we took him to the vets as he had gone grey (not skinny though) (he was black) and they said he was dehydrated him, they sorted him out, and he was on special food until he died (a year or two later) or cancer, which perhaps was starting when he started sleeping but as soon as we felt his quality of life went (when the cancer one day caused his skin to split into a hole-literally one moment it was there, the next it wasn't) we took him to the vet that day to be PTS.
I think you need to take him to the vet, I know it can distress them but imo a small portion of their day at the vet could save him some discomfort
 
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