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Elderly cat

6 replies

Norabloom · 08/08/2018 07:47

Our cat is nearly 16 and we have had her for 14 years. She was a rescue and had been an abused kitten so it took a long time for her to relax around people. She is keen on her own company and spends a lot of time outside.
She is the only cat I have ever had and I'm not sure how to deal with old age in cats. She is well (I took her for a vet check 4 months ago), but she has become noticeably thinner especially around her back legs. She eats OK but only one meal now (at night) and she is sleeping much more (either on next door's roof or in our back bedroom).
Will she just fade away eventually? Do I need to do anything?

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viccat · 08/08/2018 08:48

Did the vet check include blood and urine tests?
Senior cats often get kidney disease and other conditions; getting thinner is not just part of getting older but could be due to an underlying disease.

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HardAsSnails · 08/08/2018 09:30

They don't just fade away, just like humans and other animals, they are prone to some conditions which can make life tougher as they get older and it's up to use to help ensure they are comfortable and as healthy as possible.

The weight loss should be checked by a vet. Arthritis is common in older cats but often untreated as owners assume it's just 'natural' slowing down.

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Want2beme · 08/08/2018 09:57

Take her back to the vet for a check up. She could have a few ailments. Her weight loss could be hyperthyroidism, which is very common in aging cats. She could have kidney problems and be in a lot of pain with arthritis. Cats health can change very rapidly and they hide a lot of their discomfort. The fact that she's only eating once a day could be a sign of a problem with her mouth or something more serious. Good luck.

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Lottie4 · 08/08/2018 10:48

At her age, things can change quickly. My two lost weight in their final year, one was due to kidney disease, the other than due to a current condition getting harder to control. Unfortunately, she's unlikely to fade, but what the vet can do is give advice and treatment to help her final year be more comfortable and even extend them.

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Vinorosso74 · 09/08/2018 08:43

Definitely a vet check and they can run blood tests arc to see if there is an underlying issue. Cats are very good at hiding things!
Older cats do sometimes lose a bit of muscle mass around the back legs but that can also be due to other health problems.

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Norabloom · 09/08/2018 10:45

Thank you all. I'll take her back to the vet. She killed a little bird yesterday so still OK in that sense!