Question about cat getting old.

[kitty_babe]

My 13 year old cat has always been healthy, but this last 6 months she has lost weight. For a few years she can't seem to hold down a decent size meal, so I feed her a little all day long, but she seems to always be hungry or she is just begging!  I'm afraid to lessen the meal times as she is so thin-what should I do or does she have an internal problem?

[Captainpeaches]

sorry I misread  your post.  Sounds like not loss of appetite but issues with holding down food.  Yeah that could be kidney problems or it could be digestive like I said.  Could be hyperthyroid.......could be a lot of things!!  Hope it's not serious.  If it is digesstive there is a very good food hill's prescription diet i/d .  It's very bland and easy on their systems.  It's used in kittys with IBS and also for Pancreatitis.  It comes in dry and canned.  It really helped my cat when he was on it after a near fatal case of Pancreatitis.  It saved his life!!  Could be something as simple as that for you.  ;-)

[Captainpeaches]

Opus88 and PikaPika88 ~ My kitty was just diagnosed with Kidney problems and from what I've read (and it's A LOT trust me lol)  one of the main issues for them is keeping their weight up and keeping their appetite normal.  So I've read that for these cats basically just let them eat as much as they will cause they have issues that normal healthy kittys don't have.  Unless of course it's causing problems and then maybe your vet would advise you to cut back.  Otherwise I say YAY at least they're eating well!!!  ;-)

kitty_babe ~ Seeing as how it's not just weight loss but also loss of appetite.......I would tend to think it's either digestive issues (IBS or Pancreatitis etc) or maybe kidney issues.  Or maybe even oral problems.......Not sure if there's other symptoms.  If she's drinking and urinating a lot it could be diabetes but also kidney problems have those same symptoms.  I think with hyperthyroid everything speeds up so she would be eating a lot and still losing weight and drinking a lot and peeing a lot and pooping a lot and meowing a lot and not sleeping well etc.  Basically doing EVERYTHING A LOT LOL!!  But not every kitty has the same symptoms of a disease either.  So to be safe esp. at her age I would get some tests done by a veterinarian.  Hope all goes well for you and your kit!!  <3

[PikaPika88]

My Pika loves Fancy Feast - Roast Chicken Feast.  He eats 2 cans in the morning and 2 cans in the evening.  I also leave small bowl of dry food outside with water.  I hope I'm not over feed him.  He is very very skinny and bony.  Vet didn't say how much to feed him.  He gave him the steroid injection every visit so will increase his appetite.  He eats a lot but all the goodies has passed out without absorption.  

Tomorrow I'll cook the chicken with liver for 3 of them.  Do I have to put the gravy on?  Has anyone in this forum given the raw meat to the cat?   I'm too scared to give them raw.  Would it get sick easily?

[zodiacqueen]

Opus-Every cat is different!  Skunkie eats 1 1/2 cans of Fancy Feast a day and some hard food.  Maybe your cat has a slower metabolism.

kitty_babe-You should also get your kitty checked for hyperthyroid issues.  This is another very common problem w/ older kitties.  I agree w/ the others that it could be diet related or diabetes, too.  With diabetes or kidney disease, you'll see weight loss AND kitty drinking huge amounts of water.  If your cat is not drinking huge amounts of water, then it's most likely hyperthyroid disease.  Either way, your cat most definitely needs to be seen and blood work will need to be done to check on these conditions.  And, if your cat does have one of these conditions, they are treatable.  It's just important to find out exactly what's going on.  Please keep us updated.

[opus88]

OMG thats alot of food!!
I have a large muscled boy of abt 14 lbs who is very lean and active. He eats 1 of those cans plus abt 1/4 cup of dry food.
You are definitely over feeding kitty.
glad he is doing with the medication, did your Vet not tell you to cut his food intake down?

[PikaPika88]

My 12 years old cat also lost massive weight.  I took him to the vet.  Has diagnosed renal failure.  Vet handed me a booklet said cat over 7 years old the organs might not working properly.  

He has blood tests and prescribed medication.  He is doing well at the moment.  Last month he put on weight 0.5 kg.  Every morning he has a tablet and 2 tins of 85g cat food.  He didn't vomit anymore.  I understand the vet told me, he is aged and renal disease un-treatable but the medication helps his life style much more comfortable.  He sound happy now.  

Take h

[opus88]

PrettyKitty is right...can be diet or many other senior related illness's again don't rule out diabetes, very common in senior pets.

[PrettyKitty1]

Because of her age, she might need a different diet. I think it's time to focus on your cat's nutrition. A lot of kitties do well on prescription diets. You will have to take her to the vet to get her assessed. Make sure she doesn't have any health conditions and that it is just age related..and I'm almost certain they will want to give you foods for her sensitive stomach and age. But, I do think you need to take her in. At 13 years...a lot of kitties lose weight, and we tend to get worried. Because we don't know what her problem really is, a vet is the best option here.

Good luck with your kitty. Let us know how she continues to do.