Elderly cat getting very thin.

Hi to everyone who replied back to me regarding my puss cat Piggy,we took Piggy to the vets on Wednesday to get him checked out as we were away for 2 days so left Piggy and my other cat an automatic cat feeder,when we got back on tuesday evening Piggy was miaowing and looking at me as to say i've had enough he sat near the fire and nearly burnt his fur,took him vets on wednesday and vet did blood test and urine sample,took his temperature which was low. blood test and urine sample came back as kidney disease,vet said we could spend £400 and have Piggy on a drip for 4 days and see if we could perk him up but said once he comes of drip he might go back downhill,so we had to do the hardest thing ever and put him to sleep my boyfriend had to go out of the room why they put Piggy to sleep but i stayed with him and we buried him yesterday as by the time we got back to boat wednesday it was to dArk to bury him. So Piggy is now running free with all the other cats in Rainbow Bridge waiting for me to join him

So sorry to hear that shazormerod I do know how you feel (we've lost 2 this year) but you know you have done the right thing for him.

Yes, you did the right thing for him. At least you know there was no alternative.

The same thing happened to me shazormerod I had an old cat who needed an eye operation and when they did all the tests beforehand they realised how bad his kidneys were. He spent a couple of days on a drip and seemed back to normal, but as soon as he came off the drip he went straight down and the only thing to do was put him to sleep. It's so sad, but you reach a point when there's no other option. I certainly doubt whether four days on a drip would have had a lasting effect and it's very upsetting to think they're back to normal and then find it hasn't worked.

My Mud Cat is 14. She is eating, drinking and behaving normal and she has gone down to a feather weight over the last 8 months. My Vet made sure no tape worms were present and that she was healthy in all other aspects. He did a Thyroid test. Her test came back LOW, .04. He said there was no treatment for being to low that would restore her weight because if she is skinny and you raise the Thyroid activity that causes them to burn MORE energy. Has anyone heard any different?

Kidney or thyroid problems came to mind when I read your description. Our Bertie looked exactly like this and it was kidney issues with him. Hope your lovely old lady remains comfortable and happy for as long as possible.

Its exactly a year since I posted (Day one wihout a cat in the house) I still have days when I miss my Jasper so much especially as at our age we will have no more cats. When I see people scrabbling about on the floor at ALDI trying to find the only tins which their cat will eat, then I'm glad its all over as an ailing ageing cat is lot of work and worry.

You did the best thing. It is proof of love not to let them suffer. Cats are freedom loving creatures and when its over its over...
Thinking of you

Our cat Sophie turned 21 last December. She's a long hair Norwegian Forest Cat and has lived indoors her entire life. Two and a half years ago she needed to get her teeth cleaned and needed sedation. I didn't think it was a good idea and so I refused. long story short, the vet wasn't happy and I haven't taken her back since. So here's the issue. She's gotten very thin even though she eats very well and even though she has slowed down over the years, she's reasonably happy. Because of her old age, and my 'falling out' with the vet, I've avoided taking her back.

Because she's gotten so thin I feel obligated to take her to the vet, but my gut feeling is telling me to just leave her be. I would rather take her only if she's unhappy. So, even if she has a "condition", I don't see the point of trying to find out what it is by poking her or putting her under more stress just to squeeze a few more drops from an otherwise very long, happy, well spent cat life. Am I wrong to think this way?

Our old boy became extremely thin. He looked awful but was eating, sleeping etc just as he always did. We did take him to the vet but there wasn't anything he could find. He was just old. I'd never had a cat "put down" before and just wanted to let the old boy fade away in comfort at home. However, the next thing was a card through the door from the RSPCA saying that our cat had been reported as being cruelly treated! As if! I am the archetypal "cats mother"! The upshot was an embarrassing visit from an inspector who took one look at our other cats and could see that we were most certainly NOT cruel to ANY cat.
We'll never know who reported us. I don't think it could have been neighbours as they all know us. Possibly busybody parents on their way to pick up children at our local school? Our street is quite busy.
Later that year we did have him put to sleep- the first time I'd ever taken that decision. Very sadly not the last. Love hurts!

Sounds as if it could be kidney problems Phoenix, not a huge amount that can be done unfortunately, but steroid injection will definitely perk him up and give him a bit of an appetite back. Know what is meant by the fur thing-they start looking like a sheepskin rug that needs brushed and the fur sort of clumps together.

I came home today to find my Buttons Marie had passed while I was at work. I was both shocked and crushed. When I left her today she was in her fav window getting morning sun. I had given her a nice dinner last night in her window, she slept there last night. I petted her this morning before I left, I usually just say I love you all see you later. I am so thankful I petted her unknowingly saying goodbye. I am so heart broken. I covered her in her blanket, gave her a crucifix, said a prayer for her asking Jesus to take her to my Mom until I get there. This is so difficult.

So sorry, bobbojr. We had a similar experience with our elderly cat who became thin and fragile, and died soon after. You've given her a nice life and shown how you cared for her. It's something we all dread happening, but when we love our pets that's what we have to cope with. Comforting to know she was at home

Don't worry about it Jane10 my mother had a neighbour knocking on her door every day to tell her that her cat was starving and dying. Actually he was very old and enjoying himself sleeping in the sunshine! Went on like that for months and finally died of a sudden illness.

Our 16 year old is absolutely skeletal. She has tablets from the vet for her kidneys and is supposed to eat special food which she loathes. I've pretty much given up on the food now and gone back to the usual Whiskas and Felix. I know she's not going to make a dramatic recovery so I'd rather have her eating something she enjoys for the time she's got left.

Our old cat became as described on here, and for her it was heart problems. Poppy aged 15 was literally skin and bone when we finally had to 'bite the bullet'. She was such an affectionate little puss, coming to us as a rather plain black and white kitten with a partially white face, sporting a black Hitler moustache!!! she had rather square backside, with a tail that curled inwards like a pigs!!! When she was very old her breathing periodically became difficult and on a fine day we would put her in a box and put it under our staddle stone, to make her breathing easier. She was a sweet girl and I still miss her 18 years later!

So sad Phoenix isn't it, to see our much loved pets decline. We love and care for them and all you can do is carry on doing that and enjoy your lives together. Our old rescue dog died 3 years ago and sometimes it feels like yesterday

Our Buddy became gradually very odd in his behaviour. The vet found that he had a brain tumour with cancerous secondaries throughout. Really not kind to try to keep him going. We were given a date for him to be put to sleep. This meant that we had 2 days to really spoil him and say goodbye. I can't say it helped. Those days were awful. When the deed was done at the vets we had to be shown out the back door as DH crying so much (and me). Suppose it would have upset the people in the waiting room seeing us in that state with an empty basket. So bobbojr don't feel bad. That was a lovely way for your cat to go.

so sad to hear all your stories about having to decide what to do and the best way for your pets..... I had to have my 2 cats put to sleep earlier in the year within 2 weeks of each other, that was 3 mnths ago,,but I still wonder where they are when I'm cutting he chicken up! they could hear the fridge door open no matter where they were or what they were doing it would be a mad rush who could get here first!
I have recently blocked the cat flap up...no moor furry friends for me now. If you have the chance to ease their pain or suffering then you must do what you think is best.

The kindest thing to do for any old cat who has stopped or virtually stopped eating is to have them put to sleep.Otherwise they simply starve to death even though food is on offer.I have had to do this a few times, and it's awful, but we shouldn't think of ourselves, just the cat.When they have kidney problems, the vet told me they want to eat, but everything tastes of urine to them.

Our old rescue boy at 15 developed vestibulitis. It mirrors drunkenness evidently. Poor old lads eyes were flashing, he couldn't stand up and was vomitting. The other dogs were very distressed. 3 weeks, and a lot of money/treatment later, he was think as a pin and no different. We were being "reviewed" every couple of days at the vets. The night before he was p t s, I syringed liquid feed into his mouth, he dribbled it out. I syringed water, he dribbled it out, whilst making eye contact with me. I heard him tell me he'd had enough and reassured him, I'd heard him. The vet was wonderful with the dog and with me and mr i am, both of us in floods of tears after we'd held our much loved old dog as he died. Sometimes, it's the last loving thing you can do for your pet. Phoenix, I hope this post isn't distressing for you - I empathise

I think the time is getting close for our 16 year old, but she is enjoying the sunshine at the moment so I'll leave it a little longer.

I had an old cat who has just died I found gourmet pate for older cats and liquivte really useful .

Omg, this is so frustrating!First of all, if you think there is an issue with your cat, take her to the vet, regardless of her age. Some of these comments are outrageous - people essentially telling you to just give up and assuming the cat is on its way out...that's not only NOT helpful or good advice, but it's really unnecessarily negative. It doesn't matter how old your cat is - (and by the way, you don't really know how old he is - you've had him for 10 years but do you really think he was already 10 when you got him? That's pretty old. You could easily be wrong and he could be younger.) you have to give things a try. I just don't understand people who just jump to conclusions and expect the worst and don't even try to see if something could be done. I've had a number of elderly pets who had issues that were easily managed with medication - take your cat to the vet and see what the expert says. It could very well be something that is still treatable. Furthermore - for all those people saying that they couldn't bear to shove a pill down their cats throat - I think your cat would rather endure 2 seconds of pilling once a day if it meant another year or two sitting in the sun rather than dying of something that is easily treatable. What is wrong with you people? Don't you ever try for anything?! Pilling a cat is not that difficult. Get your vet to show you how if you need to give it medication. I know this is an old post and the cat has probably passed on by now, but the post still shows up when googled and I wouldn't want anyone with the same problem reading all these incorrect, misleading, negative responses. My god, doesn't anyone have any backbone or gumption?! (And elderly pets get skinny anyway - with or without medical issues.)

Your cat has probably got an overactive thyroid (common in older cats). My 18yr old cat Stella had that, for the last 4 years of her life (she was PTS a few weeks ago, due to heart failure) and she was very bony, only weighed 5lb

The condition can be treated. My Stella was prescribed a cream, to be applied to the skin of her ear, daily.

See your vet. It may even be Diabetes.

The original post on this was in 2012 so it's very old and sadly I expect the poor girl has passed away now.

could be a thyroid. but elderly cats do get thin. my gemma was 20 when i adopted her and towards the end she was very thin, but she ate huge amounts, she lived till she was 24 years (the oldest cat they had at the pdsa south croydon,) she was a happy little soul after the harsh treatment from previous owners)....still i would get your cat checked out for any underlying problems.