Why is my 12-year-old cat stiff, pacing, and acting confused?

Question

I have a cat of 12 years. He's walking around a lot with a slightly stiff gait, like his legs hurt to move. He rarely stays still and when he does he always looks on edge. His pupils are dilated and although nothing was wrong with them physically, he doesn't seem to be following movement with his eyes. He is more vocal and his pacing is taking him to places in the house he doesn't normally go. His blood, eyes, liver and urine are all fine so we can rule out infection, although he has a slightly. Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male

Andrea M. Brodie, DVM · Accepted Answer

Gary likely suffers from arthritis (almost all cats begin to get arthritic changes by the time they are 7 or 8 years old) which is quite painful. Your veterinarian can prescribe an NSAID suitable for cats for Gary. I am not sure which NSAIDs are licensed for the use in cats, but in Europe, for example, Metacam (Meloxicam) is licensed for cats. Dilated pupils can point to high blood pressure which needs to be addressed, and can cause blindness. Your cat may also have had a stroke or suffer from a neurological problem or cognitive disfunction disorder. Please take Gary back to a veterinarian for a recheck.

Why is my 12-year-old cat stiff, pacing, and acting confused?

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