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My senior cat is thin, won't eat, and can't jump. What's wrong?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Siamese | Male | neutered | 14 years and 6 months old | 6 lbs

Sam is 14. He doesn't eat or eats very little. He is skin and bones. He can no longer jump. How can we help his old age?

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Rebecca, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 14th, 2017

I strongly recommend a vet visit for Sam with possibly booodwork. Weight loss and weakness is not a normal symptom of old age. His not wanting to eat and weight loss indicates that he has something else going on. In older cats kidney disease, heart disease or metabolic/endocrine diseases can be common. With treatment Once you have an accurate diagnosis as to why Sam isn't feeling well then you can tailor diet and care to make his golden years as comfortable as possible. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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    Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Poor guy. Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sam is very thin indeed. I would be suspicious that he may be suffering from thyroid disease and this is causing his poor body condition. It's best to have him tested by your vet for thyroid disease first and a general blood test as well to check for liver or kidney disease. Weight loss in cats can be quite complicated and not straight forward to treat, so it's best to get him seen by your vet soon for proper care. Best case scenario is that he does have thyroid disease, which can usually be treated with medication or a prescription diet (Hills Y/D). Best wishes with Sam and I hope he gets well soon. Take care.

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