12 year old cat is weak and eating less

Hi everyone. New to the forums so I apologize if I started a thread in the wrong place. I have a senior cat, Mr Boots, with hyperthyroidism and some kidney issues (on kidney diet food to help maintain levels). Today he has increasingly been less interested in eating and drinking. Although if I bring his food to him (on the couch or in the bed) he will eat a little. He eats wet food only and I have been adding water (for months now) to his wet food. Today his activity and appetite are low, the past few days he's been fine and the other night he woke me up because he was running around and playing so much. Vet just called me and said to monitor him, but this has happened before (3 weeks ago maybe) and everything was normal. The vet gave him an urgent care wry food that's high in calories to entice him and it did help. Not sure if this is moral in an older cat. Any input, info, ideas, ETA are welcome. I apologize also for any typos as I'm on my phone. Thanks all!

If you facebook join the CKD group there for some tips. Also make sure you're very familiar with Tanya's site. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/felinecrf/

http://www.felinecrf.org

The playing hard is typical of hyperthyroidism, he may need some adjustments on his medicine. Is he on anything? There are treatments out there but most involve surgery and I don't know if a 'senior' is up to that. How old is he? My Burt is almost sixteen and goes through the same thing, he slows down on his eating and drinking for maybe a week or two and loses weight. I tempt him with whatever he will eat, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Gerber Baby meats, Arbys. Then he seems to snap out of it and goes back to normal. He has been tested and does not have hyperthyroidism, but does have an enlarged heart and a small amount of kidney failure though not enough yet to be alarmed.  He seems happy, even runs at times, wants to sit on your lap and loves his 'butt rubs' when he is eating, so I think as long as they appear to be happy and have no pain, we should just provide the love and happiness they need so much in these golden years.  Your boy is so lucky to have you in his life, it sounds like you are doing everything right, and I really wouldn't worry at this stage in his life about what he eats, just get him to eat whatever he wants. Give him a kiss from me, and keep us posted!

Thank you all for the input. Mr Boots is 13 and has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism for over 6 months now and is on Methimazole, but his blood work shows he is maintaining a normal level at the dosage he is currently on which a 1/4 pill every 12 hours. His change in activity level and appetite is what concerns me since he is so underweight (only weighs 6.5 lbs now), but he was 7 lbs before he lost his appetite last time. He's doing much better today, but the vet wants him to come back in for blood work again to ensure his levels are ok with he Methimazole he's been on. He doesn't particularly like his kidney food so I mix it with his normal food, but he seems to pick it out anyhow. I topped his wet food last night with parmesancheese to entice him and today he is not as weak as yesterday and appetite is increasing which is great!

Marj said:

Thank you all for the input. Mr Boots is 13 and has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism for over 6 months now and is on Methimazole, but his blood work shows he is maintaining a normal level at the dosage he is currently on which a 1/4 pill every 12 hours. His change in activity level and appetite is what concerns me since he is so underweight (only weighs 6.5 lbs now), but he was 7 lbs before he lost his appetite last time. He's doing much better today, but the vet wants him to come back in for blood work again to ensure his levels are ok with he Methimazole he's been on. He doesn't particularly like his kidney food so I mix it with his normal food, but he seems to pick it out anyhow. I topped his wet food last night with parmesancheese to entice him and today he is not as weak as yesterday and appetite is increasing which is great!

Click to expand...

"kidney" food is terrible. It's low quality and full of fillers rather than meat protein. I'd suggest you look around either the CKD facebook group or Tanya's site for the list of high protein low phos foods and go with those instead. He'll probably be more inclined to eat. 

My cats loved the hills wetfood for KD ---it's very wet and gravyish so they loved it. Of course, they won't eat it now after being so sick with pancreatitis but up until then, they loved it. Thankfullly both kitties have recovered from pancreatitis <3