Old cat about to retire?

[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <wunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <wontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]My old cat......

14 year old male, strictly an inside cat. During the last 5 months he has not been jumping up on the bed or couch.  Sleeps more. In the last few months he has been having whining bouts periodically almost every night. In the last couple of weeks he has been under the bed a lot, sleeping.

In the past week he has developed thinning hair on his back past the ribs and onto the beginning of his tail. He is getting pretty thin looking past the ribs, although he eats well. Stools seem OK, no blood seen, but are stinky. Stool last night was not firm.

I am wondering if he is on his last legs, so to speak.

[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif][if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:#0400;mso-fareast-language:#0400;mso-bidi-language:#0400;}</style><![endif]

Some muscle mass reduction is normal with age, but thinning fur isn't. I'd have a senior panel blood test done, to see what's up. It might be something treatable.

I am a human doctor, not a vet.  The symptoms are not those of old age which is a physiological process.  I suggest that you do not try to treat this yourself but take your cat to the vet as soon as possible.

With kind regards,

Geoffrey

Hi Jake68 and welcome to the forum !

You'll need a competent cat-Vet because they're not all 'created equal'.....I'd look for a cat-only clinic and I'd want one of the older experienced Vets there to see him.

A thorough physical exam with a careful health history-taking and blood testing should be on the table. You should be presented with the findings and a suggested plan of action.

Let us know what happens.

My regular vet went south for the winter.

My daughter suggested her vet, but just an exam was $52!  I went to a vet my banker suggested where an exam was $27.50.

Exam was $27.50 and a shot of a long acting steroid was $20.

The vet thought his skin was dry and suggested a teaspoon of vegetable oil mixed into his dry food. He also thought he had a skin allergy, hence

the steroid. The steroid was also to help him get around better.

The loose stool he thought was due to me giving him more canned food in the last week.

Crossing my fingers!