My cat gained weight fast, growls, and lies on her side. Is she sick?

Zoey sounds quite ill at the moment. In senior cats, there are three common illnesses that cause vomiting, increased eating, and weight loss: Hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and kidney disease. Cancer is another differential, and that could cause an enlarged belly due to tumor growth. Zoey should see a vet right away for his symptoms. I recommend having a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, urinalysis, and x-rays done on him to diagnose what is causing his symptoms. Once a diagnosis is reached, the vet can discuss treatment with you. Please take him into a vet now.

Gaining so much weight all of a sudden could be a sign of metabolic disease or an endocrine disease such as diabetes. She may feel ill and vulnerable and therefore tries to keep the other kitties away from her. Please take her to your vet ASAP for an exam and blood tests.

If this is new behavior it is possible that this is a sign of pain. Being overweight can lead to problems like arthritis, but while I can tell from your pictures that Ali is beautiful I'm not sure if he seems overweight. I'd recommend making an appointment with your veterinarian to bring up your concerns. From an exam your veterinarian should be able to let you know whether or not Ali would benefit from weight loss and may be able to determine if he seems painful as well.

Please have her assessed by a vet as soon as possible, the abdominal enlargement in the face or persistent vomiting and diarrhea is a huge concern. Fluid build up , liver disease and tumors are all possibilities, early diagnosis is required in order to fully assess all options for her care

Hi there. It's possible that she's simply gaining weight as she gets older, especially if she's not as active now as she used to be or if she's getting more food than in the past. But, an enlarged abdomen could also be caused by heart disease, liver disease, FIP (feline infectious peritonitis), or an abdominal tumor of some kind. These things are less likely if she is acting completely normal, but to be on the safe side, it would be a good idea to have her seen by a vet when you are able to. He/she can palpate her abdomen to check for any abnormalities, and may recommend x-rays or other testing if there are any concerns.

Gizzy needs to be examined by the veterinarian. The two most common conditions that will cause these clinical signs are kidney disease and hyperthyroidism. Please keep in mind that other causes are also possible. Both of these can be successfully managed with special foods/medications. The key however, is that treatment must start before things get too bad. The longer you wait, the worse things may become. These conditions are not death sentences if caught at an appropriate time. Many cats will live a quality life for a few years after diagnosis. I recommend to have Gizzy examined by the veterinarian within the next few days. Some simple blood and urine tests will be needed for a correct diagnosis. Left untreated, these conditions can cause pets to become more sick and potentially suffer. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

If only Sadie could talk! It's hard to know if this is a behavioral quirk, indicates she does not like being picked up or if there is some sort of discomfort involved. If she has not yet been checked for a spinal abnormality, I recommend to have this done. If no issues are found, this may be her unique way of talking to you. Here are a couple ideas of things you can do to try to maintain her happiness: https://www.petcoach.co/article/4-ways-to-play-with-your-cat/ Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Using a Feliway diffuser and setting aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play for your cat will also help to keep her stimulated. Lastly, keeping her litter area extremely clean will also help to keep her happy. Please feel free to post any additional questions.