My 17 year old male cat is losing weight, and his hair is coming out in little clumps...?

Question

Aside from the weight loss and the peculiar shedding/moulting of his hair, he seems to be in pretty good health. He can still move, jump, and climb without too much trouble. He doesn't exhibit any other outward signs (i.e.: pain or discomfort), and appears to be happy and content.
I can't afford to pay expensive vetrinary testing fees, so I'm hoping to find an answer here. All responses will be read and considered.
Thanks for Your Help Yahoo! Answers,

Answer 1

Considering your cat is pretty old, I'd venture to guess that he's either suffering from hyperthyroidism or kidney failure. Are you finding bigger clumps of urine in the litter box? That could be a sign of kidney failure- the cat is drinking more water to overcompensate for the lack of nutrients that the kidneys are able to absorb. Hyperthyroidism is a common problem in older cats, too.

It's best to take him to a vet and get him checked out now. They'll do some bloodwork on him and let you know what his diagnosis is. It'll probably run ~$150 for the visit and bloodwork. If you have a good vet, they can even work out a payment plan with you so you don't have to pay it all at once.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I agree with just about everybody who has contributed here. It's true that your cat has had a long life and that's a long time too that you have enjoyed his love and devotion. Old age is not a disease and I feel you must find a way to have the vet do a workup on him. It sounds most like hyperthryroidism which is very common in older cats (some cats by the age of 12). It is treatable with medication so he can get back to a healthy weight and restore his coat. Many things go on inside the cat from this excess of hormone secretion - it can cause high blood pressure causing retinas to detach and blindness. Many cats need food all the time as there metabolism is so high they burn up nutrients at a great rate and their bodies do not get proper nourishment. He will become anxious and unhappy if this goes untreated for any length of time.

So I hope you will find the wherewithal in your heart and wallet to get him the medical attention he needs.

Answer 4

Elderly Cat Losing Weight

Answer 5

I had a ten year old female that was doing the same thing. She died this morning. She never acted like she was in pain. Ate well and was using the litter box. She did sneeze a lot and I like you couldn't afford all the test the vet wanted to do. I'm just glad she was here at home and her death was natural, no needles at the vet. I would just keep him comfortable by allowing him to do whatever he wants. I kind of knew her time was coming and gave some extra loving. I'm sorry.

Answer 6

I know that you say you cannot afford a vet, but you will not know what is wrong with him if you don't get him checked, and I would say he needs blood work. He could have a thyroid problem, and if this is the case he needs to have medication or he will eventually die from the disease, and even though he is 17, he could have a few good years in him yet, as he seems to be very active.

Answer 7

If it's at all possible, I highly recommend getting a senior bloodwork panel done at your vet. Most vets are willing work with you to work out a payment plan if you're on a tight budget. Try calling your vet & explaining the situation to see if the office can work with you. Or, you could call around and ask to find out the lowest price locally for the bloodwork - try calling your local animal shelter to find out if they can recommend a low-cost vet clinic. Senior bloodwork usually costs around $80-100 at most vets (in my area, at least) and can actually save quite a bit of money if it helps you catch problems early, when they're less expensive to treat. When you bring your cat in, ask for a cost estimate prior to testing and treatment - vets understand that most people have budgets.

A hint: try to find an older vet who has been in practice for a long time - they tend to be more experienced at diagnosing health problems by examination and tend to be less reliant on expensive diagnostic testing. They also have usually paid off most of their practice expenses and have less incentive to charge high fees and push extra tests and expensive procedures (I'm not saying all vets do that, but it does happen).

Information on caring for senior cats:
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/seniorcat.html

There are some different health conditions that can cause weight loss and hair loss in cats, and most are treatable, but if they are left untreated they can become much more serious and cause other problems. Hyperthyroid is a common cause of weight loss in older cats, and is easily treated with pills, surgery, or radioiodine treatment (the pills are the least expensive option). But if it's left untreated it can damage the heart. http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/hyperthyroidism.html

Best of wishes to you & your cat!

Answer 8

Sounds like Hyperthyroidism, and I'm sorry but it can't be treated without bringing your cat to the vet. The thyroid profile is not exactly cheap and if you choose to use pills to treat the condition, the profile will need to be repeated on occasion. Other methods of treatment are surgery and radioactive iodine treatment (expensive).

Answer 9

We often see hypothyroid symptoms totally reversed when commits to a plan that supports balance through nutrition and daily self-care. Learn here https://tr.im/buNCU

Consume foods naturally high in B vitamins, such as whole grains, nuts, and seeds, and iodine (fish, seaweed, vegetables and root vegetables).
Exercise daily, at least 30–60 minutes per day, 4–5 times a week.
Practice deep breathing and other techniques that trigger the “relaxation response” – such as meditation and guided visualization.

Answer 10

Eat 5 6 small meals a day instead of 3