Answer

<p>Hello,</p><p> </p><p>I am sorry your kitty is not feeling well. I understand that you don't want to spend alot of money, but in order to get a definitive diagnosis you will have to let your vet run some blood and urine tests, and maybe take some x-rays. Cats don't just get old, they suffer from ailments that occur as they age. These illnesses can usually be managed, to a degree with medicines, and can afford your kitty several to many more years of good quality life. While I cannot give you an exact answer as to what is wrong with your kitty (the only one who can do that is the clinician that runs the diagnostics and interprets them), I can give a short list of the most likely possibilities. Cats are considered to be geriatric at 8 years old. They are prone to illness as they age, just like people. The 3 most common ailments known to afflict elderly cats are diabetes, kidney disease and hyperthyroidism. Cancer is the 4th. The symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, increased water consumption, increased urination, dehydration, weakness, weight loss, muscle wasting, poor hair coat, changes in appetite, changes in behavior and increased vocalizations. Your kitty does not need to be experiencing all of the above symptoms to have an illness. Cats are actually very good at hiding illness, it is instinctual for them. Since your kitty is now showing obvious signs of a problem, you should consider having her seen by her vet. The longer she goes without medical attention, the more symptoms she will develop, and the more difficult and expensive it will be to make her feel better again. As I said earlier, most illnesses are manageable but you must act quickly. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance. If this has been helpful, please hit the green accept button. Best of luck with your kitty :)</p>

Expert:	ERAnimalNurse
Pos. Feedback:	99.4 %
Accepts:
Answered:	9/4/2009

Emergency Critical Care Nurse

16+ years of veterinary experience