[wheelert]

I have a 14 year old cat and there is something wrong with her she's not eating or drinking that much and she's not using the litterbox and she is hiding in the bathroom is their something with her or is it her time. Please help me she is just like one of my kids!

[Just_Another_Lemming]

If she isn't eating, drinking, or using the litterbox, there is something medically wrong. No one can assess the situation online. wheelert, please contact your vet and get your cat in to see him/her asap.

[hheath541]

It may just be age, or it may be something treatable. Only a vet can tell you for sure.

One thing is sure, if she isn't eating or drinking, then you WILL lose her.

[morgaine300]

I don't believe in things being "just age." What does that mean? Things go wrong as they age - therefore something is wrong, even if it's caused by aging. And many of those things are treatable. Arthritis comes to many people with age, but there's still a reason for it. You can't treat it if you don't know the reason.

Not only do you need to take her to the vet, I would say take her ASAP. The hiding may just be cause she doesn't feel good, doesn't want bothered, etc. That's an sign, not a problem.

Cats can get deathly ill quickly if they aren't eating. And if you mean she's not going to the bathroom at all (as opposed to not using the box and doing it in inappropriate place), then that could be a serious problem as well.

So vet - ASAP.

Let us know what happens. (And don't be too quick to give up - vets can be very pessimistic, especially in certain areas.)

[Emily94]

My cat did this when she was a little older (10 I think), it turns out it was a blockage in her intestine. They gave her a laxative to try and force it out, and it worked. (We didn't really have money for surgery, so they tried the laxitive first) Take her to a vet if you want her to live, it might be nothing to serious!

[lJ.]

I doubt this, but make sure she isn't pregnant.
Usually when cats go off somewhere by themselves there is something wrong-it's just a behavoir that vets and people have noticed occurs when there is something wrong medically.
You need to take her to the vet ASAP it's so important, her life is basically in your hands, please take her so they can accurately help her. People online can try to give you tips and information based on personal experiences, but only a vet can help her. You need to go now if you can, since she is not eating, drinking, or going to the bathroom at all.

And technically animals and people don't always die when their old because of their age.. Their bodies reach a specific time where the organs start to fail, maybe their health gets worse, because of their diet, their environment, their health, their body, the length of time of their life, etc. But this may happen when they become old. It is true for people and animals that the more they age, gradually things are prone to go wrong with their bodies, which in some cases is known of dying of 'old age'. Not from being older every year. But from having their bodies fail from illness [not just a specific illness necessarily] but from the body living for this time.
Aside from that do not worry about your cat dying, I can't say if she is or not, but your vet can recommend if she may be or not, but it doesn't necessarily sound like it. My mother's cat who was abused and neglected by other people until my mother took her and nursed her lived until 19! So don't worry only your vet can tell you if something is wrong, maybe nothing is, but still you should take her, it's the only way to know her health ! Good luck!!

[morgaine300]

And technically animals and people don't always die when their old because of their age.. Their bodies reach a specific time where the organs start to fail, maybe their health gets worse, because of their diet, their environment, their health, their body, the length of time of their life, etc. But this may happen when they become old. It is true for people and animals that the more they age, gradually things are prone to go wrong with their bodies, which in some cases is known of dying of 'old age'. Not from being older every year. But from having their bodies fail from illness [not just a specific illness necessarily] but from the body living for this time.

Yes, but many of the things people call "old age" are specific diseases and conditions, which can be treated, or which at least can be dealt with for many years. Just calling it "old age" without checking into what's wrong is ignoring the situation. I've watched too many cats live for years with some condition that some people (including vets) would just consider to be "old age." And kidney disease is a darn good example. Seen too many vets just shrug it off and consider it "old age" and not even attempt to do a blasted thing about it - when in reality if it's caught early, the cat could live for years with it.

[lindzc]

My 20 year old female did the same thing. It is something they do when It is their time. We ended up putting her down 2 days later. Most likely it had a stroke. Please try to think of the cats pain before your own needs. It is always hard to put an animal down but it is much more merciful to put them out of their misery

[morgaine300]

lindzc, I'd like to know why you're ASSUMING that all these cats are ready to be put down, without having any clue whatsoever what is even wrong with them? Certain conditions can cause a cat to behave in this way, and it may be something treatable. And I've watched far, far, far too many cats get treated for things and go on to live another five years. So are you psychic that you know this cat is doing this because it's ready to end its life? Cats also do this stuff when they aren't feeling well.

You should have seen how my one cat acted when he just had a urinary tract infection, for Pete's sake! He didn't eat or drink, just laid around looking like he was ready to die, and stared glassy-eye at the wall. And it was just a UTI we treated with antibiotics. And he lived about three years beyond that point in time.

Stop telling everyone it's time for their cat to die!

[lindzc]

morgaine300 I was talking about my cat. She had a stroke is what my vet said. I am only giving my opinion from my personal experience and in no way claiming my opinions to be facts.

[morgaine300]

Sorry, I misinterpreted about the stroke issue.

But you're still very pessimistic and seem to add nothing to conversations but bad news and the impression that everyone's cats are ready to die. (There was nothing about a stroke on the other thread, but it was still full of pessimism.) The only symptoms here are that the cat felt like crap, which could be anything - and OP has already been told to get the cat to a vet, which is what needs to happen. Why just add gloom and doom to it when it's not needed? Yes, it could be something bad and untreatable, but it also could be something stupid and easy to treat. So the gloom is unnecessary. Therefore I'm not apologizing for anything else I've said.

Not to mention that most cats who have strokes are still not ready to die. Sometimes it's unknown whether they even had one, and sometimes they can be perfectly fine again in a couple of weeks, and it's just a wait & see situation.

[morgaine300]

BTW, FoxCash - glad your cat is still surviving well. :-)