Cat doesn't Want to Jump

by Candy Ward
(Squaw Valley, CA)

Bob, our older (10-11 years) cat doesn't want to jump up onto anything as he used to. He's fixed, and a little overweight, but otherwise very healthy. He is normally my lap cat, and now he'll just put his front paws on my legs, or on the seat of my chair and start to jump up, but then goes back down to the floor and just looks up at me. Then he'll repeat it all over again, several times before he gives up and lays down on the floor at my feet. He seems a bit lethargic, but not enough to be concerned about that yet. Any ideas besides the obvious (just becoming a senior citizen)?

Reply
Hi
well he may be suffering from arthritis which is a problem for older cats and his weight issue may be putting extra pressure on his joints.
cat-arthritis.html

It is difficult to say whether it is simply old age which is making him more lethargic as there are also some conditions which could be causing this too.

Your bets option especially as he is getting on in years is to have him checked over by a vet, a sort of MOT to make sure that he has not developed anything which could be causing these issues, such as heart problems https://www.our-happy-cat.com/feline-heart-disease.html

thyroid problems https://www.our-happy-cat.com/cat-thyroid.html

best wishes kate

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