Hi there.

My cat is fifteen years old, spends a lot of time outside and is still quite active for his age. He is still quite a skinny cat, his stomach/the underneath has dropped a little bit over the years but it's only the beginning of this week I've noticed a very massive change in his weight. His face has really puffed up and when I've tried to pick him up, I can really notice how much heavier he's got. He won't each much of his food lately so it's strange that he has become so big.

We've welcomed a new kitten into our house this week so at first I thought he was just massive compared to her but it's such a noticeable difference that I'm sure it's not that. Is it just a sign of old age and that he's just puts weight on easily?. I suppose he could also be being fed elsewhere but the difference in his size within a week is quite noticeable. He's also become very unwelcoming, especially towards our dog and they've always got on. A lot of hissing lately. He's never been the most sociable but since he's got a bit older, he's become a lot more lovelier. I suppose it could just been because he's a bit put out with the new kitten but they were getting on at the start of the week so it's a bit strange.

I know it's not really something for much advise but I'm just a little worried about him and how puffy he suddenly looks.

Only a trip to the vet will answer your questions.

I agree with blueblade, OP. I think you need to take him to the vets to be checked out as soon as possible.

Vets- swelling can often mean kidneys, liver etc which caught early can be treated more successfully

I don't understand why people post here for advice when the most straightforward course of action is to seek vet attention.

I came home yesterday to find my Bernard very listless, crouching as if in discomfort and obviously not himself as he always gets very excited when I return home normally. I contacted the emergency vet almost immediately after carrying out my own assessment of the situation and brought him straight to see her. The fact that he was easy to get into his carrier was in itself worrying as so out of character for him. It never occurred to me to come onto this forum - my cat was not himself and I wanted to make sure nothing was seriously wrong.

£120 later, an antibiotic and painkiller - he may have sustained a bad fall or been kicked - he's almost back to himself this evening so I'm very relieved. In my opinion, that was £120 well spent for peace of mind and ensuring my cat's comfort, as he was evidently in some pain. (Not enough for insurance to cover, unfortunately, as Bernard has a large excess on account of his age).

OP, I hope you too contacted your vet, if not over the weekend, at least tomorrow.

I can only agree with that. We are not qualified to give medical advice.

That's a little bit harsh, isn't it? I agree, we always go straight to the vet with our cat if anything is amiss, but we have the means, both practically and financially, to do so. But it's not always that easy for everybody.

Obviously most of us aren't qualified vets, but this isn't the Diagnose Your Animal forum, it's the advice forum. And if anybody comes here for that reason they clearly have more than a passing interest in their pet.

OP, I hope you got to see somebody who could help you and your cat

If you do not have the means 'financially or practically' then you shouldn't be owning pets.

I am piss poor, don;t drive but if my animals need to see a vet, then I will find a way

sounds like kidney failure - you need to see a vet as soon as possible

Good for you

But I could argue that being piss poor and without a means of getting to the vet yourself, you shouldn't own animals either.

But I won't, because it's obviously never as black and white as that, is it?