Has your cat become unusually sleepy, or restless and unsettled?

Possible medical causes

• Pain, kidney or other physical disease can accompany lower activity; activity alone cannot distinguish causes.
• Hyperthyroidism can accompany restlessness and intake or weight changes; assessment is needed.
• Senior cats: cognitive dysfunction often shows up as pacing and crying at night instead of sleeping

Possible behavioral causes

• Insufficient environmental stimulation or long periods alone without interaction can make a cat seem sluggish and low-energy
• Environmental changes or a new source of stress can also make a cat vigilant, agitated, and restless

Initial at-home suggestions

• First observe whether this is just normal cat behavior — the key is comparing it to your own cat's usual baseline
• Observe breathing, movement and responsiveness without disturbing the cat; do not force the mouth open or rule out disease by gum color.
• Keep dates, units and conditions of safe usual weigh-ins; do not diagnose weight or nutrition by feeling bones.
• Take your cat for a full veterinary checkup — a sudden energy change in a middle-aged or senior cat especially warrants early evaluation

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