Is my cat depressed or sick?

Question

I posted this yesterday but something was brought to my attention that could change it...

My cat has changed a bit lately. He is a 20 pound male 7 year old. He is very friendly. But lately, he has hardly touched his food. I usually give him half a cup in the morning and half a cup at night, but for the past week or two he has only been picking at his food. He still eats, but not as much. He usually hangs out downstairs, but now he is up in my room all day. He is still friendly to me when I visit him up there and he purrs a lot. But his normal activities of sitting in window and watching birds has changed. He looks restless and sleeps more. Sometimes at night I let him outside and he eats grass. He is strictly an indoor cat so he usually doesn't go outside for over ten minutes. He shows no signs at all of being in pain. He has thrown up once or twice, but it was mainly hair or the grass he ate. This throw up is always located near my bed (I don't know why, he likes to leave me something to step on in the morning?)

For the past five years, I have been at school or away from September to May. I moved back home at the end of May for good, and for two months I didn't have a job so I hardly ever left the house. I started working three weeks ago, when this started. It is also around this time that I pack up and leave, and visit a few times in that time span. Some suggested that he may be depressed, because he thinks I am getting ready to leave again.

What do you think is wrong? Do you think he is sick, or depressed? I am stopping at the store tonight to get a different kind of food to see if he would like that better, and maybe a new toy.

Answer 1

depressed and sick

Answer 2

The cat might have separation anxiety from you. Some cats get depressed when their owner leaves for a certain amount of time. It causes them to urinate or leave surprises for you on the floor or sometimes in your bed. Need to see a vet. Maybe they can help you with your cat's separation anxiety if that is what it is.

Answer 3

animals eat grass so they can throw up because they dont feel good.. if hes used to you leavin around this time.. then he ccould e sad because he think u leavin..  

Answer 4

He's probably really lonely, he needs more exercise, the reason why he's not eating is because he's used to playing with you making him more hungry. If you get him another cat to play with even if it's a friend cat  he needs to play, the reason why he barfs is probably because it's stuck in his stumach from being lazy all day. If this doesn't work you should go to the vet.