How to Fatten a Skinny Cat

Author: Laura McKinney
Date Of Creation: 7 August 2021
Update Date: 12 May 2024
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How to Help a Cat Gain Weight
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Unfortunately, we often come across stray cats that are visibly malnourished. If we want to adopt them or help them gain weight to reach an ideal level, we must be aware that for weeks we will have to take good care of our feline friend.

Another situation that we may also face is that of adopting a adult cat from an organization protecting animals, but that the kitten is still malnourished because it has not yet recovered from the life it had before.

In this article by PeritoAnimal we will talk about the reasons that lead to a malnourished cat and we will give some tips about how to fatten a skinny cat. We hope it's useful!


go to the veterinarian

It may seem that talking to see a veterinarian is "rain in the wet", but the truth is that, like us humans, we need to take care of our health with expert follow-up, cats also have this need.

Therefore, the first thing you should do when adopting any pet is to take it to the vet. The professional will administer the relevant vaccines, conduct an exploration to rule out possible diseases and will issue an appropriate diagnosis according to the cat's situation.

If you have adopted a thin and possibly malnourished cat, your vet will establish an ideal diet for him. However, while you do not take the kitten to the veterinarian, we must, first of all, deworm the animal and provide foods rich in protein and without excess fat to help strengthen your muscles.


Ham, turkey slices, and cooked chicken (always unsalted) will gladly be accepted by the skinny cat and will provide benefits to your body if you haven't already bought pet food.

Main cause of malnutrition in cats

Lack of food is the main cause of malnutrition in cats. However, this cause usually occurs in cats of a few months, and not so common in adult cats.

If the cause of malnutrition is lack of food, it is advisable to provide the cat with food and water as soon as possible. You must be cautious and manage food in small quantities, but very regularly so as not to create too sudden a change in your intestinal rhythm.


If the only cause of malnutrition is lack of food, in a few weeks the skinny cat will be perfectly recovered and with the ideal weight.

You might also be interested in this other article: why my cat doesn't want to eat.

Cat Stomach Fur Balls

Another common and more dangerous cause than lack of food occurs when our cat houses fur balls in the stomach or intestine, which can cause him to progressively lose weight.

If this is the case, we will have to apply petroleum jelly to one of their paws. The cat will lick its paw to remove the sticky matter and will certainly ingest the product. Vaseline will help the cat to effectively evacuate the hairballs. Know that fur balls dehydrate the animal and the prevent eating regularly. If left untreated, it can become a dangerous health problem for the feline companion.

When fur balls or other objects (rope, string, etc.) obstruct the cat's intestine, several symptoms occur:

  • Repeated dry cough;
  • Reflux;
  • Apathy;
  • Lack of appetite and disinterest in food;

Sometimes parasites such as fleas can cause the cat to lick its fur more often, which ultimately helps to form hairballs in the intestinal tract.

Other Causes of Malnutrition in Cats

Malnutrition in cats can also occur as a result of other diseases that can affect and thus cause this situation of a skinny cat:

  • Internal parasites;
  • Feline AIDS;
  • Feline flu;
  • Toxoplasmosis;
  • Fever;
  • Diarrhea;
  • Leukemia;
  • Distemper;

It is for this reason that we emphasize the importance of going to the specialist, only he can rule out diseases that cause malnutrition in the cat.

Foods you can provide for a skinny or malnourished cat

Knowing how to fatten a malnourished cat is complicated because each case is different and unique. For the entire process to be successful and reach a suitable weight level for your cat, follow our tips:

  1. To get their attention and get them to start eating, you must offer tasty food in small portionsThis way the cat's digestive system will not be surprised by a large influx of food. As we mentioned before, you can use slices of turkey or ham.
  2. Once you see that the cat accepts the food you offer, you can go to a store and get wet kibble which, unlike balanced kibble, whets more appetite and hydrates you thanks to its high water content.
  3. For better food acceptance you can choose the gastrointestinal food (essential if you experience diarrhea). There are some options of this type of food on the market
  4. Once you see how the cat begins to regain its weight, you can switch to a balanced kibble. This type of food is the most recommended because it contains all the proteins, fats and oils necessary for the proper development of the cat.

Be sure to check out this other article about what cats eat - feline feeding guide, in which we detail a series of important information that can help your furry friend's recovery.

Vitamins for Malnourished Cats

Another way to complement the treatment of a skinny and malnourished cat is to offer it specific vitamins. This supplement for fattening cats can be prescribed by veterinarians and, if you want more details on the subject, be sure to check out this other article by PeritoAnimal on vitamins for malnourished cats.

Now that you know how to fatten a skinny cat and we're talking about feeding felines, check out the following video with 7 fruits that cats can eat, as well as the amounts and benefits they provide:

If you want to read more articles similar to How to Fatten a Skinny Cat, we recommend that you enter our Fattening Diets section.