Content
- Weight loss in cats
- Cat losing weight: causes
- Diseases that can make the cat too thin
- Diagnosis and Treatments for a Cat That Doesn't Get Fat
The weight of the animals always raises doubts among the guardians, whether it is the case of an overweight feline or a very thin cat. However, many times, changes in our pet's weight indicate the presence of some hidden disease and therefore it is an indicator that cannot be ignored.
In this article by PeritoAnimal, we will explain the possible reasons that lead a tutor to ask himself: my cat doesn't get fat, why? This is one of the most frequently asked questions in the veterinarian office and we will answer it below. Good reading.
Weight loss in cats
When we have an overweight animal at home, it is always simpler to put it on a diet, as it will eat what we give it. But what if he's eating as usual and still we have a cat that doesn't get fat or even a cat getting thin? In this case, we are in a situation that demands our monitoring. Now, if in a short period of time he loses 10% of his weight, we may be facing a serious problem.
Weight loss is not a disorder in itself, but it could be an indicator of another disease that our pet is suffering from. In any case, the cat may be losing weight not only due to an illness, it could also be due to psychological stress or changes in its diet. Next, we will detail the possible causes that lead us to have a cat losing weight.
Cat losing weight: causes
If you live with a cat that doesn't get fat or a cat that's very thin and you've noticed that it doesn't gain weight, pay attention. We'll start with the simplest cause for this that we sometimes ignore. you can have a very energetic cat and he hardly ever settles for the food you offer him. He tends to reject and not eat, that's why, sometimes, you choose not so nutritious foods and he loses weight. They are cats that play a lot, jump, run and sleep little. In these cases, it is necessary to increase the amount of feed or choose a more nutritious food for him and see if he continues without gaining weight or, on the contrary, if he starts to regain his ideal weight.
O Psychological stress is often one of the main reasons why your cat eats well but is too thin. It may be due to changes in their habitat, such as moving house, abandoning a family member, animal or human, many hours of solitude or, conversely, excessive activity in their new home that contrasts with their behavior in the previous house.
At food changes are usually another reason that causes weight loss in the feline. We should keep in mind that although we don't see diarrhea and/or vomiting, they may be experiencing internal changes due to the new food. This often happens when we switch from commercial pet food to homemade food. Habits often change, as we force them to eat homemade food when we put it on their plate and we don't leave it there during the day for them to eat when they feel hungry, as is often the case with dry food.
Diseases that can make the cat too thin
In general, if your cat does not gain weight and, on the contrary, when there is weight loss associated with diseases, it is common for the feline to have other symptoms. There may be shedding of hair or dull coat, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, increased thirst, etc. It's very important to talk to the vet about this, and talk to him about everything you've observed, as it will be necessary to look for the cause that is triggering these symptoms.
Although there are several diseases that can lead to a cat losing weight or simply a cat that does not gain weight, despite a balanced diet, there are two more common endocrine diseases. Are they:
- Diabetes
- hyperthyroidism
Typically, both are associated with cats older than 6 years.
In the case of diabetes, one of the main indications is a very thin cat since, in this disease, the feline's body can't process the glucose properly, as well as other organic compounds in food.
If we have a very thin cat that we find to be suffering from hyperthyroidism, its diagnosis must be early, as the correct treatment is essential for its recovery. Hyperthyroidism is one of the most common endocrine disorders in middle-aged domestic cats and also among elderly cats. Also, for being a silent and progressive disease, if we identify the problem early, we will avoid complications and it will be possible to increase the life expectancy of our furry friend.
In addition to the above illnesses, other reasons that also explain a cat that does not get fat or a cat that loses weight are digestive problems from the mouth, such as missing teeth, infections in the teeth or gums, etc., to the digestive tract, such as stomach ulcers, inflammation, stomach or intestinal gas.
There may also be presence of tumors who have not yet shown any symptoms other than a decrease in body weight. Also, there may be a beginning of renal insufficiency, which if we are not careful, can become a chronic renal failure with all that this disease entails over the years.
Diagnosis and Treatments for a Cat That Doesn't Get Fat
When you notice that your cat is losing weight and you are simply living with a cat that does not get fat even if you are offering him even more food than usual, you should go to the vet to perform the necessary exams. You should tell him the possible simple causes concerning your feline so that the medical history can be considered and to determine the best treatment to follow.
The veterinarian will certainly perform a blood test and perhaps a urine test to arrive at the diagnosis and rule out or confirm the presence of the diseases we mentioned earlier. If in the end the cause that explains why the cat is too thin is a disease, the specialist will be in charge of stipulating the best treatment to fight it.
Another article that can be very useful is this one we have in which we explain how to fatten a skinny cat.
In addition, there are other ways to help cats gain weight. Among them, the use of vitamins for cats to gain weight.
Also be sure to check out our complete guide to feeding cats.
If you want to read more articles similar to My cat doesn't get fat, why?, we recommend that you enter our Power Problems section.