• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Cats
    • Cat Behavior Problems
    • Cat Health
    • Cat Nutrition
    • Cat Training
  • Dogs
    • Heat Cycle Info
    • Dog Behavior
    • Dog Health
  • Fish
  • Did You Know?
PET-happy logo

pet-happy.com

Tips to Improve Your Pet's Behavior, Health, and Life...

You are here: Home / Cats / Cat Health / What to do when a cat is losing weight

What to do when a cat is losing weight

February 9, 2015; By Maris Munkevics, Signe Munkevica

Is your cat losing weight? This may happen for many reasons. The cause can be as simple as a cat being fed too little or as tragic as organ failure. In some cases of weight loss, the cat may maintain a normal appetite, while in others he may be losing weight because he is no longer eating.

Little kitten on weight scale at the veterinarian

In most cases, a vet visit is a crucial step. In this article, you will find out what issues may cause your cat to lose weight as well as how can you help at home and how to know when it’s time to visit a veterinarian.

Is your cat eating?

The first step to take when a cat is losing weight is to answer a simple question: is your cat eating? Depending on the answer, here are the possible scenarios:

  • Cat next to an orange food bowl.
    Before you can figure our why your cat is losing weight, it’s necessary to find out whether he is eating or not.

    Yes, the cat is still eating, but he is losing weight.

    • Visit a veterinarian as soon as you can. There may be many reasons, starting with worms and ending with diabetes and tumors.
    • Is your cat eating enough? The answer to the cat’s weight loss can be as trivial as that he is simply not getting enough food. Check here to find how much you must feed to a cat.
  • No, the cat is not eating, and he is losing weight.
    • Can you identify why your cat isn’t eating? You will find the most common reasons why cats refuse food here.
      • Get your cat eating TODAY. For cats, starving can cause more problems than just hunger; it can also create irreversible organ damage within as little as a day or two.
      • Visit a veterinarian if you do not know why your cat is not eating or if you can’t get your cat to eat.
  • If you do not know whether your cat is eating or not, schedule a vet visit and try to find out. If you have more than one cat, lock the underweight one in a room with food and check to see whether he eats it. In the future, consider feeding your cats on a meal schedule, which will let you know immediately when their eating habits change. Besides, scheduled feeding has several other benefits.

The cat is not eating and is losing weight

When a cat stops eating, it’s not just a matter of being hungry and eventually starving to death. For cats, starving for as little as a day can cause a condition called feline hepatic lipidosis, which makes a cat’s liver dysfunctional. To prevent hepatic lipidosis, it’s necessary to get your cat eating as soon as possible. You will find more information about hepatic lipidosis here.

The most common causes of a cat not eating are as follows:

  • Dental and oral problems, such as broken tooth, gingivitis, and oral cancer. These can cause weight loss mostly because they cause a cat to feel discomfort or pain while eating, and the cat may stop eating as a result.
  • Gastrointestinal problems can make a cat feel nauseous, and he will resent eating.
  • Infectious diseases are often accompanied, to some degree, by a loss of appetite.
  • Other medical problems. In any case, bear in mind that there are numerous diseases that may cause a cat to decline food, so a vet visit is always recommended.
  • Introduction of new food can easily cause a cat to stop eating. If your cat is not eating his new food, do not let him starve. Switch back to your cat’s “old” food, and then introduce the new one gradually. Click here to learn how.
  • Stress. General stress or stress during and after certain events can disrupt a cat’s diet. Appetite changes are commonly caused by a vet visit, moving, changes in family members (a baby arriving, someone moving in or out, new pets coming, or old pets dying), changes in routine, conflicts with other cats, and more. Your best shot is to identify the source of the stress and minimize it. You will find more about stress in cats here.
  • A cat trying to reach food inside a deep glass
    Maybe your cat is simply unable to reach his food?

    Food inaccessibility is something that should be considered even if you are sure there is no problem. Here are some common scenarios: your cat may be too afraid to reach the bowl, he may be bullied by other cat, or he may find it harder to jump on cabinets or over baby gates as he gets older. In such cases you have a couple of options: 1. provide food in as many locations as you can; 2. always feed your cat(s) on a schedule.

  • Food is too close to the litter box. Cats have a natural reluctance to eliminate near their food source (a.k.a., their hunting grounds) because in the wild, their scent would scare their prey away. This instinct is so strong that, if a cat’s litterbox and food source are too near to each other, he may either choose not to use a litter box or, less commonly but still frequently, choose not to eat.

In case you are still having trouble identifying the source of your cat’s struggle, here is a list of the most common reasons why cats are repelled by food.

The cat is eating but is still losing weight

If your cat is losing weight but is still eating, there is something wrong with your cat’s ability to derive nutrition from the food. In this case, a vet visit is immediately necessary.

Here are few reasons why cats who are eating may still be losing weight:

  • Kitten being petted at the vet's office
    If your cat is losing weight for no apparent reason, his (and your) best friend is the vet.

    Internal parasites live on the food that the cat eats. Therefore, if the infestation is significant, the cat will give the larger share of his nutrition to his parasites. Remember, indoor cats can get worms easily, and there is no way to tell if your cat is infested—a swollen abdomen and worms in feces will appear only when an infestation becomes severe.

  • Diabetes. While diabetes is more common in older cats, it is still observed in cats as young as one year. A common early sign of diabetes is a cat rapidly losing weight while gaining a larger appetite. You should also notice increased water consumption and frequent urination. If you visit a veterinarian early, your cat will likely have a good prognosis.
  • Hyperthyroidism is increased activity of the thyroid gland combined with an increased metabolic rate. Therefore, the cat will need to eat more, but it’s unlikely that his caloric needs will be met. Thus, he will lose weight. Signs to look for are an increased appetite, increased urination, vomiting, and more.
  • Organ failure is a common explanation for why an older cat may be losing weight despite eating normally. In many cases other symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and blood in urine or feces, can be present. Organ failure can have many causes, and your cat’s prognosis may vary greatly.
  • Other medical problems. Above, we mentioned the most common diseases that cause weight loss in cats. However, there are plenty more, and it’s not your job to diagnose your cat. It is your veterinarian’s job.

Remember that even if you think you can guess what is causing a cat’s weight loss, it’s always advisable to visit a veterinarian. When your cat stops eating, it’s crucial to get him eating again as soon as possible.

We wrote more topics like this one. Please click below.

  • How to Choose Cat Accessories For Your New Cat
    How to Choose Cat Accessories For Your New Cat
  • How to Get a Cat into a Carrier Voluntarily
    How to Get a Cat into a Carrier Voluntarily
  • How to introduce a new cat to your existing cats
    How to introduce a new cat to your existing cats
  • Top reasons why your cat is not eating
    Top reasons why your cat is not eating

August 19, 2020

About us

This site is lovingly written by:
Signe Munkevica, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
Maris Munkevics, Animal Biologist and Animal Behaviorist.

Primary Sidebar

Recent articles:

Why Is My Kitten Scared of Me? 8 Fixes

Can Cats Die of Stress?

When to Start Litter Training Kittens?

  • Why is There a White Cloud in Fish Tank?
  • Why is my dog shaking after surgery?
  • How to Use a Blacklight for Cat Urine & Dog Pee
  • Is your cat drinking a lot of water?
  • How to know when your dog will come in heat

Dog Behavior

Jack Russell Terrier with a brown teddy bear that he chewed the stuffing out of

Top 10 Causes For An Excessive Chewing Dog

  • How to know when your dog will come in heat
  • Top 10 Causes For An Excessive Chewing Dog
  • Can a female dog get pregnant while bleeding?

Fish

20 Gallon Fish Tank

Best 20 Gallon Aquarium

  • Best 20 Gallon Aquarium
  • Step by step guide to set up a fish tank
  • How much light does an aquarium need

Newest Articles

Why Is My Kitten Scared of Me? 8 Fixes

August 7, 2022 By Maris Munkevics, Signe Munkevica

Are you wondering why my new kitten is scared of me? A kitten should not be scared of people at the age when they are moving to their new home. After weaning from their mother, a kitten is ready to go to their forever home at the age of 10 to 12 … Continue here » about Why Is My Kitten Scared of Me? 8 Fixes

Can Cats Die of Stress?

August 2, 2022 By Maris Munkevics, Signe Munkevica

Is your cat stressed? When talking about stress in people, it is generally accepted that it may damage our well being, productivity, and health. But did you know that our four legged fur babies can also suffer from stress? In this article, you will … Continue here » about Can Cats Die of Stress?

When to Start Litter Training Kittens?

July 26, 2022 By Maris Munkevics, Signe Munkevica

Proper use of a litter box is an important part of every indoor cat's life. The age when to start litter training kittens plays a crucial role. Inadequate training may lead to house soiling. Unfortunately, this can be quite problematic for both you … Continue here » about When to Start Litter Training Kittens?

Why is There a White Cloud in Fish Tank?

July 21, 2022 By Maris Munkevics, Signe Munkevica

The serenity of a freshwater aquarium is amazing. The beautiful clear water, the twinkle of the gravel, and the bright colors of your fish are awesome. But what happens when you wake up, go to your aquarium and instead of crystal clear aquarium … Continue here » about Why is There a White Cloud in Fish Tank?

Why is my dog shaking after surgery?

July 18, 2022 By Maris Munkevics, Signe Munkevica

Surgery is stressful for any pet owner regardless if it is a relatively safe spaying or neuter surgery or something more serious. To care for your dog after the surgery may rise several challenges. A good veterinarian always gives specific … Continue here » about Why is my dog shaking after surgery?

Footer

About us

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Privacy policy
  • About Us
  • Contact us

Search

Affiliate Disclosure:

The following are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.  This is used for keeping the blog up and running smoothly. Please know this does not change the price you see on Amazon. Thank you for your help and support of Pet-happy.com!

© 2022 PET-Happy.com
DMCA.com Protection Status