Why is my cat losing weight?
Introduction
An important part of being a responsible cat owner is monitoring our cats’ general health – and that includes their weight. It can sometimes be difficult to tell whether they are gaining or losing weight – especially if they are long-haired! – but it is important to try. Weight loss can be one of the first signs that a cat is suffering from some sort of illness, and catching these things early means that it is more likely to be treatable
But what are some of the reasons why our cats might lose weight? The exact cause can be difficult to pinpoint even for vets, but one of the ways we can tell them apart is by looking at how much food your cat is eating.
My cat is eating less and losing weight
Cats who start to eat less food than normal will almost always lose weight. The are many different reasons why this might happen, but it is unusual for cats to start losing weight simply because they do not like their food anymore – there is usually something more going on. This might be sometime simple like dental disease, or a more serious underlying health condition like kidney disease, heart disease, or even cancer.
My cat is eating the same but losing weight
Even if your cat is still eating their food as normal, it is important to take their weight loss seriously. There are several different medical conditions which can cause this to happen. These include inflammatory bowel disease, where the body cannot absorb nutrients properly, or cancer, where the tumour is using up your cat’s energy supplies more quickly.
My cat is eating more but losing weight
If your cat is eating more but still losing weight, it is important not to ignore this. There are several different medical conditions that can cause this combination of symptoms.
The most common of these are hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland) and diabetes. Both of these conditions are treatable, but sadly they can seriously damage a cat’s body if they are not diagnosed quickly.
How do I know if my cat is losing weight?
You can weigh your cat using scales found at the vets, or if your cat will allow you to do so, you can weigh them at home. A good trick for this is to weigh yourself with and without your cat, the difference will determine their weight. We recommend using body condition scoring to check your cat’s overall condition. For more support on this, please do ask one of our team members.
What should I do if my cat is losing weight?
Cats who are losing weight should always be checked by one of our vets. The vet will examine your cat and will often recommend running some blood tests as a first step in working out what is causing the problem.
The vet may be able to diagnose your cat from the blood tests alone, or they may need to do further scans or other more specialised tests, too.
While you are waiting for the results, you should encourage your cat to eat as much as possible to try and slow down the weight loss. You can try:
- Warming the food to make it more appealing
- Offering several small meals over the day
- Taking food away between mealtimes, to encourage them to eat when it is given
Food bowls should always be kept away from litter trays, as the smell and proximity may put cats off eating. If you have more than one cat, make sure they are fed separately.
My cat is overweight – Do I need to worry if they are losing weight?
Unintentional weight loss is still worrying even if your cat was overweight to begin with. Cats who have been overweight for a while do not tend to lose weight unless they change how much they eat or exercise, or they develop some sort of illness. If you have not recently put your cat on a diet, then there may well be a medical reason for your cat’s weight loss.
Overweight cats who stop eating properly can also develop a serious condition called hepatic lipidosis, which can be life-threatening if it is severe.
Always get an appointment with one of our vets if your cat is losing weight, even if they were previously overweight.
Conclusion
There are many different reasons why our cats may start to lose weight. Often, there is an underlying illness that is causing the weight loss. Many of these conditions are treatable, especially if they are caught early.
If you are concerned that your cat may be losing weight, don’t delay – book an appointment with us now to get them checked out.
