Wondering How to Get Your Cat to Gain Weight? Read This First

Wondering How to Get Your Cat to Gain Weight? Read This First

Cat Eating From a Metal Bowl

Cats and Weight Gain

Most pet owners aren’t too fussed about some extra padding on their cat as it makes them even cuddlier, but keeping your cat at a healthy weight is important for his health. If your cat is overweight or suddenly loses weight, it may be time to visit your veterinarian.

So, how do you know if your cat is too skinny?  

Like us, cats come in different shapes and sizes. But when you notice your cat looking skinnier or bonier than usual, you should take your concerns seriously.

Before you jump into feeding high-calorie cat food or similar cat food for weight gain, it is wise to establish the source of the problem first. Your first port of call could be to consult a weight cart for cats such as the one provided by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention

According to the chart, signs of your cat being underweight include very visible ribs, pelvis, or vertebrae in the back, obvious boniness, as well as no palpable fat and a distinct or severe tummy tuck.  

Weight loss in cats is considered clinically important when it exceeds 10 percent of the normal body weight and is not associated with fluid loss. During weight loss, a cat’s appetite may be normal, increased, or decreased, so it can be difficult to diagnose.

But looking out for other signs such as diarrhea, vomiting, regurgitation, and/or difficulty swallowing, drinking more or urinating more can help you identify if your cat is experiencing problems.

Why is my cat losing weight? 

There are many different reasons why your cat could be shedding weight, some more serious than others.

Medical conditions

Sudden weight loss could be a sign of underlying cat health problems. See a list of medical conditions associated with weight loss lower down in this article.

A change in diet

On the other hand, if you’ve been trying to introduce a new type of food, this in itself could be the cause of the problem as your cat may need some time to adjust to his new diet. This is why it is advisable to introduce a new type of food slowly over several meals, mixing the new food with the old food until he’s become accustomed to the new taste.

Stress and anxiety

Cats can be sensitive to excessive noise, new pets in the home or even situations such as having the food bowl too close to their litter box. A change in routine or a new home could also cause your pet to be too upset to eat for a while.

The wrong pet food

Maybe your cat’s diet is not providing proper nourishment. Be sure to use a food that matches your cat’s stage of life.

Canidae’s NEW range of complete and balanced cat foods are developed with high quality proteins and vegetables in gravy to deliver wholesome meals. Our cat food range is packed with fish or chicken for optimal protein nutrition to support healthy weight

Some common medical problems associated with weight loss in cats include: 

Intestinal parasites

Gastrointestinal parasites are a common problem in cats, with prevalence rates as high as 45 percent. These parasites can be wormlike (e.g. stomach worms, roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms) or one-celled (e.g. Isospora, Giardia, Toxoplasma) organisms. Treatment may require medication prescribed by your veterinarian.

Mouth pain

If your cat has a sensitive tooth or teeth, dry cat food may be too hard and painful to chew, whereas wet cat food may aggravate mouth ulcers. In both cases, your cat is likely to go off his food.

Diabetes 

As with humans, this is caused by a failure to produce the hormone insulin or an impaired ability to respond to it. Cats may drink much more water than usual, urinate more and act sluggish.

Feline infectious peritonitis 

This is caused by a feline coronavirus and is fatal.

Hyperthyroidism 

When the thyroid gland is overactive – and the cat’s metabolism speeds up, they may consume a lot of food, but still lose weight.

Gastrointestinal problems 

If your cat is snacking on scraps from the table or feasting on open bins, he may be exposed to unsuitable human food or other undesirables that could cause digestive problems.

Symptoms may include diarrhea, loss of appetite, and vomiting, which could be caused by food intolerances but may also be linked to medical conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease.

Food allergies

Like us, some cats may suffer from food intolerances or allergies and if their food is causing stomach aches, bloating, or diarrhea, they may also not want to eat. Find out how to spot if your cat’s suffering from cat food allergies.

Kidney disease 

Typically cats with this condition will drink more, urinate more, eat less and lose weight. 

Heart disease  

Weight loss and poor appetite in cats could be a sign of heart disease. 

Cancer 

Unexplained weight loss can also be one of the signs of cancer in cats.

Solutions for weight loss in cats: How to get a cat to gain weight 

As the potential reasons for your cat’s weight loss are so varied, it is a good idea to see a veterinarian first to exclude any medical conditions. This is usually done through an exam and diagnostic testing.

Your veterinarian is best placed to advise you on a treatment plan, should one be needed. Treatments could vary from medication to feeding tubes, to a change in diet to include the best cat food for weight gain and vet recommended cat food.

How to get a fussy old and skinny cat to eat?

Once you’ve determined what (if any) medical conditions need to be addressed, you may want to consider trying some things to help your cat regain his appetite and gain a bit more flesh around the flanks.

These tips may also help to boost your older cat’s flagging appetite! However, always talk to your vet about which diet may be best for your cat. This may include providing a special formula for your senior cat.

  • Change your cat’s diet to high quality, high protein, nutrient-rich and nourishing food such as the wide variety of vet formulated cat foods with animal protein and premium ingredients offered by Canidae®.
  • Try introducing a variety of flavors and textures, including smellier canned cat foods. Sometimes heating the food to enhance the smell can make it even more appealing. 
  • Adding fish oil to his meal – sometimes all it takes is to spice up your kitty’s meal a bit by introducing a strong fishy smell or taste, such as salmon oil. Check with your vet for suitable products.  

With these tips and the right cat food such as a product from any of Canidae’s range of premium cat foods – you are giving your cat the best chance of gaining weight and being healthy. 

Canidae Goodness, Canidae’s new cat food line, is a health-first line formulated specifically to support healthy adult cats. Developed in partnership with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, each bite is packed full of ingredients scientifically proven to provide focused nutrition for your cat. Each formula has real poultry or fish as the first ingredient and is composed of high-quality, wholesome ingredients.

All of Canidae’s recipes are ultra nutritionally-dense and full of only the good stuff − no fillers like corn, wheat, soy or animal byproduct meals. And they’re each balanced with whole-body health in mind, leveraging Canidae’s proprietary HealthPlus Solutions®, healthy blend of vitamins, minerals, probiotics and antioxidants. Discuss transitioning your cat to Canidae’s delicious recipes today!