A cat doesn't eat well and loses weight what to do?

If the cat looks healthy and drinks enough water, then you should not worry. To prevent this from happening, owners should transfer to a new type of food gradually, adding it in small portions to the usual food.

A cat doesn't eat well and loses weight: why and what to do

Depending on the cause of your cat's weight loss, you may notice that her appetite has decreased or completely disappeared, a condition known as anorexia.

This is dangerous for cats because they are prone to what is known as liver lipidosis or liver obesity syndrome, a life-threatening condition that can develop when the liver must process large amounts of stored fat to provide the body with energy.

But there are other medical situations that can cause your cat to lose weight, even if she continues to eat a normal amount of food.

Whether your cat is eating or not, if you notice your cat is losing weight, it is important to consult your veterinarian.

If you're not sure what your cat's ideal weight should be, your veterinarian will be able to make recommendations and suggest a feeding regimen that meets your cat's nutritional needs.

Causes of cat weight loss

01.01. Anxiety, stress or depression

Cats under psychological stress may refuse to eat, which can lead to weight loss.

Situations that may upset your cat include excessive noise, the presence of other animals in the feeding area, dirty dishes, or the proximity of food to the litter box .

Cats can also be upset by the disappearance of another pet or a change in routine.

02.01 Cancer.

Although not all cat weight loss is caused by cancer, it is a fairly common cause. Other symptoms that commonly appear include loss of appetite, lethargy, and furtiveness.

03.01 Diabetes.

This disease, which can be caused by an inability to produce the hormone insulin or an impaired ability to respond to it, usually causes weight loss in cats, often with changes in appetite.

Cats with diabetes may also drink excessive amounts of water, urinate more frequently than usual, act lethargic, get urinary tract infections, and have sweet breath.

04.01 Feline Infectious Peritonitis

This virus, which is most commonly seen in cattery cats, is known to cause exhaustion. Cats with FIP will appear ill, often with a high fever that cannot be treated with antibiotics.

05.01 Gastrointestinal problems

There are many different conditions in the gastrointestinal tract that can cause a cat to lose weight. In this case, other symptoms may include diarrhea, lack of appetite and vomiting.

Common gastrointestinal problems that lead to weight loss in cats include inflammatory bowel disease, food allergies or certain infections.

06.01 Intestinal parasites.

Intestinal parasites, also known as worms, may be the cause of your cat's unintentional weight loss. Although not always symptomatic, these parasites can also cause diarrhea, abdominal bloating, vomiting and difficulty breathing.

Physiological Causes of Feline Wasting

Cat weight loss is influenced by the conditions in which the cat is kept (zoohygienic, psychological), changes in the hormonal status of the animal depending on the season of the year, and the nature of the animal (fastidiousness in eating).

Seasonal changes

During the mating season, cats and cats, especially those who go out freely, may forget to eat and lose weight as a result of the resulting sexual dominance. This condition does not require correction. After a period of "walking", the body shape of cats and cats recovers.

External seasonal changes in ambient temperature

When the temperature drops in the room in which a cat or cat is kept or if the animals walk freely outside in winter, cats and cats gain their live weight. In spring, however, when it gets warmer and physical activity increases, especially during the "walking" period, the animal's fat goes out. This is normal for cats and dogs.

Cats are by nature big conservatives. Any change in their usual environment and daily routine can cause them stress. A renovation in the house, the arrival of guests, a change of diet, the arrival of a new pet (a puppy, for example) or the birth of a child can lead to nervousness, and as a result the cat will eat less and lose weight

Pregnancy and nursing kittens

Lactating cats have a good appetite, but often lose weight while nursing kittens. If a cat has many kittens, it is not able to eat as much food as it takes to cover the cat's milk production costs. As a result, the cat uses up its body reserves to produce milk and looks gaunt. The cat will round up when the feeding process comes to an end.

Peculiarities of age

Young, active cats and cats that move a lot can't keep their bodies lush. Old age — Older cats need less energy, move less and sleep a lot. Often they just don't eat much. Emaciation in an aging cat may be due to the presence of health problems, so a skinny old cat should be shown to the vet as soon as possible.

Cat Worming Disease

Worming or helminth infections are most common among cats. Owners of their pets should be clear that worming diseases can occur even if your pets have not left your apartment. They can become infected with existing parasitic worms through eggs of various helminth infections brought from the street on the soles of their shoes. Cats come into close contact with their environment during their walks and are in danger of becoming infected by helminth eggs, which are found in large quantities on a variety of objects. Your cat's direct contact with other stray animals poses an especially great danger in this regard. Being essentially carnivores, cats will never refuse raw fish or meat offered to them, which in our time of market relations, can be contaminated with worm infestation. Certain types of worms cause the characteristic pronounced symptoms of worm disease. With severe infestation, the cat becomes very thin, even with a good appetite. Sick cat vomiting (vomiting in cats), sometimes with blood, appear gastrointestinal disorder-diarrhea (diarrhea in cats). Kittens infected in utero may die from obstruction or rupture of the small intestine. Anemia and gastrointestinal distress are seen in young cats. Other worms remain hidden in the cat's muscles or liver for a long time without showing any signs of damage. Given the above, cat owners should carry out preventive deworming, antihelminthic drugs. For more information on worms, see our article – worms in cats.

Cat worming by ectoparasites. Very often our cats suffer from diseases that are caused by various parasites that live both outside and inside the animal's body. Ectoparasites – fleas, lice, mites – settle on the skin of cats.

Fleas – are wingless insects with flattened sides of the body. Only adults parasitize on the cat's body, while larvae live in the environment. Fleas are extremely prolific – each female cat lays 25 eggs daily, which fall down, accumulating on bedding, cracks in wooden floors, carpets, etc. After hatching from the eggs, the larvae, after undergoing a series of changes, develop into adults which, when encountered by cats, settle in its fur and go on to a parasitic lifestyle. They bite it and drink its blood, as a result of severe flea infestation, the cat becomes thin. The presence of small black crumbs on the cat's body may indicate the presence of fleas.

Causes of refusal to eat related to a cat's illness.

Diseases of the oral cavity. Stomatitis – Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth involving the mucosa of the cheeks, palate, gums, tongue surface and the mucous membrane of the lips. In cats it is most often catarrhal, vesicular and hemorrhagic and much less often ulcerative, diphtheritic and phlegmonic.

Stomatitis in a cat usually begins with catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and is accompanied by: Increased salivation. Increased thirst. Careful chewing while eating (stomatitis in a cat).

Tooth decay – A disease that is accompanied by progressive decay of the hard tissue followed by the formation of a cavity in the affected tooth. The onset of dental caries is usually viewed by cat owners. A cat's owner may detect tooth decay in his cat when he has difficulty eating and chewing food, as a result of a painful reaction, the presence of salivation, swallowed food particles falling out of the mouth and a foul odor (cat breath) that comes from the cat's mouth, purulent or bloody discharge from the oral cavity.

Tartar. A foul odor comes from the cat's mouth, the cat exhibits atypical eating behavior (arising from pain), the cat begins to refuse food, and emaciation is observed (cat tartar).

Wounds and abscesses in the cat's mouth are accompanied by soreness that makes it difficult for the cat to eat, resulting in the cat refusing to eat.

Ear Disease. Ear diseases in cats can be non-contagious or contagious in origin.

Otitis. Otitis in cats can be from inflammation of the outer, middle and inner ear.

Causes of otitis media. Otitis in cats may be caused by food allergies, parasites (mites, fleas), ear injuries, foreign bodies, etc. Otitis media and inner ear, can be the result of complications of inflammation of the outer ear.

Foreign body in the stomach or intestines

Intestinal obstruction in a pet is the reason why a cat won't eat. Sausage skins, Christmas tree needles and rain, bones, and even scraps of hair provoke the obstruction.

Intestinal obstruction in the cat is accompanied by vomiting (vomiting in cats), loss of appetite and complete refusal of food, the abdomen becomes enlarged, painful when feeling it.

Parasite infestation. The most common disease among cats is cat worms or cat helminth infestations. Owners of their pets should be clear that worming diseases can occur even if your pets have not left your apartment. They can become infected with existing parasitic worms through the eggs of various helminth infections brought from the street on the soles of their shoes. Cats come into close contact with their environment during their walks and are in danger of becoming infected by helminth eggs, which are found in large quantities on a variety of objects. Particularly dangerous in this regard is the direct contact of your cat with other stray animals. Being essentially carnivores, cats will never refuse raw fish or meat offered to them, which in our times of market relations may be contaminated with worm infestation. Worm infestation in cats is accompanied by frequent vomiting, sometimes the worms come out with the vomit and feces. Loss of appetite and increased thirst. The cat has constant diarrhea (diarrhea in a cat), lethargy, loss of strength, decreased activity (cat worms).

Fleas. Flea infestation of a cat is accompanied by severely itchy areas on the body, and the cat is not just constantly scratching, but also gnawing at the bite site with its teeth. As a result of the constant scratching, the hair on certain parts of the body falls out (most often the neck area is affected), and the scratched skin becomes covered with reddish crusts. The constant itching makes the cat nervous, and the cat loses its appetite (fleas in cats).

What the owner must do

Every owner begins to worry when his beloved pet refuses previously favorite treats. Bad thoughts begin to occur, and you want to somehow find out the reasons for this behavior of the fluffy friend.

In cases where there is no cause for concern, the owner just have to surround his pet with care. It is also important to be careful what to feed the cat. Poor quality food will repel him, and the animal will starve.

If there was a sudden change of food and the cat stopped eating right away, it is advisable to try introducing the new food gradually into her diet. It is possible that the problem lies in the utensils from which the cat eats. When the owner decides to please his moustached friend with a new bowl, he may not think how comfortable it will be to eat from it.

It is better not to traumatize the animal's psyche by frequent changes of environment, at least the one in which it spends the most time. It is better to arrange the place for feeding as comfortably as possible, so that nothing blocks access to food.

When it comes to diseases of the pet, it is advisable to immediately contact the veterinarian. You should not engage in self-medication. It seems harmless, but in reality can cause terrible consequences. Without the help of a veterinarian, it will not be possible to give your pet a correct diagnosis, because he himself is not able to specifically point out the sources of pain.

Often cats and cats refuse to eat because they are stressed after being spayed or neutered. In this situation, the owner can do little to help his cat except to surround him with affection, warmth, and care. This will help the pet to get well sooner, and then the appetite will come back to normal.

Cats are very unpredictable, one minute they can sit actively in front of the owner and beg for a piece of food from the table, and the next they turn away haughtily without even smelling it. You don't have to panic right away. Perhaps the cat has simply lost its appetite. But if this behavior continues for a long time, the cat owner should be wary. Animals can't talk, so they won't tell you what's bothering them.

Diagnosis

The main difficulty in identifying the cause of weight loss is that it can be a sign of various disorders. Therefore, a face-to-face consultation with a veterinarian and a detailed examination is needed.

It is mandatory to take tests, because only they allow you to present a complete picture of the disease. In order to understand why a cat is losing weight, prescribe a general and biochemical blood test, examine the urine and feces. Already these data will give an idea of the work of internal organs.

X-rays of the abdomen and chest are desirable. Treatment is prescribed only after determining the exact cause of weight loss. If the animal has accumulated hair in a small amount, a special paste is enough.

If an inflammatory process in the mouth is detected – cleaning of tartar and the use of healing ointments is recommended. Such hygienic procedure should be done once a year.

The most difficult is the correction of hormonal disorders. During heat, the animal behaves inadequately and there is no way to change this. Mild sedatives will not be able to completely remove the libido. Therefore, it is better to neuter and spay non-breeding animals.

Important! The surgery is completely safe for pets and improves their quality of life.

It is not always the springtime when pets are in heat. Some animals have it at any time of the year. Neutering allows you to keep a cat from developing mammary gland cancer. Castration of males is not as traumatic and allows you to wean the cat from marking the territory.

The cat may be thin because of worms. In this case, a course of special drugs is enough. They should be prescribed only by a doctor, as it matters the type of parasites and the degree of infestation.

The most difficult is the treatment of serious diseases. With cancer, much depends on the size of the tumor and its location. In some cases, surgery can extend the life of the pet.

Prevention

To prevent the development of infectious diseases, pets are necessarily vaccinated. Even if they live in an apartment and do not go outside, they have the risk of becoming infected.

A veterinarian examines the cat and prescribes additional examinations

A cat's living conditions play an important role in maintaining the health of the cat. Full quality nutrition is a guarantee of high immunity. Pets should not be fed from the table and given human food.

In order for the cat not to be bored, it is constantly played with and taught various tricks. Such activities load her intellect and she will not get bored. If you have to move or create another stressful environment, you should give the animal a mild sedative beforehand.

If the cat lives in an apartment – it is still once every six months to be treated against parasites by appropriate means.

At the first signs of thinness it is better to contact the veterinarian. Only he will be able to correctly identify the cause of the condition and prescribe treatment.

Causes of weight loss in cats

If a cat is malnourished or underfed, you need to find out what is causing the weight loss in order to provide timely and proper care.

Weight loss does not always indicate disease. In some cases the underweight may be due to poor feeding, inadequate housing or environmental factors.

1. Inadequate feeding If the owner notices that despite an excellent appetite the cat has lost weight, it is worth checking whether he is getting enough food. When feeding commercial diets, the manufacturer's instructions should be followed to determine the daily portion size: the package always indicates the required amount of food based on the weight of the animal. For kittens, the number of feedings and portion size is determined according to the age of the kitten. If you have several pets in the house, it is important to make sure that active and strong animals do not take food away from slower and weaker ones. Some cats are very conservative in their eating habits and will not immediately agree to eat unfamiliar food. During a change of diet, a pet may go hungry for a while and lose weight even if there is enough food in the bowl. Switching to a new food should be done gradually, gradually increasing the amount of new food over 7-10 days and reducing the amount of the old food.
2. Unsuitable food The cat owner should make sure that the food he is feeding is of good quality and has been stored properly. It is equally important to make sure that the composition of the food matches the cat's needs. During active growth, kittens need more energy and nutrients than adults. An example of a food that meets their needs is Purina ONE® dry food for kittens, with chicken and whole grains. A cat that is active and can take walks in a large area will expend more energy than a cat that is calm and constantly living in a small city apartment. Therefore it needs more food to stay well nourished. Older cats spend less energy on movement and play. They often begin to eat less than when they were young, but the lower amount of food does not provide the necessary nutrients. For older cats, food manufacturers offer special diets, such as Purina ONE Dry Food for cats over 11.
3. Mating season Both cats and cats may forget to eat and lose weight during the mating season. Usually after a decrease in sexual activity, the animal returns to normal eating habits and the weight soon returns to normal. If the weight fluctuations associated with puberty are significant, and the cat or cat is not planned to be used in breeding, it makes sense for the owner to consider spaying.
4. Changes in temperature regime With the onset of the cold season cats that spend a lot of time outdoors begin to accumulate fat. During the warm season, on the contrary, many cats lose weight as they begin to lead a more active lifestyle.
5. Pregnancy and lactation During pregnancy and lactation, a cat usually has a good appetite, but despite this its weight may decrease noticeably, as the mother's body uses up its own reserves to form kittens and produce milk. When she is done feeding kittens the normal fatness will gradually return.
6. Stress Most cats are conservative in their habits and don't like sudden changes. Moving, change of owner, change of daily routine, new people and animals in the house – all these events can be a source of considerable nervous tension for a cat. When stressed, appetite can worsen. However sometimes the cat loses weight even if he has kept his appetite, since stress impairs the absorption of the nutrients in the food. If a cat is getting enough good quality food of suitable composition, but is still losing weight, it is better to seek help at the veterinary clinic without waiting for significant exhaustion. Weight loss can accompany many diseases, the lack of timely and competent treatment of which is dangerous to the life of the cat. These conditions include:

When is it time to see a veterinarian?

If a cat shows normal behavior and a good appetite, and is provided with enough food, but for a long time is not gaining the optimal weight, the best decision on the part of the owner is to go to the veterinary clinic for an examination. Qualified professionals, after conducting the necessary examinations, will be able to determine the exact cause of the cat's low body weight and provide recommendations for treatment, feeding and housing.

Do not delay a visit to the veterinarian if, in addition to weight loss, you observe one or more of the following symptoms

• refusal of food;
• Refusal of water;
• nausea and vomiting;
• Unusual lethargy and apathy;
• Loss of large amounts of hair;
• Feces of unusual consistency, color,
• shape, containing blood, mucus, foreign inclusions;
• high fever;
• pallor of mucous membranes.

Loss of weight when a cat refuses food or has a markedly reduced appetite often indicates serious problems in the body, which without timely treatment can lead to the death of the cat. But even when the food refusal is caused by conditions that are not life threatening at first sight, such as stress or dental problems, prolonged hunger is very bad for the cat. It can lead to the development of a dangerous disease: liver lipidosis.

Diagnosis and treatment of diseases causing weight loss and loss of appetite should be made in a veterinarian. The veterinarian may prescribe blood and urine tests, ultrasound examination of internal organs. Based on the examination of the animal and the results of the study

Why is starvation dangerous for a cat

Not feeding for several days leads to the development of a dangerous disease: liver lipidosis. When starving, the animal's body compensates for the lack of energy with its own reserves of fat cells. But the liver can not cope with the large amount of fat, the work of the organ itself and many metabolic processes are disturbed. This leads to dehydration, blood clotting disorders, imbalance of useful substances.

With this diagnosis, the furry patient is placed in the hospital for a period until he can not eat on his own, and set a tube for forced feeding. Possible lethal outcome if the owner has procrastinated, did not apply in time to the veterinary clinic. After all, 2-7 days of starvation is enough for the development of liver lipidosis.

• Complete refusal of food and water for a day is a reason for urgent referral to the veterinarian.
• If the cat is overweight, you can not put it on a starvation diet. You need to take your pet to a doctor, who will recommend a low-calorie food rich in vitamins and minerals. It is a long process, but it is important not to go overboard so that the animal does not suffer.
• One possible cause is stress. Keep your pet away from nervous and anxious situations.

Why a cat won't eat: causes

1. Stress

In the feline family, mental and physiological processes are closely linked. Stress can lead to very tangible problems, such as cystitis or excessive licking of the fur.

• Abuse or neglect by the owner. The pet may have "asked for it": it may have started tagging its shoes or pooping all over the place. Animals have no concept of revenge, bad behavior can be explained by the deterioration of health.
• Abrupt changes in the environment – moving, arrival of a new family member or another animal, long absence of owners.
• Uncomfortable environment – no room for privacy, infrequent feeding, no constant access to litter box, constant noise, competition with other animals for food.
• Unsuitable food – many animals have food preferences. Choose good quality food, there are special premium options for finicky foodies.

2. disease

Look closely at the animal, if he does not drink, eat or decreased appetite, appears lethargy, weakness, discharge from the nose or eyes, other unpleasant symptoms – an occasion to go to the veterinarian.

• Excessive salivation, foam from the mouth – a foreign object stuck in the throat or rabies.
• Cat tries to eat but quickly withdraws from bowl – foreign body ingestion, mouth ulcers, gum disease.
• Cat doesn't eat much, lethargic, lies down all the time, hides – anything can happen here (from viral infection to injuries from falling from height).
• Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness – may have eaten a poisonous plant. Many indoor flowers are toxic to pets, and eating them leads to severe consequences.
• An outdoor kitten in a new home refuses to eat – it may be stress from the change of environment, viral infections, parasites, past negative experiences. The homeless animal should be taken to the veterinarian for a check-up.

Why a cat is thin with a good appetite: possible causes

Many breeders panic if they see that a cat with a normal and balanced diet is thin.

In most cases, there is no fear. For example, if your cat has an active lifestyle and is often on the move. He simply has a normal metabolism, and all the calories are burned.

Expecting a toddler or a teenage kitten to gain weight and get rounded is useless.

Until about 8-10 months They develop their skeleton, spine, and posture. During this period, the animal is still, so to speak, "stretching out" to the right size, and after it has formed, it can begin to put on weight.

If you have an adult animal and it is losing weight with a healthy diet, the reasons may be as follows.

Worm infestation.

Helminths, or worms . This cause is one of the most common. With this disease, the animal eats regular portions or maybe even more, but it looks thin. Under no circumstances should the situation be ignored.! Give your pet a worming remedy immediately. There are many at affordable prices in specialized drugstores.

The appropriate drug is given in the specified dose in the instructions at intervals of 10 days.

Frequent causes of worms are unwashed hands, dirty shoes from the street, poorly washed litter box. It is important to keep the house clean, to wash the litter box in time and thoroughly, to wash the shoes immediately after the street, especially in warm weather. Otherwise there is a high probability of transmitting worm eggs to the animal. To avoid worming in the future, it is better to give your healthy pet prophylaxis – Give a worming drug every six months..

Safe and dangerous symptoms of losing weight in a cat

If your cat is eating normally but is losing weightYou don't have to worry. Loss of appetite may be accompanied by the following safe symptoms:

It should also be noted that many owners forget to check their pet's weight limit, given its breed and age.

Dangerous symptoms with a good appetite

As mentioned above, helminths as well as internal and infectious diseases can be to blame.

What the owner should do if the cat does not eat well

First of all, it should be determined: whether the owner is able to help the pet himself. If yes, you should proceed as described above.

If a combination of the following symptoms is observed, veterinary assistance should be sought:

• the cat does not drink or eat;
• The cat is reluctant to chew food and has difficulty swallowing;
• halitosis – bad smell from the mouth;
• The cat is constantly licking itself;
• Diarrhea or stool retention develops;
• drooling;
• vomiting;
• hair is disheveled and dull;
• skin rashes;
• Conjunctivitis, rhinitis, and dry nose at the same time.

How do you get a cat to eat?

Forcing the cat to eat should not be forced, unless otherwise prescribed by the veterinarian. In such a situation, dry pellets are diluted to a liquid state and injected into the mouth with a syringe without a needle. If necessary, a nasopharyngeal tube is used.

The reasons why a cat does not eat well are manifold, and in most cases the pet eliminates them on its own. If this is not the case, changing the utensils or food helps.

And when partial or complete starvation is accompanied by painful symptoms, a veterinarian should be consulted.

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