Many people care about their cats getting fat, but unintentional weight loss can also be a serious matter. It can be a sign of an underlying medical problem. var s_context; S_Context = S_Context || {}; S_Context ['wb.modimp'] = 'vidfloat';
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. Anxiety, stress or depression. Cats under psychological stress can get out of your food, which can result in weight loss. Situations that can disturb your cat include excessive noise, other animals in the feeding area, dirty food dishes or proximity to the food dish for the sandbox. Cats can also be upset with the disappearance of another pet or a change in a routine.
. . Cancer. Although not all cat weight loss is caused by cancer, it is a relatively common culprit. Other symptoms that generally appear include loss of appetite, lethargy and hide.
. . Diabetes. This disease, which can be caused by a failure to produce hormonal insulin or impaired capacity to respond, commonly causes weight loss in cats, often with a change in appetite. Cats with diabetes can also drink excessive amounts of water, urinate more than usual, slow act, develop urinary tract infections, and have a sweetly perfumed breath.
. Feline infectious peritonitis. This virus, which most commonly occurs in cats raised in Fatteries, is known to cause waste. Cats with FIP seem ill, often with fever that does not respond to antibiotics.
. Gastrointestinal problems. There are a variety of different conditions in the gastrointestinal tract that can cause cat weight loss. When this is the case, other symptoms may include diarrhea, lack of appetite and vomiting. Common GI problems that produce weight loss in cats include intestinal inflammatory disease, food allergies or certain infections.
. Intestinal parasites. Also known as worms, intestinal parasites can be the cause of your cat's unintentional weight loss. Although symptoms are not always present, these parasites can also cause diarrhea, swelling, vomiting and difficulty breathing.
. Organ failure. Many old cats exhibit weight loss, and it can be difficult to determine the precise cause of the problem, especially as metabolism changes with age. Conditions such as kidney disease become more common as cats age. Your veterinarian can identify these problems with simple blood and urine tests.
. Hyperthyroidism. Your cat can have a good appetite; In fact, they may be eating more than usual, but it is still losing weight. Hyperthyroidism results from a genetic tumor producing hormones in the thyroid gland that elevates thyroid hormone levels. In addition to weight loss, hyperthyroidism can cause increased drink and urination, increased activity, vomiting, diarrhea and muscle waste. In later stages, it may even lead to heart or death problems. Older cats are also particularly prone to developing this condition.
. Toothache. If your cat stops suddenly eating and starting to lose weight, but it seems healthy, it can be something as simple as a tooth causing the problem. Drooling and paw in the mouth can be other signs of a dental issue. Brief mouth or gengivitis can also contribute to the problem.
To determine what is causing your cat's weight loss and designing the best treatment plan for you and your pet, your veterinarian will probably do a complete physical examination, blood work and urinalysis.
Depending on the reason for your cat's weight loss, a variety of treatments and dietary changes to treat the underlying condition and the restoration of weight can be prescribed. Fortunately, even in older cats, weight loss can be treated if not cured.
Weight loss caused by certain conditions of the gastrointestinal tract can be addressed, exclusively or in part, making adequate changes to your cat's diet. If your cat is suffering from intestinal inflammatory disease or other conditions that make food absorption difficult, an easily digested diet can be recommended. Cats that lose weight because of food allergies can recover completely when offensive foods are removed from their diet.
In situations where the lack of appetite is contributing to weight loss, stimulating appetite medications or feed tubes can be used to maintain proper nutrition while the cause of anorexia is being addressed.
