I have a 6 lb cat /9 mos old - how can I get him to gain weight?

Question

He has been very sick and is finally starting to snap out of it -- I cant get him to eat a whole lot. Right now he is eating C/D and wet food (Max Cat and Nutro) but barely anything...His sister is the same age and weighs 8-9 lbs. What can I give him to help him gain weight? Can I feed him any people food that wont make him sick?

My cat has been neutered -- I cant leave his food out b/c his sister will eat all of his food.

Answer 1

well as with humans when they don't eat their stomachs shrink down a bit and so they feel fuller quicker. don't forget that once the dried cat crunchies are in his stomach they puff up to a greater size. try taking about the amount of dried food that he eats and covering it with hot water until it is soft and see the difference in
amount that actually ends up in his stomach. as he eats his stomach will expand and he will eat more. i have a couple of kittens around the same age, neutered males and they are both skinny gangly things. i know from experience that as they age they will gain weight and fill out. for inbetween meals my cats LOOOOOVE Gerber baby meat(in the little glass jars in the baby food isle) it's pure meat and comes in deffernt flavors, chicken, turkey, lamb(my kitties favorite) veal, beef....sometimes i let them lick it off my fingers or i put some in a bowl for one of them to eat if they are sick or not eating enough in my judgement. I have never met a cat that doesn't mob me when i bring out the gerbers.
all they have to hear now is the pop top opening and they all come running. You could also suppliment his food or for a snack give him some of the premixed kitten formula, my cats love this too.
i would stay away from people food unless it is pure meat protein.
My cats also like goats yogurt. you can also try softening his dry food so it is easier for him the chew. I always leave a large bowl of dried food down all day for my cats as a cats body doesn't store protein like ours so they need a constant source. also, instead of feeding him 1-2 times a day maybe break his meals in to 2-3 3-4 smaller meals a day like for a younger kitten and this may help him gain some weight. it might take time, but he will gain. my gangly boys only seem to eat a little at a time too.

Answer 2

I'm sure your kitty will start to eat more as he starts feeling better. Being sick makes animals loose their appetite (just like people). As long as he is eating & drinking something he isn't going to starve. Its especially important that he drinks plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

You may notice that he is spending more time sleeping now too. Let him sleep... don't wake him to eat. His little body needs the rest in order to heal itself.

If you are concerned that he may be malnutritioned, call your vet and ask for vitamin suppliments.

Also, if his sister is eating his food try to seperate them at feeding time. I would allow him to eat in his usual area, and give big sister her own bowl in the bathroom... or any room that you can close the door & you don't mind having cat food in. You can continue to do this until he gets his strength back and puts on some weight.

Answer 3

You should just leave food and water out all of the time and make sure he eats it, but why do you want him to gain weight because i have a cat who is one year old and he weighs 20 pounds.

Answer 4

Having a 9 momth old kitten that weighs 6 pounds sounds like he and his sister both have a problem. What is the breed of the cat? I would advise you to contact your vet.

Answer 5

buy a calorie supplement ant your local petco. you're on the right track with food, Nutro Natural choice is best, but you want him to gain muscle, not just fat, so make sure he is still getting plenty of exercise. Otherwise one day you'll have a tiny cat, the next a fat cat that needs to go on a diet.

Answer 6

I really don't think that 6 lbs is that skinny for a cat his age. Talk with your vet about this. You don't want to plump him up too much as an overweight cat is open to serious health risks.

Answer 7

well my cat is 2 years old and she is only 7 pounds! nothing is wrong with her and she is pretty normal! to get ur cat 2 gain more weight feed her extra food.

Answer 8

6 lbs is not that small for 9 months old

Answer 9

Try Nutri-Cal. It works great for dogs. It might work for cats. You can find it in your local pet store.

Answer 10

There is this stuff in a tude you could give him, it's called nutrical or something. He'll love it and fatten up pretty quick.