What can I do to help my cat gain weight?

Question

So here's my situation. I have two outdoor cats. One of them is of perfect weight and the other looks like skin and bones! I've wormed both of them and I always keep a full bowl of dry cat food available for them. I see him eating all the time but he never gains any weight. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Answer 1

Sounds like you cat may have a thyroid problem. A simple blood test from a vet can tell you for sure. But if he truly looks bony looking and seems hyperactive, those two things together are typical symptoms of an overactive thyroid which can be easily fixed with medication. If it is an older cat, say 7 and up then that increases the chances it is thyroid related.
OR since the cat is outdoors, he may have contracted one of the many feline viruses out there, if he is not fully immunized. Bottom line you need a blood test. Feeding 'junk food" is NOT a good idea. You can try some calorie dense gels, usually sold next to the hairball remedy and see if that helps.

Answer 2

A very common condition in cats right now is hyperthyroidism which causes the cat to lose weight even though it is eating voraciously. This is a life-threatening disease and can be treated with medication.

So this cat needs to have a blood panel done by a vet to determine if that is the cause of the weight loss. No amount of food will help the cat gain weight.

Answer 3

There can be many reasons why a cat remains skinny like this so first thing to do is take your cat to a vet. Elderly cats frequently get very skinny within a year or so before they pass on. So if your cat is 15 years or older then expect this to happen. If this is not the case there are some things you can do.

Go to your local pet shop and buy a hairball remedy. This stuff is loaded with calories, most cats like it and it is not harmful in anyway. Just don't feed the cat more than a teaspoon a day.

If your cat can tolerate some dairy the best way is to offer cream or even mix 1 Tbsp. of Rice baby Pablum to 2 Tbsp. of cream a tiny pinch of sugar and a tiny pinch of salt - if needed add some warm water. My cats go nuts for this mix and if they are ever ill or anything I can always get them to eat that. You can even add pureed baby food to this mix to further entice your cat to eat but you may need to separate the thin cat from the other for feeding.

The other way I got my cat to gain weight was by feeding her cat treats twice a day and tidbits of chicken, salmon, etc.

The best way to help your cat though is to see a vet first!

Answer 4

RE:
What can I do to help my cat gain weight?
So here's my situation. I have two outdoor cats. One of them is of perfect weight and the other looks like skin and bones! I've wormed both of them and I always keep a full bowl of dry cat food available for them. I see him eating all the time but he never gains any weight. Does anyone have...

Answer 5

this could be due to an underlying medical cause. i would get him checked out by your vet.
the most common reason in older cats is hyperthyroidism (over active thyroid) which causes the animals metabolism to work over time i.e no weight gain and losses weight. medication is available and can then control the condition. regular check ups and blood tests are required. but of cause other conditions can be a possibility.
weight loss or not being able to gain weight needs investigating and not always easily sorted by just diet alone.
your vet can advise you on a diet if no medical reason is suspected.

qualified veterinary nurse UK

Answer 6

Outdoor cats eat all sorts of junk that they shouldn't, and it's possible that despite the wormer, the cat picked up some parasite or other.

Or, he may just be a slim cat. Some types are just slim; Orientals, for example, look way too skinny to me, but that's how they are supposed to look.

Take your cat to the vet. He will be able to tell you exactly whether your cat is underweight, and if so, what course of action to take.

In the meantime, make sure you're feeding a good quality cat food.

Answer 7

Try to feed the cats seperately, or at least be able to supervise their eating.... you may be feeding the neighborhood, not just your two cats. Also, kitten food has a higher amount of protein and fats than normal adult cat food, so even if the lil one eats less- its getting more nutrition per a bite. You may want to try a different food as well, it could be he is a finicky eater- most cats are- mine hates oceanfish flavor, loves chicken and lobster! If you do change foods - do it slowly to not upset their stomachs.... 30% new brand/70% old brand for 2 days, then 50% new/50% old for 2 days, then 70% new/30% old brand for 2 days, finally 100% new brand. Good luck.

Answer 8

Maybe it is natural. There is not specific weight for cats, is there? Maybe he plays and runs off all of his excess weight. Cats have been around for a long time. They have a way of taking care of themselves.

Answer 9

I'd bet he still has worms. It can be darn near impossible to rid a cat of worms. Especially if he is an outside cat and eats mice or rats.
He may also have some kind of illness or something. I wouldn't waste money taking an "outside cat" to the vet unless he shows obvious signs of needing medical care. just keep feeding him and he will likely fatten up with the cooler months, but skinny down again in spring. also, you could increase the fat content of his diet with bacon grease or weiners in addition to the cat food.

Answer 10

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