My cat has gotten very thin. He is eating less and less. We've tried wet food. What else can we do?

Question

He is a 12 year old cat. I am even cutting up the little chunksa of moist cat food into almost a paste. He still just licks at the juice. I am afraid that I'll lose him if we can't get him to eat. What should I do?

Answer 1

HI there...there are various possibilities as to why a cat will be losing weight and not eating much. Cats who are over 10/11 years are considered seniors and many age-related diseases which are common with senior felines is diabetes, hyperthyroidism, chronic renal failure (CRF), etc. If you have noticed excessive thirst and urination in addition to the drastic weight loss and lack of appetite this may be likely CRF, which is the most commonly seen in aging cats. Diabetes, Hyperthyroidism, CRF if caught early enough can be managed, however all can be fatal if left unattended. Therefore, it is of essence to ring a veterinarian first thing tomorrow morning to have your kitty evaluated.

Symptoms of CRF: http://www.felinecrf.com/what0.htm
Hyperthyroidsim: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/thyroid__signs__symptoms_and_d.html
Diabetes: http://www.felinediabetes.com/diabetes-info.htm

Answer 2

There are so many reasons why a cat wont eat. At his age, he needs to be seen by a vet. It could be a thyroid issue, it could cancer, whatever it may be, it isnt good. Cats are picky eaters, but most will go for wet cat food if its offered. You can get a syringe and mix some water with the wet cat food and draw it up in the syringe and force feed him, but there is something causing his loss of appetite, and you need to find out why. The vet will want to run some blood work, and it wont be cheap, but something needs to be done!! Good Luck!

Answer 3

First of all, I think this cat really needs to see a vet. Suggestion: If cat eats very little but will drink, there is one other thing to do to keep cat alive (besides keeping him hydrated). Get cat vitamins. Crush up the kitty cat vitamins into the juice that the cat will drink. This will provide the cat with extra nutrients if he is not eating, and might even stimulate his appetite. Besides that, you do let cat know you love him and are concerned-cats are very sensitive creatures and I believe they actually hang in there and survive longer when they know someone cares. He might just have worms, or an obstruction of some kind... hope it is not serious, take to vet dear--and best of luck to you and kitty.

Answer 4

He may have a problem with his teeth. Our neighbour's cat was getting very thin and I know they were putting food out for him. So we checked his teeth and he had some broken ones. My daughter made him a soft liquidy slurry out of wet cat food, protein powder and light cream. He was able to lap it up. We let our neighbour know what we found and he had the teeth attended to. The cat picked up weight quickly after that. The cat still comes over once a week for his new-found treat!

Answer 5

Take the cat to a vet and have a combo test done, this will test the cat for feline aids and leukemia. I would also worm the cat all though it doesn't sound like worms. With worms the cat will eat like it's starving even though it just ate. Older cats are at high risk for the two diseases i mentioned. that's where i would start.

Answer 6

Have you checked your cat for worms? A lot of times cats and dogs can get worms and it makes them very skinny because it eats off what food they take in. It can also make them sick, I would really just recommend taking your cat to the vet, it could be something as simple as a parasite... but if it's heart worms it needs to be treated ASAP.

Answer 7

oh! this happened to my cat except he's alot older. he started becoming very tired and lifeless and we figured it just came with age (hes 17) but he also got very thin, down to 5 lbs so we took him to the vet and he ended up having problems with his thyroid. the last thing we would have thought but he took his meds and now hes gaining weight and pretty much back to normal agian!

take him to the vet, it can be almost anything. hope he gets better!

Answer 8

Elderly cats can suffer from medical problems such as diabetes, Kidney failure, dental disease and hyperthroidism, take your cat to the vet and have a blood test done, as these conditions can be treated.

Answer 9

it truly is distinct for each individual. it is not likely logical. I used to consume bananas and parmesan cheese (sprinkled on lettuce) and those meals are in lots of cases on relatively some human beings's risky record. nevertheless, i could by no ability consume yogurt or almonds (once I found out they have been seven energy each and each and a couple of energy from fat, I felt greater betrayed than Jon Snow) yet relatively some anorexics might completely consume those. usually an anorexic will discover some meals that they sense they are able to consume and element adequately, and function weird and wonderful obsessions with them. i might down packets of aspartame and binge on frozen corn (your physique can not technique the nutrition in that kind). relatively some anorexics will consume rice brownies, nonetheless I by no ability could because of the fact carbs. nutrition plan Coke is an entire nutrition group. heavily, in spite of the fact that it hurts like a ***** to swallow, you merely continuously down it. for sure green tea, lettuce, celery is a large one.

Answer 10

it could be his kidneys or cancer

doesn't sound like worms tho

or it could be something less serious but a vet would have the knowledge (and the cat) to be able to make a good diagnosis