What should I do about my skinny old cat?

Question

I have a 14+ year old cat that has arthritis in her hind legs (which I have been giving her treatments for the last 4 years to make her comfortable). When I took her in she was very overweight (18 pounds) and through monitoring her food intake she lost the excess weight and started behaving like a healthy kitty (arthritis doesn't bother her anymore and she can leap onto furniture). In the past few months she has begun to start refusing her dry food so I've started giving her twice what I used to give her in only wet food. She still behaves healthy but now weighs only 6 pounds and I can feel her spine. I can't afford any extreme medical expenses (especially since she is so old) and she is not suffering based on her behavior (she's actually getting spoiled now). Any ideas on how I can fatten her up a little bit?

Answer 1

Her thyroid levels should be checked by a vet as losing weight with increased appetite can indicate hyperthryoidism which can be treated with medication.

She will die from it if that is the problem. My cat was treated at age 15 and lived to 22 and 1/2. Older cats need to be monitored by vets more closely as they age. The thyroid check is not an "extreme" medical expense.

No attempt by you to "fatten her up" will work if the thyroid is out of whack. She will continue to be very hungry, her blood pressure will escalate because her metabolism is too high. So I hope you will take steps to have her evaluated and treated if necessary. Old age is not a disease and she deserves a medical evaluation to maintain her health.

Answer 2

She may be diabetic especially if she's eating and losing weight.

Since none of my cats have this problem (of having to gain weight), there may be some specialty cat food that has more fat in it and that may help your kitty gain some weight.

She should go for a checkup just to make sure she's not dehydrated. She could be diabetic so if you notice her drinking more water and urinating more, that could be the reason why she's losing weight. It happens in older cats.

Good luck to you both.

Answer 3

Have checked her teeth? As some cats age they lose them and are unable to eat dry food because they can't chew it. I would take her to the Vet and see if there is something more going on. They should give options on treatments if that is needed.

Answer 4

Try kitten chow: That would have extra nutrients and calories in it. Alternately, you could look around for a high-calorie food devised especially for cats that need to put on weight. I found some at the local vet's office, but I imagine it can be found at pet stores too.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Well make sure she is on senior wet food.

I would also recommend buying senior cat milk and mixing it with the dry senior cat food. This way the dry becomes soft but she gets the extra vitamins and things that she needs.

Answer 6

Feed her in the morning, night, and day, make sure that when you feed her you don't over-feed her because you will go thorough this every time first too fat then too skinny then too fat then to skinny etc.... So just feed her her favorite food, (Something wet if she still doesn't eat dry food) and she should be ok.

Answer 7

Try canned kitten food. If she doesn't get better, have her put to sleep and give her a proper burial. It sounds like she has lived a full life.

Answer 8

give her canned cat food and keep dry food down at all times...also give her milk. Like humans, as they age, they eat less

Answer 9

I tried baby food meats on my little old granny when she was going downhill from age and kidney disease, She loved it. Try it,it can't harm your kitty'

Answer 10

feed her things like tuna fish and lots of wet food. dont just give it to her at certain times...leave it so it is accesible to her all day long. also give her lots of treats and cream.