I found my cat and he lost a lot of weight. What's the best way to get him back to his original body weight?

Question

He's an indoor cat and got out on the 29th. Someone found him this morning and he is home.

Answer 1

If your cat has normally been an indoor cat and got out for awhile and is now much thinner I would take the cat to the vet to have him checked out immediately. You don't know what has happened to the cat while he has been outside. You don't know what he has been eating or not eating. Check out the cat and make sure that the cat is healthy and see that he hasn't picked up any diseases while out and about. When you speak to the vet ask him what is the best food to feed the cat so that the cat will put on weight, but will not put it on too quickly. You don't want the cat gourging the at one sitting, all that will happen is that the cat will eat very quickly and then throw up all the food. The poor thing does not have a big stomach and can't hold all that much food at once. You want the cat to get the nutrition that he needs, not to keep throwing up the food. The vet is the best person to give advice.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I think that you should first have your cat checked out by a vet, to make sure that your cat's thinness is not due to some kind of an illnesss or parasite that he might have picked up during the time he was outside. If the vet says that your cat's heathy, other than being underweight, then you might wanna try feeding your cat high-fat content wet food 3 times a day, along with whatever dry food that you are currently feeding your cat.
Depending on what kind of a cat you have, your cat's weight will return to normal in roughly a few months, but if your cat is a himalayan, then it will take years before your cat's weight is back up to normal.

Answer 4

Glad you got kitty back! YES!!! Just give him a little food at first and plenty of water. Weight loss could be simple de-hydration. Take it very easy with the feeding! Use both dry food and wet, but a little at a time at first. Don't over-feed! He has to have time to re-adjust. How is he doing in the affection category? Happy to be home? Lots of love is needed because the longer a house cat has to live on it's own the more feral it becomes. A trip to the vet is mandatory!! Kitty could have picked up worms, fleas, feline leukemia or distemper while outside for that long a period. Good luck!

Answer 5

Check him over carefully for any wounds and or fleas, give him a good bath. He needs a little pampering. Start out by feeding him small amount at least two/three times a day. Once you see that he has gained some weight back, cut the feeding back to one or two times a day to finally it goes back to normal.

Answer 6

Please take the little one to the vet to make sure he didn't contract any diseases from being outside. The vet can also tell you the proper way to safely help him regain the weight that he lost.