My 8 month old kitten seems so skinny and I'm just wondering if it's cause for concern. She's unspayed and very active. I have 2 other cats but each has their own bowl so there is no fighting for a bowl. She has a healthy appetite and we've been feeding her some canned food along with the dried food. No ribs are showing. She just seems so lanky! I'm hoping it's just her growing.
2007-06-04 17:23:13 · 23 answers · asked by Fierce Lioness 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
If there are no ribs showing but a visible waist, you probably just have a lanky teenager cat. When cats have worms, their body size seems to shrink like they're losing weight, but they weigh the same, and their belly becomes distended. They also tend to over-eat. If your cat has a NORMAL healthy appetite and doesn't seem to eat way too much, she's just lanky. I have a oriental shorthair mix that seemed too skinny until she hit adulthood at 13 months, and now she's filled out a bit. Some cats are thinner than others.
She is also more than old enough to be spayed. If you are not a breeder, please have her spayed! If you have never lived through a cat in heat, you never want to! Hopefully your two other cats are female, so no one will be impregnating her. If cost is an issue, contact your local shelter - they usually have low cost spay/neuter clinics. I had one of my cats spayed for $35 in New York, where it is a LAW that all cats adopted from shelters MUST be spayed/neutered or the owner faces fines.
2007-06-04 19:23:32 · answer #1 · answered by Steph Gas 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Like the other poster asked, Sandra S.... has the kitten been wormed?
I'd have her to the vet if she's that skinny. There should be a decent amount of "meat" on kitty's bones, so she shouldn't feel bony either.
My one male cat, he just turned 2 years old, is long from head to butt and also lanky. He's insanely active and in perfect health. He's been eating adult cat food for about a year now, but I also have a bowl of kitten food available for him, so I know he keeps up his weight. I believe he weighs 8lbs? I could be wrong it's been awhile since I've weighed him. He's been to the vet recently and like I said, there's nothing wrong with him and he's at a good weight. I'm assuming he's that thin because of his activity level. My 4 year old female on the other hand could shed a few pounds, she's just a little overweight but I keep her playing and both cats "play", more like chase each other lol. So, I know she's getting enough exercise too.
With cats, they're mostly done growing at about a year. Make sure she's getting enough food. Dry food should be most of your cats diet, as that's where they get the most nutrition from. I don't know what brand of food you use, but I always recommend a higher quality food over store brands (like Meow Mix or Science Diet or Iams or Purina and there are many more). I feed my cats Nutro Natural Choice Indoor formula. They have shiny coats, good "movements" and have never been sick (with a UTI or anything that is common with cats).
Good luck, and if kitty is healthy, she may just need a little more fat in her diet.
2007-06-04 17:39:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Her ribs should not be showing, this is unhealthy for an adult cat and more so for a growing one.
Do you deworm the cat regularly? Is she vaccinated? If not then yes, you should be concerned because it is highly likely she has worms, but it may also be a virus like FIP.
Please get the cat to the vet. She should be spayed by now, she is more than capable of getting pregnant. Obviously you need some veterinary advice, if not just on fleaing/worming/vaccination/neutering then at least on nutrition.
Chalice
2007-06-05 01:33:05 · answer #3 · answered by Chalice 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is the 'teen-age' time for a cat and they change from that roly poly bundle of fur into a skinny teenager (just like us, remember?)
You could have the vet check her for worms, if she hasn't been dewormed but it really sounds like you have a typical 8 month old!
Please, please do have her spayed, it's time now and will only be good for her.
Good luck!
2007-06-04 17:29:16 · answer #4 · answered by jgpac00000 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make pancakes even healthier with the addition of mashed baked sweet potato, a few pureed spinach and blueberries, or maybe cooked quinoa.
2017-03-11 01:54:46 · answer #5 · answered by Gary 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Workout every day than night time
2017-03-10 03:02:10 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
any time dining out try out to get a more healthy option
2017-02-04 17:48:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The most common reason for cats not putting on weight when they eat well is worms. Maybe call a vet and ask someone there for their advice. If they think your cat needs medical attention they will ask you to bring her in otherwise they will tell you what you can do at home to get her to put on weight.
2007-06-04 18:49:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm sure she is fine.. 8 mos is when my kitties started to thin out. They're fine now too.
2007-06-04 17:29:24 · answer #9 · answered by Spooks 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The body is obviously using a few energy, in addition to physical exercise allows you to shed all of them more rapidly
2016-07-14 23:51:48 · answer #10 · answered by jeremy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋