Weight Loss In An Elderly Cat

It is the best way for the early diagnosis of the disease.

Weight loss in an elderly cat. Unfortunately weight changes in older cats are often attributed merely to aging so clients may not seek veterinary care or veterinarians may inadvertently delay a diagnostic workup until marked weight loss is evident or additional clinical signs arise. 1 cancer this is potentially the scariest thing on the list so let s get it out of the way first. Gastrointestinal cancer has to be considered in an older cat.

A cat that is skin and bones is just as unhealthy as an obese feline so you need to help your cat to gain back the weight it has lost. Only the vet can determine the reason for your cat s unexpected weight loss but here are 8 common causes of weight loss in cats. While most cats with intestinal cancer show a decreased appetite some cats show a normal or increased appetite.

Many elderly cats exhibit weight loss and it can be difficult to determine the precise cause of the problem especially because metabolism changes with age. Intestinal lymphoma is a common disorder in senior cats with weight loss being the most prominent sign. Conditions such as kidney disease become more common as cats get older.

Weight loss in an older cat. Older cats especially obese older kitties can develop type 2 diabetes a condition that can lead to rapid weight loss. It may be a sign of a developing heath problem or the progression of a pre existing condition if your cat begins to lose weight.

Michelle gerhard jasny v m d august 29 2018. It s not always due to illness. Excessive thirst urination and weight loss in a 15 year old cat is definitely cause for concern.

Your veterinarian can identify these problems with simple blood and urine tests. We recommend checking the thyroid of all cats older than 10 years. Another typical case of a happy cat that begins to lose weight is diabetic cats.