Weight loss in cats is considered as one of the most common problems in the feline population, particularly in senior cats. Figuring out if your cat is losing weight might be reliant on what a cat owner feel, rather on what they see. It’s because a thick hair coat of a cat can mask how thin a kitty is becoming. Even if the appetite and behavior of your cat appear completely normal, any unexplained weight loss of your cat must be addressed with the help of your vet. Find out more common causes of weight loss in cats below.
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Why Is My Cat Always Hungry?
The medical term “Polyphagia” means excessive hunger. It is a complex process that’s affected by psychological and physical factors. The causes of polyphagia are often difficult to discern. The following are some of the leading causes of excessive hunger and eating in cats:
Malnutrition
If you give your cat food with enough calories but it’s devoid of essential nutrients, chances are they might develop unnecessary food cravings.
Calorie Deficit
There is a chance that your kitty is very hungry – it’s either because you’re not feeding him enough, his energy needs have changed, or other animals in the house is stealing his food. As to the energy needs of a cat, it can possibly change for some reason.
Emotional and Psychological
If your cat is lonely or bored, they may learn that begging for treats or meals wins them attention. Aside from that, they might become addicted to the pleasure of eating, most especially if they do not have other forms of enrichment or stimulation. If your cat is eating excessively due to psychological factors, then you would probably see him gaining weight.
Physical Illness
If you have noticed that your cat is losing weight but has an increase in his appetite, your kitty may be suffering from a physical illness. This is because various diseases can result in polyphagia.
These diseases tend to interfere with the digestive health, metabolism, and/or hormones of your cat. Unfortunately, most of these diseases are common in older age (like above 10 years), but there are also available treatments with the help of your veterinary health care team.
So, if your kitty always begs for food, open your mind about the possible reasons for this. Here are some of the most common diseases that lead to polyphagia:
Gastrointestinal Tract Diseases
These diseases can prevent your cat from digesting food normal and absorb nutrients, which results in weight loss. These include:
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Intestinal parasites
- Pancreatitis and cancerous diseases
Hyperthyroidism
Most older cats develop hyperthyroidism. This is a condition where a cat’s thyroid glands produce an excessive thyroid hormone. While hyperthyroidism can produce several symptoms, what all cats that suffer from this disease have in common is sudden weight loss. It’s because the excessive thyroid hormones boost the metabolic rate which causes more calories burned.
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetic cats usually appear to be excessively hungry even though they have plenty of food on their plate. Despite having a good appetite, these cats still lose weight rapidly. This is because when a cat has diabetes, he’s not able to process and use the calories he consumes.
Tumors
Certain types of malignant and benign tumors are notorious for causing a cat to lose weight. This is due to the fact that some cancer cells eat up the calories, which virtually robing the cat of nutrition.
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Common Questions About Why A Cat Eats All the Time but Loses Weight
Is It Normal for My Cat to Be Skinny?
There are two major causes why a cat is skinny: It’s either he is expending more calories than he is taking in, or he is not eating enough. They might not be eating well due to dental disease, stress, nausea, or a lot of other reasons, or even though he eats enough, he may not absorb all the calories he consumes to a certain disease.
Why Does My Cat Always Want Food?
If your kitty consumes food too much but does not gain weight, then it might be a sign of a health problem, like the ones we have mentioned above. On the other hand, if your kitty begs for food but would not eat it once you’ve given it to him, that could be a sign that he has gum disease or food allergies.
Why Is My Cat Not Gaining Weight?
Common gastrointestinal issues that produce feline weight loss include food allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, or certain infections. Another culprit of weight loss can be the intestinal parasites. These are worms that can cause your cat to lose weight all of a sudden, despite the fact that your cat eats enough.
Conclusion
In order to determine what is causing the sudden weight loss of your cat and to design the most ideal treatment plan for him, your vet will probably run a physical exam, urinalysis, and blood work. Depending on the specific reason for the sudden weight loss of your cat, a variety of dietary changes and treatments to treat the cause and restore your cat’s weight might be prescribed. Luckily, even in senior cats, weight loss problems can usually be treated.
