How to know if my cat is very thin

On many occasions our cat can eat a lot and be very thin. In this article we will talk about the reasons why it may be losing weight.

Understand the optimal weight What our cat should have is very important, but we must take into account various factors such as race, he body type and the general health.

If you can see your ribs and he doesn't feel like he has any fat in the rib or back area, it is probably too thin. A cat that has very low weight should go to vet, as it may be due to an illness. 

Why should our cat have an appropriate weight?

Whenever we talk about weight of an animal emphasis is placed on the danger what has to our cat is overweight, since it can lead you to diabetes, joint problems and even a shorter life, but underweight cats They may also have similar problems, both in joints and in being prone to getting sick.

Luckily there is a solution for both cases, overweight cats should be given feed for sterilized animals which has fewer nutrients and those who are underweight can be given wet food or treats. 

Cats can easily become fat on canned food or pate.

How to detect if our cat is very thin.

To detect if our pet has weight problems, we must look at its anatomy and feel it. Below are the points to keep in mind:

  • Ribs: if you can see the bones sticking out and don't feel a small amount of muscle/fat on them when you run your hands over them.
  • tail base: When you look at the base of the tail you see bones sticking out and you don't feel a small layer of fat/muscle covering the base when you run your hands over it.
  • Spine: When you look down at your cat and see its bones sticking out.
  • Waist: if when looking at it from above you can see the waist line in an extreme way and the bones are visible.
  • Abdominal fold: If when you look at your cat from the side you see a serious crease under the ribs

You might need to go to the vet.

If our cat does not gain weight after overfeeding it, we should take it to the vet, since there are a large number of medical conditions that can cause weight loss in cats, such as:

  • Hyperthyroidism: voracious appetite, vomiting and diarrhea.
  • Diabetes: excessive water and urine.
  • Cancer: lethargy, loss of appetite, and hiding behavior.
  • Gastrointestinal Disease: diarrhea, vomiting and loss of appetite.
  • Dental problems: loss of appetite and drooling.

If our herd has been lost for a long time, this may be due to intestinal parasites transmitted by fleas; these parasites can also cause weight loss.

You may be interested in this article about how to treat fleas and ticks.