Getting skinny

luvmy2cats

luvmy2cats

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Is it common for cats to lose weight as they age. Popsie's 16 and I've noticed over the past two years he's been getting skinny. The area it's concentrated in is his hips. His middle section still looks good. His shoulders are also getting some what bony. Popsie was always a lean cat. I would say he never weighed more than 11 pounds. I weighed him tonight and now he's down to seven. He eats very well, no problem with that. Like I said the weight loss has been gradual. Should I have any concerns?
 
barblynnp

barblynnp

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We had a cat growing up that got very skinny as she got older. She also didn't groom herself after a while. I guess like humans, kitties get skinny in their old-age also.
 
cloud_shade

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I would consider any noticeable and unintentional weight loss in a cat to be serious. Older cats in particular are suseptible to a number of diseases or conditions that can cause weight loss, such as kidney failure, hyperthyroidism, cancer, and diabetes. If caught early enough, these can be treatable. I would suggest a vet visit, a senior panel (a series of bloodwork that includes thyroid tests) and possibly a urinalysis to check for signs of illness. Again, most of these conditions do have treatment that can extend and improve the cat's quality of life.

Four pounds is an awful lot of weight to lose. Since your cat is eating well, hyperthyroidism is quite possible, as one of the main symptoms is losing weight while eating more.
 
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snickersmom

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Sometimes it can be just old age, but it's worth getting checked out. My mom's cat Aries had lost a lot of weight, and her usual vet said the weight loss was just due to old age. Then she had to go to a different vet for a unrelated emergency, and that new vet noticed how skinny she was, did some tests, and it turned out Aries has a thyroid problem! Now Aries is on some medicine, and she has already gained 10 oz.! So I'd recommend asking your vet about it, and if they dismiss it as just being an old age problem, specifically ask about thyroid problems or get a second opinion.
 
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moosemom

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I just took my 13 year old cat in for the same reason, I was convinced (as everyone in the vets office was) that it was thyriod. It wasn't. they suggested an ultra sound of his heart, which I thought would be a total waste of money. It wasn't. He is now on heart medication and slowly putting weight back on and back to his old self.
 
pat

pat

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Originally Posted by moosemom

I just took my 13 year old cat in for the same reason, I was convinced (as everyone in the vets office was) that it was thyriod. It wasn't. they suggested an ultra sound of his heart, which I thought would be a total waste of money. It wasn't. He is now on heart medication and slowly putting weight back on and back to his old self.
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Just shows it pays to be persistent...glad you found the answer, and that he's back to being himself
 
pookie-poo

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Originally Posted by cloud_shade

I would consider any noticeable and unintentional weight loss in a cat to be serious. Older cats in particular are suseptible to a number of diseases or conditions that can cause weight loss, such as kidney failure, hyperthyroidism, cancer, and diabetes. If caught early enough, these can be treatable. I would suggest a vet visit, a senior panel (a series of bloodwork that includes thyroid tests) and possibly a urinalysis to check for signs of illness. Again, most of these conditions do have treatment that can extend and improve the cat's quality of life.

Four pounds is an awful lot of weight to lose. Since your cat is eating well, hyperthyroidism is quite possible, as one of the main symptoms is losing weight while eating more.
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My thoughts exactly! Four pounds on a 12 pound cat is 1/3 of his total body weight...definitely a serious amount of weight loss! Please schedule your kitty for a geriatric blood panel soon, to rule out any disease that could be treatable.
 
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goldenkitty45

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That's a dramatic weight loss - he needs to be seen by a vet. It could be many things, diabetes, cancer, etc.

My Mitten went from a 14 lb cat to 6-7 lbs when he got cancer and had to be put down.
 
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