My cat eats well, has a big belly, but I can feel his backbone. Why?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your cat. It is difficult to say if her weight is appropriate without seeing her. It is best for her to see her veterinarian to have her weighed and a body condition score determined. From there, recommendations can be made regarding her weight. Ideally, the spine should be able to be felt, but should not be prominent. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I do believe you have a right to be concerned because your pet seems to be thin especially when we are eating and drinking normally. It is not normal for this breed of cat to be very thin especially with the food you are giving. The best advice I can give you is to take him to the veterinarian as soon as possible to get a complete physical examination. Because he is an outdoor cat sometimes, he will also probably need to get tested for feline leukemia as well as intestinal parasites. it will definitely be in your best interest to get these things done and get him treated correctly and effectively before his weight loss gets worse or he gets sick. The veterinarian will also most likely recommend that he be placed on a monthly heartworm and flea preventative because he is an outdoor cat. This monthly preventative is also a dewormer monthly. We really appreciate you contacting our consultation service. I hope I have helped.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is difficult to tell based on these pictures if he has a thin body condition. Weight loss or lack of weight gain can be seen with gastrointestinal disease, renal or liver disease, among many others. I would recommend that you consider having him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment. Further diagnostics would include general labwork and possibly an abdominal ultrasound and a GI panel. Treatment if any would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! I hope you find this information helpful.

Hi there. You're correct that being able to feel the backbone or hip bones more easily than normal when petting your cat is a common early sign of weight loss. This could be caused by a number of different things - she may have some type of infection, a systemic illness like liver or kidney disease, or a GI problem like inflammatory bowel disease or chronic pancreatitis (weight loss can be the only symptom of these issues, in some cats). I would recommend taking Narla back to the vet for another exam to discuss your concerns and see if she has lost weight since last time. Your veterinarian may recommend blood work, x-rays, or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Tiny. An older cat's back bone becomes apparent secondary to weight loss that is usually accompanied by significant muscle loss. There is likely an underlying disease that is causing this sign and the enlarged belly. She will need to see her veterinarian to determine the cause of her symptoms. For example, she could be experiencing kidney problems, elevated thyroid hormone or diabetes. I hope this information helps!

I can certainly understand being frustrated at being told to take Felix into the vet, but there are medical illness that would cause him to eat heartily and still be extremely skinny, and those can only be diagnosed by a vet. These medical illnesses include diabetes, kidney disease, dental problems, feline inflammatory bowel disease, hyperthyroidism, FIV, FELV, intestinal parasites, or even cancer. To diagnose these requires a blood test, a urinalysis, and possibly x-rays. Having Felix seen by a vet is the only way to definitively know what is causing his hearty appetite but extreme skinniness, and that way Felix can be treated so he can gain weight. I will give you some resources that may help you afford a vet visit for him. You can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. As your kitty grows, his belly will naturally look a little bigger each day. Cats often have a fat pad around their belly, which when palpated fells like fat that isn't actually in their belly, but on the outside skin area. If Storm's belly is actually big, then intestinal parasites are often the cause at this age; however you will almost always see loose or soft stool associated with this. A fecal exam and appropriate dewormer is the answer to this issue if the case. Based on your photo however, everything seems to look normal for Storm, so its best to palpate his belly or have your vet feel his belly to determine if additional testing and treatment are needed. Best wishes with your fur baby Storm moving forward! Take care.