My cat eats little, grazes, and is losing weight. Is this normal?

Yes, this can be normal. Some cats "graze..." they eat a little, then come back and eat a little more later. As long as she seems to be holding her weight, this is not a reason for concern. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

You are feeding correctly, and grazing on food all day is normal and a good way to eat for a cat. I would have dry food out all of the time, and I would check the calorie content of the dry foods at the store and get Zoii the one higher in calories. You may also consider feeding some canned food daily. Some animals prefer to be on the thin side and they self regulate how much they eat so they stay thin and fit. In my experience once the cats mature and get to be adults they become less active and put on weight. Please make sure Zoii doesn't have intestinal parasites by bringing in a fecal sample to your veterinarian. If she's healthy and active with a shiny coat then I'm not concerned about her weight. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Zoii.

Cats typically are grazers where they like to eat little bits of food throughout the day instead of one or two bigger meals. Just try not to overfeed her so she doesn't get too heavy. I do think you should have her checked by a vet though because any new behaviors should be checked out to rule out any underlying medical issues. I'm a bit worried about the stumbling......that does not sound normal.

For some cats this is normal. This is likely the case with Tinkle, because she has been eating like this for so long. They will only eat as much as they need and will maintain a lean body weight. This is only concerning if the cat is too thin. Below is a link to diagram that shows what the various grades of body condition are: https://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/Body%20condition%20score%20chart%20cats.pdf If Tinkle is a 3 or below, then I would be concerned. This could indicate a long history of parasitism (worms), or some other condition. If you are ever concerned that she is too thin, then I recommend having a vet doctor examine her for any abnormalities. Otherwise, if she is a 4-5 and acting normal, then it is great that she is so good at maintaining this lean body weight. Thin cats tend to be healthier and live longer than fat cats. I hope that helps and all is well with Tinkle.

Cats tend to eat slightly less once they have finished growing and their behavior can also settle as they grow up. If there is any weight loss or other signs of ill thrift such as poor coat or muscle condition i would recommend a full health check. Be sure to keep up to date with deworming medications and other preventions

If he's on a weight loss diet prescribed by your vet, then it may be that he just isn't used to getting "less" food. Feeding a higher fiber diet (most weight-loss diets add fiber) can help him feel fuller on less food, which can help with his being hungry on fewer calories. If the problem continues, ruling out any issues such as metabolic problems is also a good idea to make sure there isn't an underlying cause with it. You may also want to spread out his meals to several more throughout the day, instead of just 1-2 large meals, so that he feels like he is getting "more" over a longer period of time.

Kittens will try to sniff food to see if it is appetizing to them, and will try to eat it if it smells good. You may not be feeding her enough, and I would check the instructions on her food to make sure that she is getting the recommended daily allowance. It is not advisable to feed her human food, as there are many that are toxic to cats. I would try to keep her from eating your food, and increase her food as needed.