Why is my 8 lb male cat eating little? Is he underweight for his age?

Poor Canelo. I am sorry that it has been difficult to get him to gain weight. With him being young and petite and intact then I would not be too concerned. Of course, without doing an exam I cannot say this for sure. If he is really skinny and all of his bones are showing then yes, I would be more concerned. If his bones are not showing and you cannot see his ribs then I would be less concerned. Some cats are more petit and slender especially if they are very active and outdoors. I would also recommend to have him neutered as that may also help him gain weight. Finally, if he is really skinny and you are able to see his bones, I would recommend to ensure your vet tested his thyroid (high thyroid isn't common is young cats but possible). Then I would recommend to increase the amount of food you are feeding and if he is still not gaining weigh then the next step would be abdominal x-rays or ultrasound. I hope this helps some. I would love to talk to you more on the forum or if you would like to set up a consult.

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Voldy is around 3lbs which is not completely out of the ordinary for a 4 month kitten. From the pictures alone, he appears well muscled and does not appear to be underweight (although a physical exam would be better at determining this). Kittens should weigh about 5 pounds at 6 months old, so I would continue feeding him a kitten food from Royal Canin and make sure he gets a kitten vitamin daily to encourage healthy growth. If you notice Voldy is not gaining any more weight or is eating less, you may want to have him seen by his veterinarian for exam just to make sure there are no underlying medical issues. I hope this helps!

He looks to be appropriate weight based on the photo. Just feel him all over and as long as he doesn't have a protruding spine or protruding ribs, then he is appropriate weight. Here is a link to body condition score charting in cats to also help guide you as well --->https://www.wsava.org/WSAVA/media/PDF_old/Body-condition-score-chart-cats.pdf Some cats are just smaller frame. If he is considerd underweight once you view the chart and the criteria, then its best to get him seen by your vet to check for possible underlying medical concerns such as intestinal parasites. I hope that your fur baby George does well moving forward. Best wishes and take care. : )

Noushmc might just be a small cat! If she eats a correct portion of food for her weight and age and if she continues to grow, even if slowly, if her appetite is good, the urination and defecation is normal and she is happy and playful, I wouldn't be worried at the moment. I recommend to record her weight every week to monitor the increase. Please post again on the forum if you would like to discuss it further. I hope my answer was helpful.

Hello. As long as Sock is eating a good quality, name brand kitten food, then he will develop normally. He is a teenager now, & he will stay lean probably for the first year or so of his life. As he transitions into maturity, he will naturally begin to gain additional weight. Watch this, because Maine Coons do have a tendency toward obesity. So keep him on a kitten formula for the first 12-15 months, then transition him to an adult maintenance food. Take care.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Toby. It would be worth having him see his veterinarian for a physical exam to determine his body condition score and to ensure that he is overall healthy. This will give you an idea if he is at a healthy weight or not. You ideally what to be able to feel his ribs and for him to have a defined waist. Puzzle food toys are a great way to slow down his eating and keep him mentally stimulated. Cats are hunters by nature so hiding food around the house will encourage this instinct as well. Finally, be sure to accurately measure his food daily so you know the total amount he is receiving. I hope this information helps!

The first thing I would ask myself in these sorts of situations is if there is ANY POSSIBLE WAY he is getting food from any other sources. This can include other people, hunting, scavenging on the ground, the garbage, etc etc. If this is not possible, then he may just have a slower metabolism that a cat normally would for this young of an age. You are right in saying that hypothyroidism is rare in cats, to the point where I have not really ever met someone who has diagnosed this without the help of a surgical complication. There are other metabolic disorders and organ dysfunction that can result in weight gain, all of which would require further investigating with your regular veterinarian or through an internal medicine specialist. Hope this makes sense.