My cat lost a lot of weight quickly but acts normal. Should I be concerned?

Weight loss is possible due to increased activity, but 9kg to 4kg is more drastic than I would expect. I would discuss doing bloodwork with your vet. Increased activity and weight loss is common in cats with hyperthyroidism. Weight loss can also be caused by kidney disease and diabetes. All 3 of these conditions can be diagnosed with simple bloodwork (CBC, chemistry, thyroid panel) and urinalysis.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I’m glad to hear Grippet has lost the weight you wanted him to, but at his age we would want to ensure all the weight loss is for healthy reasons and not an underlying medical issue. As cats age, they frequently can get an overactive thyroid, diabetes, or kidney issues (among others) that can lead to unhealthy weight loss. I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian and have bloodwork done to ensure all his weight loss is healthy and there isn’t an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. Good luck!

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. First, I would ensure that she is being fed the proper amount. Most foods will provide a feeding guide on the back of the food or can that gives you the most recommended feeding amount per age and weight. If you are already feeding an appropriate amount then I would recommend having her examined by a vet and have testing done such as a feline leukemia and feline aids test to ensure she is not positive for either and a general blood panel to check organ function and see if there is any indication there is an active infection. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation if needed.

As long as she’s acting normally, eating and drinking fine then I’m not overly concerned about it. Cats often are more active in the spring and summer and she may have lost weight from that. I would weigh her monthly and if the weight loss continues or she is lethargic, has a poor haircoat, or isn’t eating well then take her in for an exam soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Gabby.

No, it is not normal for her to be losing weight and for you to be able to feel her bones. She could be hyperthyroid so she should be examined by a vet for a thyroid test. It is a common disease in older cats and causes weight loss. Your vet can prescribe a medication to treat, if she has an elevated thyroid level.

Thanks for visiting Petcoach. A lot of vets have a hard time assessing an overweight cat during an exam, mainly because some cats have a short temper and we are working against the clock in a lot of these cases. So sometimes we cannot feel for the ribs, spine, etc. It is very possible that Jasper was overweight to begin with and now is more ideal weight. Without a photo attached it is hard to tell, but as long as his other faculties are intact (i.e. eating well, normal stools), then I would not worry about the weight loss. The weight control food is limiting his calorie intake, and with his activity level, he is likely just going back down to his normal standard weight. He should level off with he weight loss once he has reached his ideal weight soon, if this is the case. Here is a website link so that you can assess his BCS (body condition score) yourself at home https://www.wsava.org/WSAVA/media/PDF_old/Body-condition-score-chart-cats.pdf If however, you are still concerned about his weight loss, and he seems overly hungry, then I would be suspicious of underlying thyroid disease. A thyroid test would be next on the agenda if he meets these criteria. Thyroid disease is typically easily managed in cats and he is of the age where we do see more of this disorder. i hope that Jasper's weight loss is attributed to his new food and that he starts to level off with his weight soon! Best wishes and take care.

Yes, I would definitely be concerned about Joey. Rapid weight loss can be a sign of a medical illness, and it's certainly not normal for a cat to lose this much weight so quickly without any changes in diet. Weight loss can be a very general sign of illness, and it could be caused by dental disease, systemic illness, infection, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes inflammation, injury, or even cancer. I would take him into the vet first thing Monday for a physical exam, blood tests, and urinalysis. The vet can diagnose what has caused his rapid weight loss and how best to treat it. Good luck, I hope this helps!