How to help my young cat gain weight when vet says she's normal?

Adding in the wet food while providing her regular dry diet available as much as she wants should help increase her calorie count some. It is common for cats to start to lose weight as they age as their nutritional needs tend to change when they hit their senior years, plus absorption of nutrients overall tends to decrease with age as well. Mixing the wet into the dry may encourage her to eat a bit more and increase calorie count which should help. Your vet can also monitor her weight/BCS (most vets will let you weigh your pets at no charge) to make sure she is gaining/maintaining a healthier weight with the changes.

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.

Have DoReMi examined by your veterinarian. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites which can affect weight and weight gain. Blood work may diagnose metabolic conditions or endocrine imbalances as well. Your vet can teach you how to assess your cat's Body Condition Score (BCS). This, in addition to weighing, can help you get and keep your cat into peak condition. You can follow this link to familiarize yourself with the BCS prior to the visit to your veterinarian. https://www.purina.co.uk/cats/health-and-nutrition/exercise-and-weight-management/assessing-your-cat's-body-condition

It would be a good idea to rule out issues such as thyroid problems, internal parasites, metabolic disease, and organ issues, before switching Bootsie's foods, as just changing the foods may not be enough for her to keep the weight on. A complete exam from your vet along with bringing in a stool sample can help figure out if there is an underlying issue or if Bootsie just needs some extra calories.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Jastin. First, I would have her evaluated by her veterinarian to determine if she is in fact underweight or just small in stature. Some perfectly healthy cats are petite and do not grow to the size typical of the breed. However, there are numerous disease that can affect weight gain and growth. You want to ensure there is not a medical issue that needs addressing. In the meantime, ensure that she is eating kitten food as this will be higher in calories, fat and protein. It will aid in growth. Offer her canned food as well to supplement her dry kibble. This will help her to take in extra calories. I hope this information helps!

I would recommend that you have Lily examined by a vet to see if there is a medical cause for her being underweight. Sometimes there can be low levels of protein being lost to the intestines or through the kidneys that will cause inability to gain weight. It may or may not be seen with other symptoms, like vomiting, diarrhea, or urinary symptoms. Baseline blood work and urinalysis is important, and if the protein is low then additional testing may be indicated.

Maybe. Some cats with very large frames could be normal at this weight. Here is a video discussing body condition scores in cats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yRvL8NcfHs Weight loss occurs by eating less calories or burning more calories through exercise. Play is a great form of exercise in cats.