My old cat is thin, eating, and still pulling out fur. What's wrong?

Cats who are thin despite eating well who also have areas of baldness can be suffering from an endocrine disease called hyperthyroidism. I recommend getting his thyroid levels tested by a veterinarian who does this type of testing.

Poor Mickey! It definitely sounds like he is feeling terrible. Just like people, there are many conditions that can make pets feel sick. This could range from parasites to cancer. Also like us, diseases are best addressed early and this may result in a better prognosis. I recommend to have him examined by the veterinarian today. The doctor will need to learn the underlying cause in order to give appropriate treatment. Bring in a stool sample in case the doctor needs to test it. The doctor will likely want to check the thyroid, kidney and blood sugar levels to looks for evidence of renal disease, hyperthyroidism or diabetes since these three conditions will all cause weight loss. A physical exam is the only way to start narrowing down the causes. I hope Mickey starts feeling better quickly! Please feel free to post any additional questions!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Jasper. I agree with the concerns for a thyroid disorder. I do recommend that he sees a veterinarian. Blood work and urine testing will likely be needed to reach a diagnosis. Hyperthyroidism and diabetes can both cause an increased appetite with weight loss. Unfortunately, there is not a good recommendation for at home care. I hope this information helps!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. So sorry your cat is having this issue. I suggest you get him to your vet for a check up and some blood testing. Thyroid disease is very common in older cats as is kidney disease and diabetes. All of these things can cause similar symptoms and all are easily diagnosed with simple blood testing. You need to realize that at 17 years old he is about 85 in human years. At this age, things start to fail and go wrong. You need to find out what is wrong so you know how to best treat him. Some things are very easily treated with daily medications. I don't think this is something you are going to be able treat at home without knowing what the underlying cause is. Hope this helps. Best wishes!

As he is already 11 i would suspect a condition called hyperthyroidism, the main symptoms is constant hunger. you will need to take him to the vet to get it tested, a medical treatment is available for this condition.

Since Fred is an older kitty it is likely he is suffering from an overactive thyroid. Kidney disease and diabetes can also cause this. I suggest you take him to your vet for an exam and a blood test. Hyperthyroidism is easily treated with thyreostatic medicine and is likely the most common cause for the weight loss.

Wet food actually helps cats lose weight. It has a higher moisture content, so it takes more of it to give a cat their daily caloric requirements I would have him seen by a vet today or tomorrow. In a senior cat, this weight loss can not only be caused by dental problems, but also diabetes, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, or cancer. I recommend having a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis to diagnose what is causing his weight loss. Once the cause is found, the vet can discuss treatment options.