My cat is underweight and in heat. How to get her healthy for spay?

Yes, indeed a cat that is not spayed and has to spend a lot of energy by going through heat will lose weight. If you do not intend to breed her, you should have her spayed, especially since cats will stay in heat until they get bred. She will be happier when she does not have to go through constant heat.

You can get her spayed now, that's fine to do. Speak to her vet about feeding her a kitten food to give her extra calories, calcium, and protein to make her gain weight. I would free feed her for now (leave food out all the time) so she can eat when she's hungry.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Miss Piggy. I love her name! Very cute, Tony, and she is beautiful. I would speak to her vet about putting her on a weight loss cat food, and feeding her twice a day with measured amounts. That way, you can control what she is eating, and how much she is eating. You can also try to get her some exercise by playing with her. I hope this helps!

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. On average, most normal sized cats should be between 8 and 12 pounds. Any cat over 12 pounds (unless it is a large breed cat like a Maine Coon) would be considered overweight. So, Mittens is at the high end of the range already. Based on the photos she does look to be overweight. Due to her body frame I would say 10-11 pounds would be a more ideal weight for her. You just need to cut back on her food. Typically wet food is very high in calories so I suggest you cut that way back or stop giving it all together. My recommendation would be to work with your vet on weight loss if you attempt to get her to lose weight and she doesn't. Sometimes a prescription weight loss diet is needed. Many cats are just vocal - it doesn't mean they are hungry. If you give in to her every time she begs you she will continue to gain weight. Many times it is not food they are after is that they are getting something from you (it's like a type of bonding). You many have to get her an automatic feeder so she does not associate you with food. Hope this. helps. Best wishes.

It’s not normal for a pet to lose weight after being spayed. In fact most cats have a weight gaining problem after they get altered. I would recommend having her examined by your vet and also to have her stool checked for parasites. Most weight loss is due to an intestinal worm in pets this young. I hope everything works out well for your pet Savannah. Best wishes and take care.

Great question, The only way to ensure the safety of performing a routine spay operation is to have your small animal veterinarian perform a pre-surgical exam along with pre-anesthetic blood testing. After the exam and blood, if anything looks abnormal, further testing such as X-rays and ultrasound can be done prior to surgery. Keep in mind, veterinary clinics vary as to their equipment, so, to insure your pets safety, its alway good to have your cat monitored on an EKG/Blood pressure monitor. Nutrition is important, feeding a good quality adult diet either recommended by your local veterinarian or purchased through Petco or feed store should be adequate. The important things is that it agrees with your cat over time such as providing normal stools and volume, maintains nice haricot, and maintains normal weight. Changes in diet should always be done slowly. Please feel free to set a consult with me if you have further questions regarding her upcoming surgery. Thank you, Steve Popish, DVM

Cats can be prone to weight gain after being spayed due to the hormonal changes this causes. I would recommend switching her to a weight management food that is lower in calories than a regular adult diet. If you are able to, feeding her canned food only will also help, since canned food is less calorie dense due to its water content. If you want to leave some dry food out for her, consider feeding it from a puzzle toy like an Eggcersizer or Kibble Nibble - this way, she has to play with the toy to get the food out, which provides her with some additional exercise and also limits how much she can eat at a time.