Beware of these 8 Causes of Sudden Weight Loss in Cats

Neither getting fat nor thin in cats is recommended. Obesity in cats is a root of some medical issues, however, unintentional weight loss indicates a serious issue too.

This condition can be a sign of an underlying medical problem you cat may experience. Also read about reasons of your cat sudden weight loss. It is a serious problem, so it needs more attention.

Anorexia, a condition when your cat reduces or even loses her appetite, is really dangerous for cats. If a cat experiences anorexia, she may be prone to something called hepatic lipidosis or fatty liver syndrome, which is a life-threatening condition.

Your cat should be eating, no matter how much food is eaten. If you notice your cat is losing weight, then you should contact your vet and discuss about the guidance of diet plan for your cat. It is also important for you to know and be aware the common causes of sudden weight loss in cats. Here they are:

• Anxiety, Stress or Depression

Stress or depression can bring so much impacts on cats, including sudden weight loss. Cats who suffer from psychological stress may go off their food, and as a result it leads to sudden weight loss.

There are some situations that may upset your cat, including excessive noise, presence of other animals in the feeding area, dirty food dishes or proximity of the food dish to the litter box. Cats may also get upset when the disappearance of another pet or sudden change in a routine.

Also read these following tips on how to make your cat mood happy so she can forget about all the stress or depression. Happy cat means happy owner!

• Cancer

Cancer is the common culprit of sudden weight loss in cats, though it doesn’t cause all sudden weight loss in cats. If cancer is the suspect, then there may be other symptoms following, such as lethargy, loss of appetite and even hiding.

• Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease caused by the failure to produce insulin or an impaired ability to respond to it. As a result, it causes weight loss in cats with a change in the appetite.

There are some other symptoms indicating diabetes in cats, such as drink excessive amount of water, urinate more than usual, develop urinary tract infections and having sweet-scented breath.

• Organ Failure

This commonly happens in older cats. Many of them exhibit weight loss and it can be very difficult to determine the exact cause of the problem. As they are aging, their metabolism also changes.

There are some conditions, such as kidney disease which becomes more common as they are getting older. If you suspect your old cats to have this disease, then contact your vet to identify the problems by having simple blood and urine tests.

• Intestinal Parasites

Intestinal parasites, or also known as worms, can be the cause of sudden weight loss in cats. Intestinal parasites do not always present symptoms, however, they also become the causes of some health issues in cats, such as diarrhea, bloating, troubled breathing or vomiting. Read more about symptoms of worms in cats and beware.

• Hyperthyroidism

This condition may trick you: your cat still has a good appetite, she eats a lot, but is still losing weight. Then, it may be caused by hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is caused by a benign hormone producing tumor on the thyroid gland.

It elevates the levels of thyroid hormone. Besides weight loss, hyperthyroidism also cause increased drinking and urination, increased activity, diarrhea, muscles wasting and vomiting.

If it is left untreated, it may lead to heart problems or even death. Older cats are also prone to developing this condition.

• Gastrointestinal Problems

There are different conditions in the gastrointestinal tract which lead to sudden weight loss in cats. Besides, when your cat is having gastrointestinal problems, the other symptoms may also follow, such as diarrhea, lack of appetite and vomiting.

There are some common gastrointestinal problems that lead to sudden weight loss in cats: inflammatory bowel disease, food allergies and certain infections.

Make sure you also know about common gastrointestinal diseases animals may get.

• Toothache

If you notice that your cat is still healthy, but suddenly stops eating and begins to lose weight, then the problem may be as simple as a sore tooth. If you suspect your cat to have toothache, then you can observe the other symptoms, such as drooling and pawing at the mouth.

There are other mouth problems causing your cat to have sudden weight loss, such as mouth ulcers and severe gingivitis. Doesn’t your cat want to eat? Find out reasons why cat refuses to eat dry food.