Older Cat Losing Weight Slowly

As your cat enters their double-digit years, you may notice some subtle changes happening. They might like to sleep a little more, play a little less, talk a little more and not be so forgiving when there are changes to their routine. You may also notice that your senior cat feels a little lighter or looks a little skinnier. Weight loss is a common age-related change for older cats, but why is that? Here are some of the possible reasons behind your senior kitty’s slimmer appearance.

If your kitty is turning their nose up at the food bowl, it could be that a decreased sense of smell, taste and sight due to aging is making what use to be your cat’s favorite food less appealing and ruining their appetite. Along with reduced senses, as cats get older their ability to digest and absorb nutrients decreases, particularly protein and fat. Because their nutritional needs aren’t met, their body draws from muscle and fat tissue, causing weight and muscle loss. Since older cats tend to have trouble keeping weight on, they may need more calories to support an ideal body condition (e.g., more food or food with a higher calorie content). Veterinarians may recommend a more energy-dense diet that is easily digested to help stop weight loss.

An underlying health condition (or multiple conditions) can also be the cause of weight loss in older cats. The symptoms of diseases that commonly affect senior cats can be subtle, so you may not notice them right away — which is why regular checkups and screening for these diseases is important. The most common symptoms include weight loss, a change in appetite, and drinking and urinating more than usual. Listed below are some of the diseases that commonly affect senior cats.

What To Expect When Your Kitty Becomes A Senior Cat

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common health issues for senior cats. As part of normal aging, some of the kidney’s nephrons (the filtration units) lose their function. In cats with CKD, a large number of nephrons don’t work properly. The first signs of CKD are typically weight loss, increased urination and increased thirst. Routine screening can help detect CKD in the early stages.

Hyperthyroidism is caused by an overactive thyroid producing excessive amounts of thyroid hormone. It’s considered the most common hormone-related disease of middle-aged and older cats. Weight loss is seen in almost all cats with hyperthyroidism due to an abnormally high metabolism. Other common signs include increased appetite, thirst and urination. Most cats respond well to treatment and can live normal lives when the disease is properly managed.

Diabetes can affect senior cats, particularly neutered males. Other factors that can increase your cat’s risk of diabetes include inactivity, genetics, chronic pancreatitis and hyperthyroidism. Cats with diabetes will often lose weight even though they eat more. Diabetes can’t be cured, but it can be managed with diet changes and medication.

What To Feed An Old Cat To Gain Weight [top Tips]

The pain and inflammation of arthritis can make it difficult for cats to move around, including making trips to the food bowl. It’s a good idea to place their food and water bowls close to where they like to hang out and raise the bowls so that they don’t have to stretch their necks as low to reach the food and water.

If your cat’s teeth or gums are hurting, they’re probably not going to want to eat. Periodontal (gum) disease, the most common oral problem in cats, can also make it hard for your cat to chew kibble. You may need to switch to softer, canned food to encourage them to eat. You can help keep your cat’s teeth and gums healthy by brushing their teeth regularly and scheduling professional cleanings with your veterinarian.

Other health issues which can cause weight loss in senior cats (and cats of any age) include intestinal parasites, viral diseases and cancer.

Why Obesity Happens In Old Cats And How To Combat It

If your cat stares at walls or meows loudly at night, it might be due to cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), which can also cause a reduced appetite. According to the Indoor Pet Initiative (at Ohio State University), a diagnosis of CDS is made when cats have cognitive decline (dementia) that isn’t due to a medical disease. After ruling out disease, veterinarians will look for at least one of the following signs to make the diagnosis of CDS: disorientation, interaction changes, sleep/wake cycle changes, house soiling or activity level changes (including decreased appetite). CDS is progressive and there is no cure, but environmental enrichment (e.g., new toys or puzzles), diet changes or medication may slow its progression.

All cats should have regular physical exams (even if they appear healthy), but checkups become even more important as your cat moves into their senior years. Some of the diseases that can affect senior cats (e.g., kidney disease) can begin with hidden or slowly progressing symptoms that you may not notice. Cats are also very good at hiding pain and discomfort from their owners.

To help detect any underlying health conditions, it’s recommended that senior cats visit the veterinary clinic about every six months — even if you think they’re healthy. Your veterinarian may recommend laboratory tests (e.g., blood or urine tests) or other diagnostics that can help detect diseases before they become serious, which may make treatment or management of the condition more successful.

Weight Loss And Chronic Disease In Cats

Weighing your cat at home can help you keep track of any subtle changes in their weight. If you do notice weight loss or other signs that could indicate a health issue, schedule a checkup with your veterinarian.

The information in this blog has been developed with our veterinarian and is designed to help educate pet parents. If you have questions or concerns about your pet's health or nutrition, please talk with your veterinarian.is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

If your cat is losing weight, it’s critical to find out why. While weight loss in older cats may be due to a simple cause such as stress, unexplained weight loss can also be a sign of serious health problems and so it should never be ignored. There are many potential causes of weight loss in cats, including both infectious and non-infectious ailments.

Why Is My Cat Losing Weight? 5 Common Reasons Explained

Weight loss in cats is a natural part of aging and happens through normal changes in the metabolic process, which causes loss of both muscle and general body weight. This happens slowly over time and in small incremental amounts. Weight loss through aging never happens suddenly. Nevertheless, as a cat owner if you notice weight loss you should not assume that it is normal, even for an older cat, until you have had your cat checked out by a veterinarian.

Cats of any age when under physiological stress may stop eating, causing them to lose weight. Situations that may upset a cat include interference from other animals either when they eat or in their feeding area, disturbing noises, and issues with their food bowl—including small issues such as placing it too close to the litter box.

A change in their routine such as when a person leaves the home or when another pet is introduced can also be stressful for cats. Relocations are particularly stressful for cats since they are naturally territorial, and being displaced from their familiar territory often leads to stress episodes.

Weight Loss In Senior Cats

Arthritis by itself does not cause cats to lose weight directly, but as the disease progresses and movement gets harder, your cat may find that the effort to get food—even just walking to the food bowl—is very painful. This can cause your cat to cut back on their nutrition which eventually leads to weight loss.

Also, as your cat is moving less, they will most likely lose muscle mass, further exacerbating the weight loss. Certain medications and supplements (mostly those associated with reducing the pain associated with arthritis) are very useful for such cats and something you should consider discussing with your veterinarian.

Most cancers in cats, wherever they are in the body, can lead to weight loss. As cancer develops, your cat will experience pain and, as a result, become lethargic and less active, and they may also lose their appetite.

Rapid Weight Loss In Cats

In addition, one of the traits of cancer is that it grows very rapidly. This growth isn’t possible without adequate blood and nutrition. In other words, much of what your cat eats may be taken by the growing cancer, resulting in weakness and an overall loss of healthy body tissue. This becomes much worse as the cancer spreads around your cat’s body (this trait is known as malignancy). All these factors mean that cancer is a common cause of weight loss in older cats. It’s important to talk with your veterinarian about how to support your cat if they are diagnosed with cancer.

If your cat suddenly stops eating and begins to lose weight, but seems otherwise healthy, it could be a dental or oral problem. Toothache, gum disease, sore throat, mouth infection, mouth ulcers, and severe gingivitis are all potential causes of your cat’s loss of appetite as they may make eating quite painful and cause