How to Get My Cat to Gain Weight
Cats may lose weight for several reasons, including stress and an age-related decrease in appetite. On occasion, they may need to gain weight due to health conditions.
Your vet can offer tailored advice to assist your cat in returning to a healthier weight, including suggesting food that is rich in calories yet tasty and appealing to cats.
1. Increase the amount of food
As any cat owner knows, having a skinny cat can lead to numerous health complications that are potentially severe – ranging from organ failure and even death if left unchecked. Therefore, it is vital that any owner with an underweight feline find ways to encourage him or her to increase food consumption, increasing calories gradually while consulting their vet first and ensuring there are no medical reasons behind its skinny appearance, or that any existing health problems will not worsen due to increased food consumption.
Once your vet has cleared you of any health concerns, there are a few strategies you can try to encourage your cat to eat more. One is offering highly palatable wet food with more calories. Or you could try offering smaller meals more often; this aligns better with their digestive processes and may make eating more appealing to them.
Change up their food by mixing dry and wet foods or by offering different varieties such as canned tuna, liver or chicken. But remember to introduce these changes gradually so as not to upset their stomach and prevent nutrient deficiencies.
Under the guidance of your veterinarian, appetite stimulants may also help. Oral or sublingual tablets may be given orally to increase hunger levels in a cat. If other methods have proven unsuccessful or their appetite has drastically dropped in more than 24 hours since last feeding time. this should be taken into consideration as a solution.
Finally, patience is the key. A skinny cat may take time to gain weight, and it’s essential not to rush this process. By working closely with your vet and following any advice they offer on diet management for your cat’s specific condition(s), they should soon return to a healthier weight. Just make sure you reassess regularly as some conditions require specific diet management strategies in order to manage effectively.
2. Increase the frequency of meals
If your cat has been losing weight, it is essential that they see a veterinarian immediately in order to rule out any health concerns that could be contributing. Once cleared by their vet, it’s time to start adding calories back into their diet by increasing meal frequency or providing more treats as this could be one solution.
At first, aim for 8 to 10 small meals daily (to start). Transitioning your cat may be challenging so to make things as smooth as possible, start off with food they already like before gradually changing to something else. When transitioning, arrange to have them eat their meals in one location rather than multiple places if that helps make transition easier for them. Feeders that allow you to portion control food distribution throughout the day could also come in handy here!
Some cats may benefit from having more food available; this may increase their appetite and encourage weight gain. But this won’t work for all cats; before beginning this experiment it is wise to consult your veterinarian first. Additionally, what type of food you feed them has a significant influence on their eating and weight gain rate; typically foods designed to stimulate weight gain contain higher levels of fat than proteins or carbs per bite and should therefore provide more calories per bite than traditional pet food options.
Other ways of increasing your cat’s appetite include warming their food and adding flavoring, both wet or dry food will work, with fish oil providing additional calorie boost. When selecting supplements that suit your cat’s individual needs best, be sure to speak to their veterinarian – they can guide you towards quality products which won’t damage their health!
3. Increase the number of treats
One of the primary factors causing cats to lose weight is having decreased their appetite. Treats can be an effective way of stimulating this hunger, provided they are high-quality and not too calorically dense; generally no more than 10% of daily calories should come from treats; this number varies depending on food brand and type. Some companies even provide specific recommendations based on calorie contents of pet foods.
Work closely with your vet and discuss the ideal options for both yourself and your cat. Some cats may be sensitive to certain treats; to increase appetite it may help to give your cat a treat prior to feeding time; this way they’ll experience its taste before their meal and find it more tempting to finish their food.
Other ways to encourage good appetite include using food toppers and changing up flavors of your cat’s food, both of which have been shown to help with digestion. A fish oil supplement may also provide additional health benefits for cats.
Finally, giving your cat something fun to play with while eating is also beneficial; such as a chew toy or catnip toy. Sitting with them while they dine may also promote appetite – though beware as many cats prefer dining on their own!
Be mindful that it may take your cat some time to reach its weight goal, and work closely with their veterinarian for the best outcome. Be patient as you await results!
4. Increase the amount of exercise
Exercise is crucial for cats of all ages. Making sure your cat gets regular physical and mental stimulation ensures their wellbeing and reinforces your relationship.
As much as it’s important not to overwork your cat, overworking him/her can lead to illness and obesity if done improperly. When planning any significant changes to their daily routines or making any big alterations of any sort it is always advisable to consult a vet first; they will help determine how much activity your feline requires as well as the most efficient ways to get them moving.
Indoor cats often don’t get as much exercise as outdoor ones; however, it’s still possible for them to engage in enough physical activity for optimal muscle health. If your indoor cat seems disengaged from physical activity, try offering new toys or rotating old favorites regularly so as not to bore him/her! Just like food, incorporating games like these into a regular schedule will teach your feline what they can expect – perhaps they might even look forward to them!
Not only can playing help your cat exercise, but hiding small portions of food around the house will encourage their natural hunting instincts while providing more calories than simply offering meals in a bowl.
Warm wet food can also be an ideal solution for older cats who find chewing dry food difficult, making their mealtime easier while possibly helping them gain weight faster.
Be sure to weigh your cat regularly. Monitoring their weight will give you an accurate assessment of their health and wellbeing; remembering that an underweight cat could indicate poor health; reaching optimal weight is essential to optimal functioning, so speak to your vet about finding an ideal combination of food, treats and exercise to help your feline put on weight.
