Why Is My Cat Losing Weight?

 Chronic kidney disease cannot be cured, often be medically managed with medication, diet change, and fluid supplementation.

Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is another common ailment that can affect cats. This endocrine disorder affects the ability of the pancreas to produce insulin, a hormone needed to regulate blood glucose.

Signs of diabetes include weight loss, increased appetite, thirst, and urination, and lethargy.3 Diabetes is typically managed with insulin and a diet change. Other medications may be used. Some cats will even revert back to normal after several months of treatment.

Gastrointestinal Problems

Any issue in the GI tract can affect a cat's weight. First, GI problems can reduce appetite. Second, some issues prevent the GI tract from properly digesting food and absorbing nutrients, leading to weight loss. Some GI problems seen in cats include intestinal parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, and other pancreatic issues, and even cancers of the GI tract.4



GI issues may cause loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and more. Treatment of GI parasites may be as simple as deworming the cat. Other GI issues typically require medications and supportive care.

Dental Problems

Oral and dental issues can cause extreme pain, decreasing appetite and leading to weight loss. Common dental problems in cats include periodontal disease, resorptive lesions, and tooth fractures.5 Some cats develop stomatitis, a painful inflammation of a cat's mouth and gums that may be immune-mediated.

Signs of dental issues include bad breath, drooling, pawing at the mouth, or even oral bleeding.5 The first step to treatment is for the vet to put your cat under anesthesia and do a professional dental cleaning, exam, and treatment as necessary. Some cats will need oral surgery and/or tooth extractions.