What causes a 12 year old cat to lose weight?
Weight loss in older cats is often readily attributed to chronic renal disease, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, inflammatory bowel disease, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and dental problems.
Why does my cat lose so much weight?
In many cases, cats lose weight when they are not eating enough. However, some diseases cause weight loss despite adequate food intake. Depending on the cause, weight loss may or may not accompany other signs of illness. Many health problems can cause weight loss in cats, some more serious than others.
How old do cats have to be to lose weight?
Normally they affect older cats: 95% of hyperthyroid cats are over ten years old and most cats are over 6 years old when they are diagnosed with diabetes. Hyperthyroidism occurs with a wide variety of symptoms. It is explained in more detail, but the most important of them is weight loss.
How can I prevent my cat from losing weight?
You can prevent weight loss in your cat by regularly monitoring body condition and visiting the vet regularly for wellness examinations. Cats are experts at hiding illness and injuries, but your vet may be able to detect a problem before it gets out of hand.
How long does it take for an old cat to die?
However, it will be the frequency and severity of these conditions that determine your cat’s overall state. The Home to Heaven pet hospice service lists several signs that indicate a cat may be within a few days to a few hours of death. These include: Geriatric cats can die from several types of medical conditions.
Why does old age cause my cat to lose weight?
Wrong! Old age is not a disease! Old age does not cause feline weight loss, but old age can increase your cat’s risk of acquiring certain feline diseases or a number of problems that cause this illness symptom. But the age itself is not a reason for weight loss.
Can a 10 year old cat lose weight?
However, in many cases aging cats lose weight without evidence of organic disease using readily available standard diagnostic methods. Recent evidence has indicated that some 30 to 40 percent of cats aged 10 to 12 years have low fat and protein digestibility and subnormal serum cobalamin (vitamin B-12)…
Is it normal for a feline to lose weight?
Feline weight loss is the symptom that worries me the most of any warning signs you may see at home. It is the one cat illness symptom that most often has something serious associated with it. What are the Causes of Feline Weight Loss?
Is it normal for a cat to gain weight year after year?
Because cats tend to stay the same weight year after year or they gain weight, it is ALWAYS of concern if you notice your cat losing weight. There are some myths associated with feline weight loss as well.