Expert: Charlotte Sherrell, DVM - 3/26/2009

Question
I have two cats, both adult females. The oldest cat was rescued from a shelter
7 years ago and we are not sure how old she is, but probably around 11 or
12. She used to be a little overweight, not huge, but you could feel a thin
layer of fat when you touched her back. I just started to noticed she was
losing weight and apparently she has continued to do so even though I
switched the cats' food to EVO, California Natural, and Newman's Own canned
foods, as well as free feeding Innova Senior and Serengeti grain free at night.

Do you have any food suggestions I could try with the senior cat to help her
gain weight again? I got a little panicky as I was petting her today and could
feel every bone in her body...

Thank you!

Answer
Tatiana -

Your cat is probably not losing weight due to the food she eats. Elderly animals need to be evaluated two to three times yearly to check heart, liver and kidney function.  Simply changing the food will not stop your cat's weight loss.

A visit to the veterinarian will help to determine why your cat is losing weight.  Your vet should recommend bloodwork and radiographs to evaluate your cat's health.

Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM