Expert: Ali - 3/13/2009

Question
Hi, I'm wondering if my cat is too skinny...I can feel his ribs and spinal cord when I pet him. Info on him: smallest of his litter; 8yrs old; neutered; medium length hair (always soft/never has fallen out); very energetic/happy; weight now is about 8 pounds (max was probably 10) & he's been this weight for a couple of years; indoor cat. This wasn't an "all of a sudden" thing-I just thought it's about time I ask someone. Thanks

Answer
Kelly,

I can't tell you for sure whether your cat has an ideal body condition or not. It sounds as though your cat is quite healthy, however there may be small hidden health issues like thyroid dysfunction that would cause him to be less able to gain and maintain more weight. I haven't seen this cat, I haven't got an idea of his stature or medical history, but based on your description of being able to feel his spinal vertebrae and his ribs quite easily it's possible he's underweight. I don't have information regarding this cat's diet, activity levels or health history this makes it difficult to make a judgement based on incomplete information. The idea behind ideal weight in a cat is that when you look down on them from above you should see an hourglass figure. When you pet a cat that's at their ideal weight you shouldn't be able to feel their ribs or spine without applying gentle pressure. If your cat is fine boned he may be at his ideal weight, however there are medical problems which can result in weight loss. I think that making sure your cat has a minimum of one vet visit per year is very important, it allows the vet to be familiar with what's normal for your cat and check basics like weight, dental health, physical fitness, overall lifestyle and behavior. Since you are concerned enough about the possibility of your cat being underweight I do think it's something that should be brought up with your veterinarian at your cat's next check up. If the vet feels that your cat is under weight s/he may recommend increasing his food intake and trying to help him work out an appetite. There's a chance that your cat is simply meant to be a bit light, different people have different metabolisms and the same thing is true of cats. Your cat is middle aged and that can sometimes mean that health problems become more common as a result of the natural aging process. This can be a more graceful process if you ensure that your cat plays vigorously at least once a day to keep him in good physical shape as well as ensuring that he eats the highest quality diet that you can possibly put in front of him. Play time can be loads of fun for you and your cat, it's something to help entertain your cat, provide him with mental and physical exercise and strengthen the bond between you. As for feeding appropriate diets there is a great deal of low quality pet foods on the market. It's well worth checking out the following web page: www.catinfo.org. This site was created by a veterinarian who wanted to dispel the myths surrounding the pet food industry and provide pet parents with accurate, sane advice to help our cats live life as healthy as possible.

If you aren't comfortable with the diet recommended on this site you can certainly check out high quality holistic pet foods made with human grade ingredients. Two manufacturers fit the bill that I'm aware of. Wellness is a high quality holistic food made using human grade ingredients, it is however a bit pricey and the manufacturer designed feeding recommendations to include canned and dry food. Spot's Stew by Halo is another great holistic pet food made with high quality human grade ingredients, this company produces canned and dry foods as well as supplements meant to increase your pet's health as well as high quality, healthy treats which can be difficult to find. It's possible that your cat is simply getting too much of the wrong foods - manufacturers often use grain or vegetables as the main ingredients in their foods as a way of saving money. Unfortunately cats aren't meant to survive on a diet of grains or starch. It's perfectly okay for a cat's diet to include some vegetables, fruit and grains, however cats require the majority of their diet to be meat based. Cats are obligate carnivores which means that they must have meat to thrive and stay healthy. You may find that changing your cat's diet to a higher quality food will encourage him to put on a bit of weight if your vet feels that's necessary.