Expert: Jessica - 6/17/2011

Question
i have just adoptid a cat. he is a nuterd male. he has been to the vet and does not have any aids or any thing like that. he has a small upper respitory and is on medication. i would like to know how to help him gain weight. and get some strenght back.       thank you

Answer
Hi Rebecca,

Most times, feeding a cat a steady diet of a high quality will be enough to help them gain weight pretty quickly. I recommend a grain-free diet, because these are high in protein, which promotes the development of healthy muscle mass rather than fat, which diets rich in carbohydrates can cause. Cats require much more protein and fewer carbohydrates than most other animals. I also suggest giving your cat more canned food than dry food, if possible. I feed and recommend Taste of the Wild foods. This is available through pet stores.

However, if your cat is very malnourished, he may need a prescription food at this time. You should talk to your vet about whether he is a good candidate for a food such as Hill's a/d or Royal Canin's Recovery RS. These are very high calorie foods, and they also have a strong aroma, which is good to encourage cats to eat if they have a stuffy nose.

There is also a calorie and nutrient supplement available, called Nutri-Cal, which you can give to the kitty once or twice a day. This comes in a gel that you can give with a syringe. It's available through your vet, through some pet stores or online.

Best of luck!

Jessica