What Are the Causes of Weight Gain in Cats?
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Eating Too Much
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The usual reason a cat gains weight is because he consumes more calories than can be burned off. Being overweight can predispose a cat to heart disease, arthritis and diabetes. The cat also needs to cut down on any human foods, which may be loaded with calories, and encouraged to play more. Don't leave food out in a bowl all day long, so the cat can snack at will. A diet plan can be set up by you and your vet. Contrary to popular belief, neutering or spaying a cat does not cause weight gain.
Unspayed Female Cat
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If the cat is an unspayed female and she has a ravenous appetite and a gradually swelling abdomen, she could be pregnant. Even if she isn't pregnant, she could have a false pregnancy, states the Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook. A false pregnancy does not need to be treated by a veterinarian and should go away in a month. However, once a female cat has a false pregnancy once, she is likely to have it again.
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Heart Failure
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If your cat has a gradually ballooning abdomen and swelling limbs but does not seem to eat very much and turns down treats, this needs to be checked out by the vet. According to Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook, this could be a sign of right-sided heart failure. When the heart is having problems circulating blood, the kidneys become sluggish and fluid swells up in the body, especially in the limbs and the abdomen.
Other Probable Causes
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Other causes of weight gain in cats or the development of a pot belly include worms (especially in kittens), severe constipation, liver failure and a blockage inside of the intestinal tract. If a cat or kitten with a pot belly suddenly goes into shock, this could be peritonitis. Rush the cat to the vet immediately. Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, common in people and dogs, is extraordinarily rare in cats.
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