How to Add Weight to a Cat
Some cats suffer from obesity, while others struggle to gain weight. If your cat is underweight, you might be worried about him. If the weight loss was sudden or if your cat experiences other troubling symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or fur loss, it is important to contact your veterinarian and follow her instructions. If your cat is not ill and you are still worried, there are some steps you can take to help your cat gain weight.
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Things You'll Need
- Digital scale
- High protein lean meats such as fish, chicken or beef
- High-quality dry cat food
- High-protein canned cat food
- Feline daily supplement
Instructions
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Helping Your Feline Gain Weight
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Weigh your cat daily. Sometimes it is difficult to determine if your cat has gained, lost or maintained her current weight. A scale will help you determine this. Use a scale that weighs in pounds and ounces (or kilograms and grams) because they are more accurate than analog scales.
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Feed your cat several small meals a day. Unlike dogs, cats need to eat multiple times a day. Better yet, leave dry food out continuously.
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If you have only been feeding your cat dry food, begin adding small amounts of canned cat food to the dish several times a day. Make sure you feed him a high-protein, low-fat canned cat food such as Iams Veterinary Formula, Hills A/S Diet or Pinnacle Feline formulas. You can also try adding small pieces of lean chicken, lean red meat or fish.
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Feed your cat a daily supplement. The added vitamins and minerals will ensure that your cat receives proper nutrition.
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Tips & Warnings
Watch your cat carefully for any adverse reactions to these changes. Some cats are very sensitive to any change in diet.
If a change in diet causes your cat to vomit or have diarrhea, return to your original food for a few days before introducing another type of food.
To prevent vomiting, introduce new foods slowly and do not allow your cat to eat too rapidly or to drink too much after eating.
Do not add high-fat foods to your cat's diet. This could lead to additional health problems in your cat. Instead, stick with high-protein, low-fat foods.
References
- Photo Credit cat image by tnk333 from Fotolia.com
