Why Do Cats Get Thin When They Get Older?

derelict

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We've had multiple cats in our house for all of the 20 years that we've lived in our home. Most times the cats get older, they lose a *great* deal of weight, though they otherwise don't show any health issues. This seems to happen about the time they hit 10 years old or so.

It is happening now with our siamese-mix Yoda; he's always been a rather lean cat, but these days he is really bony!! We took him to the vet a few months ago, they did bloodwork which all came back clean, and the vet said he appears to be healthy as far as he can tell. We've checked for fleas and worms, both are negative.

And in truth, he doesn't appear to have any actual issues or anything, has plenty of energy and still chases the other cats all over the house!! But he's soooo thin and bony...

He gets combination of soft and dry food; the dry food is all Hill's C/D (because other cats have had urinary issues). I've monitored his litterbox use, his stools look normal and he urinates freely. He also drinks alot of water.

Is this just a normal effect of aging?? It sure worries us...
 

Willowy

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Elderly people (and cats) lose some ability to process proteins so that causes muscle wasting. Age 10 is really too young for that though. When a not very elderly cat loses weight like that, it's usually kidney disease or hyperthyroid. Did the bloodwork test for T4? Sometimes you have to ask for that specially.
 
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derelict

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hmmm... okay, I'll check with them on that.
 

missmimz

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Agree with W Willowy Make sure a T4 was done to check that thyroid, if not take kitty back for a thyroid test. Weight loss is really one of the first signs a cat has hyperthyrodism.
 
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derelict

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Okay, got new bloodwork yesterday, just got results back.
T4 was normal last May when last bloodwork was done, and it is still normal now.
In fact, almost everything is normal; liver and kidney tests, blood sugar (for diabetes), everything else.
The only that was abnormal, doc said, was that he appears to be a little anemic. Also slightly dehydrated, tho not seriously.

However, Yoda was 9.5 lbs last May, and is 7.4 lbs now. Something is definitely causing weight loss.
Doctor has put him on vitamin supplements, to try to stimulate appetite; we're going to run another CBC in one month and see if that has gotten him to eat more. Poor babe...
 

Antonio65

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As Willowly says, elderly cats can't process proteins properly and can't assume the necessary elements. Just like people, older cats get more dehydrated and this might explain the weight losing.
I had read that after the age of 12 cats have energy requirements closer to the ones of a kitten rather than an adult, so they would need more calories than one can expect.
 

missmimz

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Okay, got new bloodwork yesterday, just got results back.
T4 was normal last May when last bloodwork was done, and it is still normal now.
In fact, almost everything is normal; liver and kidney tests, blood sugar (for diabetes), everything else.
The only that was abnormal, doc said, was that he appears to be a little anemic. Also slightly dehydrated, tho not seriously.

However, Yoda was 9.5 lbs last May, and is 7.4 lbs now. Something is definitely causing weight loss.
Doctor has put him on vitamin supplements, to try to stimulate appetite; we're going to run another CBC in one month and see if that has gotten him to eat more. Poor babe...
Was a SDMA or urinalysis done? Is he having any diarrhea or vomiting?
 
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derelict

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Was a SDMA or urinalysis done? Is he having any diarrhea or vomiting?
I don't know about SDMA, but no urinalysis. Doc seems to feel that the bloodwork told him what he needs to know...
His stools have been normal, and no vomiting.

Up until a few months ago, we were giving them all (we have three cats in the house) dry food only, C/D. Yoda regularly threw up with that. Then I started giving them soft food (I had stopped years ago, because back then, none of them seemed interested in it...), the older two went crazy over it!! So I've gone back to giving them small amount of soft food, several times a day - and Yoda hasn't thrown up even once since he started getting soft food... however, he only eats a little bit (a few mouth-fuls) at each sitting. He also still eats some of the dry food.
 

di and bob

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I give my elderly cat kitten food for the extra calories and nutrition. Because of his age and a heart condition he gets treats too that are higher in calories, like bacon and minced hot dogs. Because of his advanced age we worry more about getting him to eat at all, not necessarily what he is eating. Make sure your older guy is encouraged to drink, a fountain might be in order now, mine loves his.
 

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More likely than an inability to process proteins, is the loss of ability to convert the vegetable carbohydrates and vegetable fats in kibble into either energy or body mass. Carbs can make them fat when they're young, and give them skinny old cat syndrome when they're older.

The more meat protein and animal fat, the better for them.
 
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derelict

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I give my elderly cat kitten food for the extra calories and nutrition. Because of his age and a heart condition he gets treats too that are higher in calories, like bacon and minced hot dogs. Because of his advanced age we worry more about getting him to eat at all, not necessarily what he is eating. Make sure your older guy is encouraged to drink, a fountain might be in order now, mine loves his.
Well, at least water isn't an issue !! We have a Drinkwell Platinum fountain, and he uses it regularly... his favorite water source, however, is whatever sink I happen to be using!! He jumps up on the sink, waits for me to finish what I'm doing, then I make a pond in it when I'm done, and he drinks to his heart's contentment !! :)
 
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derelict

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Food is turning out to be tricky, unfortunately. I wish I could leave soft food out for him, but our matriarch Jasmine, who is already fairly overweight, will vacuum up whatever is left behind!! I may try to find treats that he'll eat.
 
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derelict

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Hi y'all!!
Wanted to give a follow-up on this issue. After a day or so of the antibiotics and vitamins, we quickly observed a change in his fur; it had been looking kind of scraggly/rangy, and suddenly it's looking lush and much healthier.

However, he was still very lax about eating the soft food, so I took your comments to heart and got a couple of cans of Blue Buffalo, to see if that would make any difference... and what a difference it made!! He *really* tucks into that, and is even finishing the entire serving that I give him (about a tablespoon, 3 or 4 times a day). He's immediately made it clear that he's more interested in this food; every couple of hours, he starts walking around nearby, talking, and if I ignore him, he stands up on my leg and sinks his claws in!! I think that's a pretty good vote for the all-meat food!!

In addition, I *think* he's starting to put a little weight back on, though it's a bit early to tell. His hips aren't as dramatically sunken as they were earlier, though some of that is just because his fur is looking better.

Thank you *all* for your inputs, especially about the food choices!! This site is wonderful...
I have some questions about the soft-food options, but I'll pursue that in a separate thread.
 
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