How to Care for a Malnourished Cat

If you have found a stray cat that appears thin, with its bones showing through its skin, or you can feel its ribs when you touch it, it is probably underweight and malnourished. A cat can become malnourished for a variety of reasons including internal parasites, improper or insufficient diet or an underlying illness. Because a lack of proper nutrition can lead to a suppressed immune system and possible organ damage, the cat will require veterinary care to ensure its survival, according to Vetinfo.

Things You'll Need

  • Blanket
  • Heating pad
  • Box
  • Canned cat food
  • Freeze-dried cat treats
  • Dry cat food
  • De-worming medication
  • Topical flea medication
  • High-calorie supplement for cats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wrap a blanket around a heating pad and place it into a box. Place the cat in the box to warm its body temperature and relax it. A malnourished cat may suffer from hair loss and become cold easily.

    • 2

      Feed the cat a small amount of canned cat food. If the cat will not eat the food, heat it in the microwave to increase the food's odor to entice the cat to eat. You can also sprinkle crushed, freeze-dried cat treats made of chicken, fish or beef over the food to persuade it to eat. Only feed the cat frequent small meals, so it does not throw up the food; its stomach has shrunk due to a lack of food.

    • 3

      Place small amounts of dry cat kibble in dishes around your home for the cat to eat on its own. The dry food won't spoil like wet food and allows the cat to obtain more calories throughout the day.

    • 4

      Take the cat to a veterinarian after feeding it and warming it up. The veterinarian will check for intestinal parasites or an underlying medical condition that could have caused the weight loss. Follow the treatment plan the veterinarian gives you to clear up any health conditions, allowing the cat to gain weight.

    • 5

      De-worm the cat if the veterinarian suspects a parasitic infestation. Intestinal parasites can leech nutrients from the cat's system, causing malnutrition. Administer the medication to the cat by giving it a chewable, de-worming tablet or mixing a liquid de-wormer into its food.

    • 6

      Apply a topical flea medication to the cat. Malnutrition usually makes a cat more vulnerable to external parasites, such as fleas. Rub the topical medication between its shoulder blades to kill any existing fleas and prevent new ones.

    • 7

      Mix a high-calorie supplement into the cat's food. These supplements usually come in a pleasant-tasting gel that the cat will eat alone or in its food. Feeding the cat a high-calorie supplement will help to put weight on the cat more quickly.