Weight Loss and Low Energy in Felines

If your cat is exhibiting low energy accompanied by weight loss, there may be something seriously wrong with your kitty. There are many illnesses and conditions that count weight loss and lethargy as its symptoms, such as Feline Infectious Peritonitis, certain cancers and heart disease. As soon as you notice these symptoms in your cat, take it to a veterinarian immediately.

  1. Diagnosing the Problem

    • The veterinarian will likely take blood to diagnose what is ailing your cat.

      Weight loss and lethargy are common symptoms for a host of problems. If your cat had an intestinal upset that caused an acute episode of vomiting and diarrhea, it may have experienced a small amount of weight loss or low energy. Typically, if the gastrointestinal symptoms disappear after a day or two, it is probably nothing to worry about, and the weight loss and low energy will resolve itself soon after. However, if the symptoms occur for more than a few days, or the weight loss and lethargy developed without any explanation, it is time to visit your veterinarian.

      Take a fresh sample of your cat's stool with you when you go to the veterinarian's, along with a urine sample, if possible. According to PetPlace.com, the vet may want to run diagnostic tests on the collections to check for parasites and other issues. The vet will perform a thorough examination of your cat and will listen to its heart to check for murmurs and other cardiac abnormalities. The doctor will likely take blood on your cat to check the values of certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys. In addition, the doctor may want to take radiographs of the cat to look for any tumors or other problems. The blood, fecal and urine tests may take a few days to come back; however, the doctor will probably tell you the radiograph findings immediately.

    Treating the Problem

    • Medication may be prescribed to manage your cat's condition, if one is diagnosed.

      Treatments will vary, depending upon what is causing the weight loss and lethargy in your cat. Diabetes may cause weight loss and low energy in cats. In order to treat it, you will likely need to give daily insulin injections to your cat and feed it a prescription diet that is formulated for diabetic cats. Disorders such as Feline Infectious Peritonitis or Feline Leukemia cause these symptoms and while they cannot be cured, they can be managed with medication that you will probably need to administer daily depending upon the severity of the illness, according to the veterinary website PetEducation.com. If cancer is causing the weight loss and low energy, it may or may not be treatable depending upon the type and how much it has spread throughout the body. You may have the option of surgery to remove the tumors or even radiation in some situations. Certain heart diseases can cause a cat to lose weight and have low energy. Sometimes the cardiac problems are managed with medications, depending upon what the issue is and how severe it is.

      No matter what is causing the weight loss and lack of energy in your cat, it likely has a better chance of treatment if detected and identified early. Take your cat to the veterinarian for a diagnostic work-up as soon as you notice the symptoms.