As a cat ages, its body goes through changes--some are normal, some are not. If your cat loses a significant amount of weight, it may be time to take your pet to the veterinarian for an examination. There are a variety of reasons for which an older feline loses weight. While a few of these causes may not be treatable, many are. Therefore, it is important to have your kitty checked sooner, rather than later.
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Severe Dental Disease
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If your cat has a painful mouth caused by severe dental disease, it may not want to eat and will lose weight. Older cats can suffer from a plethora of dental issues, including periodontal disease and gingivitis. Your kitty may also have a few loose teeth that can be making it difficult to chew. Your veterinarian can perform a dental exam, in order to closely looks at the mouth. Most of the dental problems can be cleared up with a thorough teeth cleaning, which requires your cat to go under anesthesia. Any loose teeth can then be extracted and the removal of plaque and tartar can help with the gingivitis. Pre-anesthetic bloodwork will need to be performed to ensure your kitty can handle going under safely.
Hyperthyroidism
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Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces excess amounts of thyroid hormones. This disease usually occurs in cats between the ages four and 22, mostly happening around age 13. About 90 percent of cats with hyperthyroidism experience weight loss. Your veterinarian can perform a simple blood test to diagnose if kitty's weight loss is due to hyperthyroidism. If your cat does have this disease, it can typically be treated with medication, surgery, radioactive iodine treatment or chemical ablation.
Diabetes Mellitus
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Diabetes usually occurs in older cats and one of the major signs of the disease is weight loss. Your veterinarian can perform a blood glucose test to determine if the sugar level in your kitty's blood is too high. If indeed your cat does have diabetes, it can usually be managed with insulin dietary changes. Diabetes is often a complicated disease that can take a good amount of time to regulate. It can also take many trips to the vet, which means it can be very expensive and time consuming.
Cancer
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Many cats who have cancer also experience weight loss. Masses are sometimes detectable upon physical examination, although radiographs, biopsy and ultrasounds are usually the most effective. The doctor may want to run diagnostic bloodwork to check for certain levels that can be indicative of cancer as well. Some masses can be removed, while others can require chemotherapy.
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