If your cat is skinny, this post will show you a number of possible reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why is my cat skinny? Likely reasons why your cat is skinny are illness or disease, anxiety, stress, a problem with their diet, genetics or other pets preventing your cat from eating.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your cat is skinny and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main reason and there are some things you can do about it.
Why is my cat skinny?
Below are likely causes and what would make them more likely.
Illness, injury or disease
It could be the case that your cat has an illness or a disease that has been causing your cat to be skinny. This would be more likely if your cat has been behaving unusually in other ways such as by vomiting often, bleeding from the mouth, or showing a lack of interest in food. If it seems like injury, illness or disease could be the cause, the best option would be to take your cat to the vet for a checkup.
Anxiety
It could also be the case that something has been causing your cat to be anxious or stressed which has resulted in your cat either not eating as much as they should or losing weight due to anxiety or stress. This would be more likely if your cat has become skinnier since something happened that could have caused them to start being stressed such as moving home or getting new pets.
A problem with its diet
It could also be the case that there is an issue with your cat’s diet. It might be the case that your cat is not being giving enough food, your cat does not like the food or that you have been giving your cat the wrong type of food. This would be more likely if your cat has not been eating all of the food that you have been giving them. It would help to consult with your vet about your cat’s diet when you see them next.
Genetics
It could also be the case that your cat is genetically predisposed to be skinny. This would be more likely if your cat has always been skinny and if they do eat enough food.
Bullying behavior from other pets
It could also be the case that bullying behavior from other pets has been making it hard for your cat to eat. This would be more likely if you feed your cat at the same time as other pets and if they often get aggressive towards your cat. In this case, it would help to try feeding your cat separately.
Consider if your cat has always been skinny
It would help to consider if your cat has always been skinny or if the behavior has started recently. If your cat has become skinny suddenly, it would be more likely to be due to things such as a change in your cat’s diet, illness, injury, disease or another pet preventing your cat from being able to eat.
What to do about my cat being skinny?
Below are some options you have when dealing with the issue.
Take your cat to a vet
The best thing to do would likely be to take your cat to a vet for a checkup. By doing so, you should be able to get expert advice tailored towards your specific cat and to rule in or out medical causes. This would be especially important if your cat has become skinny suddenly or if your cat seems like they might be ill, injured or have a disease.
Ensure your cat is getting the right diet
It would also help to ensure that your cat has been getting the right diet and that you have been feeding your cat the right amount of calories.
Ensure your cat is actually able to eat their food
It would also help to ensure that your cat has access to food when your cat wants it and that other pets have not been preventing your cat from eating.
Limit reasons why your cat might be anxious
It would also help to limit reasons why your cat might be anxious or stressed. Ways you could do so could include letting your cat stay in a different part of the house or giving your cat a safe spot that they can go to.
Why is my cat skinny but eats all the time?
If your cat is skinny but does eat often, it could be the case that your cat has a disease that has been causing them to be skinny or it might be genetic. It would be more likely to be due to a disease if your cat has become skinny suddenly or has been showing other signs of having a disease. The best option would be to take it to a vet.
Is it ok if my cat is skinny?
Some cats are perfectly fine being skinny whereas for others it is a problem due to it being due to disease. If it seems likely that there could be an issue with your cat, it would be best to take them to a vet for a checkup.