My active outdoor cat is thin but eats a lot. How can he gain weight?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered
My cat is very thin. He almost always eats all of his food. He is an outdoor cat and moves around a lot, but how can I get him to gain weight?
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on May 7th, 2016
He may just be one of those cats that metabolise their food very quickly and never will gain weight. He may also have tape worm. You should worm him every three months with a wormer containing praziquantel which hits tapeworm. Food: Feed him good quality canned food, pate style, 3.5 oz twice daily. This would be double the regular amount of food and if he does not gain weight with that over the next 4-6 weeks, then you should take him to the vet for some blood tests including thyroid test.
27Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on December 16th, 2019
It doesn't sound like worms but anything is possible. If he is eating and drinking and not gaining weight my best guess would be hyperthyroidism. This can be easily diagnosed with simple blood testing. I suggest you get him to a vet for an exam.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on April 23rd, 2016
Failure to gain weight can be due to problems such as internal parasites, or even a result of metabolic or other illness. Checking for parasites in the stool is one way to tell, however some types of parasites may not be grossly visible. Bringing in a stool sample to your vet is the best way to have this tested. If there are no parasites present in the stool, your vet may want to examine your cat for any issues and may recommend blood work to check for any underlying problems. Feeding a complete and balanced diet appropriate for your cat's age and size can also help ensure he is getting enough nutrition.
32Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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