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My spayed cat is skinny but has a big, hard stomach. Is this normal?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 8 lbs

I'm worried about my cat she's really skinny except after we spayed her she started gaining weight but only in her stomach. Sometimes her stomach is really hard and sometimes it isn't, could she just be fat?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Mirissa Duncil, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 9th, 2017

Hi there. It is common for females that are spayed to gain extra fat in their abdominal region. If the belly is very hard or she seems uncomfortable I would take her in. Otherwise just remember she doesn't have the extra hormone production she used to-changes are normal. Hope this helps

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

    Veterinary Technician

    Published on October 6th, 2019

    She is a bit tubby (but still adorable!) Weight gain can happen after a spay as the hormones change in your cat's body, so keeping on her diet if your vet said she was otherwise healthy is a good idea. A high-fiber weight loss diet is usually best as it will help your cat feel fuller on less food to help. Increasing exercise, be it chasing a feather or laser pointer for a few minutes in the hall daily, adding in a kitty treadmill or climbing post, etc can also help with weight loss. You shouldn't expect pounds off right away because if you think about it, 1 pound in a 12 pound cat is 8% of their body weight which is a LOT! (That's like a human losing 10 pounds) If she seems to be feeling unwell, shows any new symptoms of illness such as vomiting or diarrhea, or the abdomen is painful or worsens, then an additional checkup to rule out any other issues is always best.

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