How to help my senior cat gain weight with kidney and thyroid issues?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 16 years old | 5 lbs
How do i get my 16 yrs old Tabby cat to gain weight? She weighs 5 lbs and used to weigh 7 lbs. She is on kidney and thyroid medication.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on August 1st, 2017
Kidney failure and hyperthyroidism are both known to cause cats to lose weigh dramatically, there is not much that you can do other than try giving Tia her food more frequently. you can try topping her food with some boiled chicken or tuna if she likes those, try to feed her at least 4 times a day.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
-
Published on October 21st, 2018
Some senior foods actually have fewer calories so you should try to look up calorie contents online before making a switch. You may want to offer adult food in both canned and dry. Since she is a senior I’d also recommend making sure she is healthy and has a medical condition isn’t contributing to her weight loss. Kidney disease and thyroid disease are two common causes of weight loss in elderly cats.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
My 19 yr. old Russian Blue cat is not eating, has lost weight and is now down to 7 lbs. (she was 9 a year ago) and the vet suspected hyper-thyroid then. She's just very listless, has changed where she sleeps, and is urinating in our bedroom, in the s
My grandparents cat is 20 and underweight, with winter coming that makes me nervous. Is there a senior cat food to help her put on weight?
My cat has had Royal Canin Urinary SO normal calorie dry food for past 8 years after getting struvite stone surgery. In last 6mo. she has gone from 8lb to 6.3lb. vet says it's because she hasn't been eating well and leukemia virus, thyroid, CBC, kidn
My cat is a male orange short hair and he is at least 15 years old. Hes a rescue so we cant know for sure. I regularly feed him 2 small cans of wet food per day and he has a bowl of dry kibble that I leave out all day. He eats both cans of food and n
My 16 year old cat seems to lately be eating enough but being constantly hungry. Near her butt bone she is so thin that it looks like she's starving
What are some ways of knowing if the food I feed my cat is not working for her? I've fed her Blue Buffalo since she was a kitten but lately she's been losing weight drastically. She has lost 2 pounds in the last 3 months and the vet doesn't think the
my cat is 17 and I have had him on food he does not throw up for the past six years I am trying out several different kidney diet foods he ate it at first one of the new bags but then stopped eating it so I tried the old food he started eating it an
Hi, We have a 10 year old male cat who is losing weight despite eating alot and he uses the litter tray a lot. It seems to be in one end and out the other.
Hi, my cat Neo is 11yrs old, desexed domestic. A finicky eater. Loves canned human tuna, rarely eats his biscuits anymore. Which I think kept the weight on. Always has tuna, water & biscuits left out. He is loosing weight, has always been slim. Ive s
Yes, my cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism about 6-7 months ago. Although, he is on medication, I wanted to ask if there is any more preventive care that we can provide for him, such as diet, exercise, etc.? Aside from wanting to eat a bit more t
Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.
