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My cat looks thin but her weight is stable. Is something wrong?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 8 lbs

My cat has been eating, drinking, and going to the bathroom normally. Yet she seems to be getting thinner. I have weighed her at my home and he weight is the same as it was on the last vet visit. Her eyes are clear, her gums are pink. Am I being over paranoid or could there be something wrong?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on February 7th, 2017

Depending on her age, she could have hyperthyroidism as it is a common cause of weight loss in middle age to older cats. Your vet could run blood work to check her thyroid level. If you are unsure if she is actually losing weight than you could monitor her weight at home for the next few weeks to confirm.

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1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

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    Answered By Amber W

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Published on September 13th, 2017

    Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The most common causes for a cat who is eating well but losing weight are hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease. I recommend taking Hunter to your veterinarian to have blood work done to check for diabetes and hyperthyroidism. These conditions are manageable and Hunter can continue to live a long, healthy life with treatment. Your veterinarian can also prescribe a specialized diet to help with weight gain if inflammatory bowel disease is thought to be present. Good luck to you and Hunter!

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    Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 1st, 2019

    Chances are she has hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid). This is very common in older cats and is easy to diagnose with simple blood testing from your vet. If left untreated this can be a serious condition. Of course, her weight loss could be due to something else like diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, etc. I'm sure you understand I cannot give you a diagnosis over the internet. I suggest you get Kikimama to your vet for an exam and blood testing as soon as you can. Best wishes.

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