My cat seems skinnier, I feel her ribs. Is this normal or vet time?

Question

I’m worried my cat may be getting skinnier. She’s always been a very small, skinny cat but now I’m noticing her ribs more when I pet her and her bones. They’re not protruding neither are they noticeable when she’s lying down or standing up. It’s just when you’re petting her. Am I over reacting? Or should I take her to see the vet? I did not long ago and they didn’t mention her weight. Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 3 years and 6 months old

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Hi there. You're correct that being able to feel the backbone or hip bones more easily than normal when petting your cat is a common early sign of weight loss. This could be caused by a number of different things - she may have some type of infection, a systemic illness like liver or kidney disease, or a GI problem like inflammatory bowel disease or chronic pancreatitis (weight loss can be the only symptom of these issues, in some cats). I would recommend taking Narla back to the vet for another exam to discuss your concerns and see if she has lost weight since last time. Your veterinarian may recommend blood work, x-rays, or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem.

My cat seems skinnier, I feel her ribs. Is this normal or vet time?

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