My Cat and weight

[LuckyDog]

Hello my cat Lucky Dog has a weight problem he hit a certain age and he gained soo much weight, he only gets a scoop of food in the morning does anyone know of health problems that would cause this.

 

[Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)]

There are conditions that can cause weight gain. Here's a site that might give you some ideas:
http://pets.thenest.com/causes-weight-gain-cats-4072.html

Illness
Cats that suffer from hypothyroidism gain weight, become lethargic and have dull coats. Your kitty's thyroid gland controls his metabolism through the production of hormones; an impairment of the thyroid gland reduces these hormones, resulting in a slowing of the metabolism and therefore weight gain. Feline hyperadrenocorticism or Cushing's disease can also lead to weight gain due to increase in the production of cortisol by the adrenal glands. This condition results from a tumor or the continued use of corticosteroids to treat another illness can result in Cushing's disease. In addition, several other health issues, such as an intestinal disease or diabetes can also cause weight gain. To properly diagnose and treat your cat, bring him to a veterinarian for an exam. Plus, your vet can give you some tips on weight loss if your cat receives a clean bill of health.

*note* - it mentions "diabetes" as a possibility, which surprised me since weight loss is a common symptom of feline diabetes?

Your vet should be able to test to see if any medical condition is the cause.

You mentioned "a scoop of food". I'm guessing that means dry food? Dry food is more "calorie dense" than canned food, but I can't imagine one scoop being too much food unless it's a really huge scoop. What brand of food is it?

 

[BJM]

Annecdotal story:
Switching all the cats in the household to low carb, canned food resulted in weight loss for 2 overweight cats. The food was Wellness Turkey and Giblets pate.

Due to an increase in number of cats, the current food is Friskies Turkey and Giblet pate which is considerably less expensive.

 

[Laura & Heffernan]

My cat Heffernan was 30+ lbs when we adopted him. I had him tested for Hypothyroidism--however it is very rare in cats!! It's common in dogs, while hyperthryoidism is common in cats!

Lack of activity & dry food could be adding to his weight gain. My vet has a theory about Heff and a growth hormone problem causing his obesity as well, and now his diabetes.

Heff loves Da Bird toy. It gets him moving & keeps him interested.