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What are the reasons why cats don't gain weight despite eating?
There are several main reasons why cats don't gain weight despite eating:
Genetic issues: Some cat breeds, such as the Oriental Shorthair, Siamese, Bengal豹猫, and Singapore Cat, are naturally slender and have a small face, so they are unlikely to gain weight easily.
Parasites: If a cat's diet is already rich but the cat is still thin, it may be due to parasites in its body. Parasites steal nutrients from the cat, making it difficult for the cat to gain weight. Therefore, it is recommended that owners regularly deworm their cats. It is generally advised to perform external deworming every month and internal deworming every three months.
Digestive issues: Many cats are born with poor digestion, which is one of the key reasons they don't gain weight. If a cat experiences diarrhea and vomiting after eating, it indicates that the cat has a sensitive stomach. Due to poor intestinal absorption, it is difficult for such a cat to gain weight. In this case, probiotics or prescription cat food for the stomach should be given to improve the cat's digestion.
Picky eating: If a cat is picky about what it eats, its nutrition will be unbalanced, and it won't gain weight no matter what it eats. Therefore, owners should help cats develop good eating habits during daily feeding. Avoid giving the cat too many snacks or human food, as long-term dependence on these foods can lead to loss of interest in cat food. Moreover, human food contains a lot of salt, which can easily cause kidney and urinary tract stones in cats.
In the growth period: Cats aged 2-8 months are in their growth period, during which their movement and metabolism are very high. Therefore, it is a normal phenomenon for cats in this period to be thin. Owners don't need to worry too much. Calcium supplementation can be given to promote bone development. Once the cat passes the awkward period, it will gradually gain weight.
Unbalanced cat food: The reason why cats can't gain weight despite eating is closely related to their cat food. If the cat food provided by the owner is unbalanced in nutrition, with insufficient fat and protein, it will lead to the cat's inability to gain weight. Over time, the cat will become skinny and its resistance will decline. Therefore, when choosing cat food, it is best to choose a high-protein cat food as the main meal to meet the cat's nutritional needs. Cats are carnivores, and besides cat food, they can also be fed some meat, such as chicken breast, beef, and fish, which will help the cat gain weight faster.