Scamps Pet Health People

         Why is My Cat Getting Skinny?  Understanding Common Health Issues There are many reasons why cats lose weight.  Two common conditions— diabetes mellitus  and  hyperthyroidism —can cause significant weight loss despite a good or even ravenous appetite. In addition to weight loss, cats with diabetes often drink much more water than usual. Both of these conditions are linked to hormones and can be treated effectively.       Diabetes Mellitus in Cats Diabetes mellitus occurs when there is a deficiency of the hormone  insulin , which is necessary for cells to use glucose properly. The pancreas either produces insufficient insulin or the insulin produced is less effective.  Overweight cats  are particularly at risk of developing  Type 2 diabetes . Diabetes in cats is diagnosed with a blood and urine test, which will show an increase in glucose levels. Fortunately, diabetes is treatable with  injecta...

  While there is something endearing about a chubby cat there are no health benefits to being overweight. A significant issue for cats is an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes mellitus, which interestingly, is not a common issue for overweight dogs. Body condition scoring is a useful tool although trickier in cats than in dogs.  To keep it simple the width across the lumbar spine (between the ribs and pelvis) should be narrower than the depth of the trunk.  The trunk of a cat with healthy weight would be 1.5 to 1.75 times as deep as it is wide.  Some cats have loose skin and subcuteous belly fat which makes the depth more difficult to estimate.   The points of the vertebrae along the spine and the top of the pelvis should be felt with gentle pressure and not obvious.  If your cat is getting wide across the back and looking more of a square shape than a rectangle it is very likely they are overweight. Putting a cat on a diet can be challenging so p...