Helping my 14-year-old cat put on some weight

Aurélieg
Aurélieg Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone,

I would really like my 14-year-old cat to put some weight back on, as he's lost quite a bit of his 'bulk'.

For instance, you can see his spine now, whereas you couldn't before.

I should point out that he's in excellent health for his age, but he's becoming a very fussy eater.

He only eats dry food (I add a bit of salmon oil to it) but only in very small amounts.

I've tried giving him wet food instead, but he doesn't eat any more of that either (about 2 teaspoons worth).

Are there any high-calorie wet foods available?

Thanks

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26 answers
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    • A
    Amzounslide Icon representing the flag French
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    I used this paste with my girl:

    http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/supplements/vitamins/15292

    She absolutely loved it, and I really felt like it helped her growth.

    Best of luck with your little one...

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    M
    Mickael nox Icon representing the flag French
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    Be careful with wet food.

    I left my cat home alone for a week (with plenty to eat and drink), but when I got back, I found he hadn't eaten a thing all week and had lost quite a bit of weight.

    To help him put the weight back on, I gave him a pouch of Felix once a day.

    Over the week, his appetite just faded away, and by Sunday, he wasn't eating or drinking at all.

    So, straight to the vet.

    The food was far too rich for him and it's messed up his kidneys and liver.

    If your cat starts losing weight, I’d advise you to go straight to a vet rather than ending up in the same boat as me.

    The vet will always have more suitable food available.

    PS: My cat is 12 and is neutered.

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    Aurélieg
    Aurélieg Icon representing the flag French
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    An update following my cat's appointment at the vet.

    I had some blood work done and everything is fine—phew!

    His general health is very good, so all's well, even though he's lost about 2.2 lbs in the last year.

    My vet has recommended switching to a richer food.

    But he told me not to cut out grains, as they act as a binder for the proteins.

    Translated from French
    Aurélieg
    Aurélieg Icon representing the flag French
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    You really need to check the ingredients list.

    I’ve seen "grain-free" dry food before with rice as the first ingredient...

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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Grain-free is the best way to go, it’s got a higher meat content.

    Translated from French
    Aurélieg
    Aurélieg Icon representing the flag French
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    I’d rather stick to dry food.

    I’m going to switch my cats over to grain-free dry food, just like I did for my dog.

    Translated from French
    Mintcat
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    Hi everyone, Cats are obligate carnivores. In the wild, they mainly prey on small mammals (mice, rabbits...) and birds. A cat’s energy intake is derived from roughly 56% protein, 25-35% fats, and 14% carbohydrates. Naturally, then, they require a high-protein, low-carb diet. Dietary causes of kidney problems are largely linked to dehydration, particularly in the case of bladder stones, as the urine becomes too concentrated. Cats get most of their water from their food, so they really need wet food rather than just dry food (even grain-free kibble). I switched my 10-year-old cat to a BARF (raw) diet, but you have to do it correctly and have the time for it, obviously (though I don’t find it that complicated, to be honest). Regarding the choice of dry and wet foods, you can take a look at this thread: http://wamiz.com/chats/forum/croquettes-et-patees-sans-cereales-34217.html And there are others in the "Feeding your cat" section.
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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Yeah, you can find the Go! trout dry food online here: https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/dry_cat_food/go_solutions (only the trout one, not the others).

    And for the Natural Cat range: https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/dry_cat_food/natural_cat

    https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/dry_cat_food/power_of_nature

    (Just the Meadowland variety, not the others either.)

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    Aurélieg
    Aurélieg Icon representing the flag French
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    And where do you find them? Online?

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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Personally, the dry foods I've found with the best ingredients are Go! Trout and the Natural Meadowland Mix.

    I'm not so sure about wet food, but if you're worried about the price, wet food will definitely break the bank! ^^'

    Translated from French

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