My FeLV cat is losing weight after URI. How much is too much?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I’m glad to hear Grippet has lost the weight you wanted him to, but at his age we would want to ensure all the weight loss is for healthy reasons and not an underlying medical issue. As cats age, they frequently can get an overactive thyroid, diabetes, or kidney issues (among others) that can lead to unhealthy weight loss. I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian and have bloodwork done to ensure all his weight loss is healthy and there isn’t an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. Good luck!

I’m sorry to hear about Link but so glad he’s feeling better! For these guys I love to do a probiotic like Purina Fortiflora. This helps reset the gut and make it more efficient. You can also add a lysine supplement ( ) to help fight and prevent feline herpes virus which can come on after an illness like this. Otherwise just stick to your good kitten or cat food and he should get back to where he needs to be within a month or so. Best wishes to you and Link!

Thanks for visiting Petcoach. A lot of vets have a hard time assessing an overweight cat during an exam, mainly because some cats have a short temper and we are working against the clock in a lot of these cases. So sometimes we cannot feel for the ribs, spine, etc. It is very possible that Jasper was overweight to begin with and now is more ideal weight. Without a photo attached it is hard to tell, but as long as his other faculties are intact (i.e. eating well, normal stools), then I would not worry about the weight loss. The weight control food is limiting his calorie intake, and with his activity level, he is likely just going back down to his normal standard weight. He should level off with he weight loss once he has reached his ideal weight soon, if this is the case. Here is a website link so that you can assess his BCS (body condition score) yourself at home https://www.wsava.org/WSAVA/media/PDF_old/Body-condition-score-chart-cats.pdf If however, you are still concerned about his weight loss, and he seems overly hungry, then I would be suspicious of underlying thyroid disease. A thyroid test would be next on the agenda if he meets these criteria. Thyroid disease is typically easily managed in cats and he is of the age where we do see more of this disorder. i hope that Jasper's weight loss is attributed to his new food and that he starts to level off with his weight soon! Best wishes and take care.

If the diarrhoea is persistently present you could try to start feeding with a bland diet based on boiled chicken or white fish and rice for the next 4 days. Then gradually reintroduce the normal diet over 5 days. I would definitively recommend a veterinary check up if the signs persist after that or you notice vomiting, lethargy or inappetence. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

His condition sounds very severe, a biopsy of the enlarged lymph nodes and tests for FELV and FIV viruses may provide more diagnostic information and guide treatment options but it is possible that such a severe presentation may not be curable.

If the cat's appetite went down during the infection, then yes that could be a cause of the weight loss. There are other things that can cause weight loss, so I'd have Momma checked out by a vet to be safe. Best of luck.

Hi there. George may need antibiotics if his virus infection is leading to a secondary bacterial infection. These can explain weight loss, etc. He may also have ulcers around or in his mouth making him uncomfortable. It mate be that he is sick enough for hospitalization and fluids, etc to make him feel better. I hope this helps.