My cat ran away and came back skinny?
While it’s a wonderful sight to see your beautiful cat in your home, it’s also imperative to understand what’s going on with regards to its health.
If the cat has come back skinny, there may be a long list of issues that are causing the weight loss. Some are going to be simple, while other are going to require medical assistance.
These can include:
- Health Issues (i.e. Parasites, Tapeworms)
- Lack of Food Outdoors
- Too Much Walking/Running
It’s essential to find out what the root cause is for your cat becoming skinny after spending time outside. if the cat has been gone for a long time, it may have to do with a lack of food.
The first thing you should do is speak to a vet and make sure the cat is in good health. This is the foundation for what you are going to do next with your cat.
This guide will help those who are saying, “My cat ran away and came back skinny!” by offering tips and tricks to apply for weight gain.
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Best Cat Food for Weight Gain (EDITOR’S CHOICE)
- Contains one (1) 7 lb bag of IAMS Proactive Health Adult Indoor Weight and Hairball Care Dry Cat Food with Chicken and Turkey
- Chicken is the main ingredient in this protein-rich cat food to help support strong muscles and to provide healthy energy for...
- Formulated with l-carnitine to help your indoor cat lose weight or maintain a healthy weight
Last update on 2023-12-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Tips to Follow If My Cat Ran Away and Came Back Skinny
Tip #1 – Use Quality Cat Food
Cat food is going to be a good starting point when it comes to weight gain in cats.
You can focus on buying high-grade cat food that is renowned for offering quality nutrients in each bite. This is going to allow the cat to maximize its recovery phase by eating good food.
Take the time to find ingredients that are powerful and will aid in the recovery process. This includes vitamins and minerals.
The benefits include:
- Increased Likelihood of Keeping Cat Well-Fed
- Good Taste
- Easy Change to Initiate
If you are serious about the recovery process, the weight gain is going to come from quality food.
Set the cat down the right path using good cat food. It will make sure things progress at the pace you want them to and as safely as possible too.
Tip #2 – Increase the Number of Portions
Portions are going to be a major plus point when it comes to a cat gaining weight.
You want to make sure the cat is eating enough and sometimes that can be done by simply adding a portion or two to the cat’s meal plan.
You can also increase the portion sizes if that works better.
The goal is to increase the number of calories your cat is eating throughout a 24-hour period.
This can be done in a number of ways, but the goal remains the same. If you are saying, “My cat ran away and came back skinny!” then it’s time to start here.
It’s one of the best ways to improve your cat’s health over the short and long-term.
Tip #3 – Keep the Cat Relaxed
For those saying, “My cat ran away and came back skinny!” you will have to focus on the psychological element associated with this recovery phase.
The weight loss could have to do with psychological concerns the cat had when it was outdoors. There is so much going on outdoors and only the cat will know what it has gone through.
As a result, you have to keep things as relaxed around the cat as possible.
Never assume things are going to go back to how they were from day one.
This is not going to happen!
Instead, you have to stay patient and continue to focus on a detailed recovery plan for your cat’s health. This is the only way to make sure the cat doesn’t fall sick as soon as it comes back home.
Tip #4 – Focus on Setting up a “Quiet” Space
You will want to find a quiet space when it comes to your cat’s overall health.
When a cat comes from outside and has shown signs of weakness or weight loss, it’s essential for the pet to recover. This isn’t going to happen in high-traffic areas of the home because that’s uncomfortable and isn’t going to allow the cat an opportunity to rest.
You want to set up the cat bed in a quiet part of the home that will be away from kids or other pets.
The benefits include:
- Increased Resting Period for the Cat
- Relaxing
- Easy to Set Up
It’s a simple change such as this that is going to let the cat rest whenever it wants to.
Of course, the cat can play in other parts of the house, but it needs to have the cat bed set up in a safe spot that is away from everyone else.
This includes household distractions such as your TV or computer.
Final Thoughts
If you are saying, “My cat ran away and came back skinny!” it’s time to get started with the advice listed here.
You can’t have a situation where this goes ignored. Yes, it’s wonderful to see your cat back home, but that is only a part of the process to make sure you are getting a cat that’s happy and healthy. Otherwise, you may have a sick cat that is starting to break down.
It’s recommended to head straight to the vet as soon as you realize your cat’s weight has gone down.
The vet is going to make it easier to pinpoint what’s going on and whether or not it has to do with a simple lack of food.
Once you have this answer, it’s time to start creating a specialized plan for your cat’s weight gain. If you want the cat to go back to its normal state, you will have to work on it in the coming days/months.
Look at these articles to learn more about what you can do for your cat – how to let a cat outside safely, good microchip cat door for cats, giving Greenies to your cat at home, and how to remove tapeworms in cats at home.