Cat has lost weight

Question
Hello Doctor,

I have an 8 year old cat here that seems perfectly happy and normal except she has lost significant weight over the last 3-6 months. She is still active and agile and friendly. She eats but not as much as the other cat. Any ideas?

Answer
First step is to feed her extra meals. Maybe she is intimidated by the other cat, maybe she just needs extra calories. Feed fresh food (see below) for better absorption. Try a probiotic, as well. There is a weight gain product, PDG, sold by wysong that most cats like.

Second, I would strongly recommend finding an integrative veterinarian with whom to work. This is a person trained in many different approaches, including using conventional drugs only when absolutely needed. Working with one can increase the chance that your cherished companion can live a long and healthy life after recovering from this current problem. There are good ones and great ones, and a few homeopathic veterinarians will consult by phone or email. Read my comments at the end on working with and selecting a holistic veterinarian.
You can go to the web sites for each type of holistic practice and use their referral list to find one near to you:
1. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine: www.IVAS.org & www.TCVM.com
2. Homeopathic veterinarians (these can often help you by phone if no other holistic practitioners are nearby that you like): www.theAVH.org and www.DrPitcairn.com. To find homeopathic practitioners for yourself, and homeopathic products, go to
http://www.nationalcenterforhomeopathy.org/products-and-services;  http://www.homeopathicpharmacy.org/members/; http://www.nationalcenterforhomeopathy.org/resources/practitioners
3. Chiropractor - www.animalchiropractic.org
4. Wide range of other treatments: www.AHVMA.org, American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association
If you wish to consult with me by telephone, go to my website and read about my practice.

There are also lots of practitioners and approaches that are used by trained people that you can find by searching the Internet.

When I only had my conventional veterinary training, I would often be very frustrated by problems that seemed to have no cause as I could only offer treatments if I knew the cause. You do not say if you have had a good physical exam or blood work. That would be needed to see if there is a mass in the stomach or thickening of the intestines. The holistic philosophy has taught me that there is an underlying vibrational imbalance that causes most problems and the healing goal is to resolve that imbalance. There are many treatments to be offered even before knowing why she is losing weight. To better understand this perspective, read the first few chapters of Don Hamilton's Homeopathic Care of Cats and Dogs or the few pages in my book, the Healthy Animal's Journal (available at Www.ChristinaChambreau.com).  Now that the multitude of holistic modalities is available, I can tell you to never give up. Try one after the other, and record the changes with each.