Need some advice

[legally blonde]

I think that I need to "fatten up" Manilla.

http://www.iuploads.com>

He's always been a little on the thin side, but recently I've noticed that he looks thinner. I've been trying to feed him more, but my new kitty Morty is a little pig and ends up eating more than his fair share.

Any suggestions?

[Lorien]

1. Before you do anything

have him tested for hyperthyroid disease, please! You can try feeding them in seperate areas, but do the thyroid test just to be safe.

[SW FL Dem]

2. My almost 17 yr old has an overactive thyroid

she has always been thin, she weighed all of nine pounds at her heaviest. Two or three years ago, she lost a lot of weight in a very short period of time. Now she is on thyroid meds, but her weight is stabilizing at about 7 pounds. The vet says to feed her all she can eat at this point.

[legally blonde]

3. I hadn't thought of hyperthyroid disease

that's a good suggestion. I'll make an appointment with the vet.

In August my parents took in a stray kitty (Morty)--Manilla and Morty became buddies. When I took Manilla back to my apartment (w/o Morty), he started acting very melancholy (hiding in the closet, sleeping more than usual, not playing, etc). He also lost a little weight. Manilla needed his buddy, so I now have two cats. Happily, Manilla is back to his normal self, and has gained some weight, although he's still pretty thin. It also doesn't really help that Morty is a little fur ball and looks so much fatter in comparison.

[radfringe]

4. our 19 yr old cat

is also hyper-thyroid

she's been on meds for it since end of October and has now gained almost 2 pounds

hyper-thyroid is common among older cats -- get your buddy checked out

[Eurobabe]

5. As is HYPOthyroid, for those of us

who have fat cats that can't seem to lose weight, sleep alot and by that I mean are extra lethargic.

[legally blonde]

6. Is hyperthyroid

a condition exclusively for older cats? Manilla is only 3 . . .

[sleepyhead]

11. Highly unlikely to be hyperthyroid at that age.

Hyperthyroidism is rarely seen in cats under 8-9 years of age. Consider fecal analysis for parasites, dietary change (to rule out food allergy or inflammatory bowel disease), then a full workup to include feline leukemia and FIV testing. There is also the possibility that he is just a slender cat. If he is feeling fine otherwise and nothing turns up on the blood work, just make sure that he has enough of a good-quality food to eat and watch for any other signs of disease.

[legally blonde]

7. So if it isn't a hyperthyroid problem

What can I do to keep Morty away from Manilla's food bowl? Does anyone with multiple cats have the same problem?

[radfringe]

8. we have 4 cats

and with our 19yr old on special foods/meds -- she gets fed in the bathroom, with the door closed

dry food is available for "free feeding" round the clock -- but for the wet food we feed her in the bathroom

specifically to the thyroid problem -- it's more apt to show up in older cats than younger ones -- but it does happen to to the youngsters too

Manila may have some other problems -- best to get him checked out by a vet.

Years ago I had a cat that was mysteriously losing weight and a lot of "hacking" -- he was young (around 5) -- he had a humoungus hair ball that wouldn't pass -- and this "blocked" his stomach so he couldn't eat as much. He needed surgery -- and then was on hairball meds for the rest of his life...

best advise I can give you is -- get him checked out by a vet

[Rhiannon12866]

9. I absolutely agree with Lorien. My vet also tested my cat for

Hyperthyroidism, and I was actually hoping that she had this, since her heart was slightly enlarged, and this was the most treatable option. However, she tested negative, so he had me place drops of the supplement, liquid hawthorn extract, in her water, since this was a kitty I rescued from outside, skittish and tough to medicate. Over time, she returned to normal.:-)

If he was my cat, I'd consult my vet and have him given a thorough exam, and tests, if your vet recommends them, to determine what's going on with him. My vet often will prescribe certain foods, for different needs, and this might help Manilla. Feeding him more may not help, if the food that you're giving him isn't meeting his needs. Most of my guys have been on prescription foods, at one time or another, but I do know that it's tougher with cats, than dogs, since they are much more discerning eaters.:-(

Let us know how it goes. I know, from experience, that it's tough, if you have more than one pet, to feed them different diets, but it can be very important. My two dogs drive me crazy, since, as soon as I look away, each one is eating the other's food. And one is on a prescription diet:crazy:

[legally blonde]

10. well, I have an appointment

with the vet on Monday--I will keep you posted on Manilla. Thanks so much for your help! :hi: