1/2 Muffin am +4 65 Still losing weight

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Anne&Muffin (GA)

Anne&Muffin (GA)

Member Since 2010
Last post: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=32861

Happy Belated New Year to everyone! Hope 2011 is going great for you all so far.

I'm posting today mainly to get some feedback on Muffin. I'm just a little concerned about her continued weight loss. I look at her and I've just never seen her this thin...at least not since she was a little girl. She weighed in yesterday at 10 lbs 11 oz, which is still a decent weight, I can't feel ribs, can't even really feel her hip bones, but ...I don't know what to call it...her sides right in front of her hind legs are kinda sunken in...so you can clearly see her back "knees" i guess.

She is eating ok, not quite as much as usual, still playing, but a little less often than recently, still very purry and affectionate. In other words, she doesn't act sick and her BG is great, but she's got the fur not laying down quite right and the weight loss. It may be that this is just what a "normal weight" cat is supposed to look like, and all my cats have been overweight...

191.jpg


This is what I mean by her fur not laying right.

I'm considering making an appt at the vet for her this week, but don't want to take her in just for being the right weight.. :lol: Any thoughts?
 
Happy New Year, Anne & Muffin party_cat
When you say "continued weight loss" how much did she weigh? Need to know how much she is losing.. I suspect now that her Diabetes is regulated & she is a normal weight she is fine. How is her appetite, is she eating? I would most definitely keep any eye on it.. but would be curious to know how much she has lost. Sometimes cats fur does stick up like that.
 
Hi Anne it never hurts to get them checked out its what I would do if this were Do Lou just to make sure everything is OK (((HUGS)))) hope Muffin is OK
 
An awful lot of us take the appearance of an overweight cat as the norm. From what I've read you are supposed to be able to see the "waist" and be able to feel ribs when you press. Here is a link to a visual chart http://www.placervillevet.com/feline body condition.htm

I agree w/ Nicole, how much weight has she lost and over how long a period? If you are holding her on a human scale and subtracting your weight, it isn't really accurate. My vet has a scale in the waiting room. Would your's just let you go in to weigh Muffin there to get a better reading?

Here's Dr. Lisa's site on evaluating a cat's weight and safe weight loss rate. http://catinfo.org/?link=felineobesity#Is_Your_Cat_Overweight

This is also from her site:
Safe Rate of Weight Loss

Please understand that your overweight cat took months to get into his current condition and that it will take months to safely lose the weight. This is not a race but it is critical for you to stay the course and not give up.

A safe rate of weight loss is 1 - 2% of their current body weight per week.

For example, if your cat weighs 20 pounds, he can safely lose up to ~6 ounces per week. (20 pounds X16 ounces/pound = 320 ounces. 2% of 320 = ~ 6 ounces.)

1% would be 3 ounces per week - or 3/4 pound/month.

As your cat loses weight, the amount of weight that he should lose each week will decrease.

For example, if your cat is down to 16 pounds, his weight loss should slow to ~2.5 -5 ounces each week which represents 1-2% of 16 pounds.
Click to expand...
 
I'm seeing some of that on my 11 yo civvie now that everyone is low carb; she's getting an obvious waist. She is overweight and I'm monitoring in case the weight loss isn't related to the food change.

Maybe check the FF for one w/ a smidge more calories? Often kitten foods will have more fat and thus more calories.
 
When was the last time she had her annual visit/blood panel? If you have a gut feeling something is not right, I would make an appt. It's also a good idea to take her in to get weighed if you decide to not make an appt. Her numbers are nice,
 
How much is she losing on a weekly basis? I would weigh her daily and get a trend for her daily calorie needs. If she is still losing you need to get more food into her.

Have you ever tried assist feeding? Its syringe feeding. It is very easy to do once you and your cat get over the initial learning curve. It will give you peace of mind to maintain her weight for a few weeks. The thing is when cats lose weight their livers can become blocked with fat. So you want to give her liver a rest too so she doesn't get feline hepatic lipidosis. My cat got that from weight loss (switch to low calorie food) and almost died. So I know how serious weight loss can affect cats.

There are causes for weight loss (unregulated diabetes, FHL, hyperthyroid, CRF). There are also causes of inappetance like stomach acid, bad teeth etc.
 
If you are concerned, why not have Muffin checked out by your vet? They will have a record of her weight and the vet can help you to evaluate whether Muffin is at a good weight or if she's lost too much since she was last seen. I generally think if you're worried, why not get the information that will allay your concerns.
 
Thanks for the responses everyone. I weigh her on a baby scale I bought specifically for the cats. At the vet over the years, she has consistantly weighed 12 lbs or slightly over. The weight loss has been slow, and so could very well be attributed to the switch to low carb canned food from the kibble she had eaten her whole life. Also, she plays more now and so add more exercise into the equation and it could very well just be a normal and healthy weight loss. Here are her weights I've taken since I got the baby scale:

10/6: 12.3
10/7: First day eating canned food
10/11: 11.14 1/2
10/14: 12.1
10/21: 11.15 1/2
11/1: 11.9 1/2
11/10: 11.12 1/2
11/29: 11.8
12/2: 11.8
12/22: 11.2
1/1: 10.11

I've had a friend who has a "normal weight" cat look at her and he thinks she looks fine. So I'm starting to think I'm just not used to seeing a cat that isn't overweight. Muffin's mother, Sam is a tiny little thing and only weighs 8.5 lbs, so I think I'll just keep an eye on it for now.

Ann (& Tess): thank you for that info...I think she's ok according to the chart. She has a definite waist now, which is new for her :lol: On the down side, I think Shnookie is probably a 10...VERY grossly obese. I need to get serious with him!

Ann (& Maggie): Her last bloodwork was just in September, when she was getting over her p'titis.

Karrie: Weighing daily is a good idea...I'll do that. We are very familiar with syringe feeding, as that's how Muffin was introduced to canned food and I do still do that if I don't feel she's eating enough on her own. The last several days she's not eating as much as normal, but she's eating enough where I don't feel I need to assist her.

Sienne: I'm only a tiny bit concerned at this point, but yes, I always say peace of mind is well worth a vet bill, so I may go ahead and take her in if only for another opinion.
 
Anne: Happy New Year my friend. I'm sorry that you have this worry on your plate now. I am very happy that Muffin's BG is still looking so great. My civvie, Teddi, went frm a kinda chubby 9 lbs to 6 lb over about 1-1/2 years (starting at about age 11) when we quit feeding dry food. I kept thinking something HAD to be wrong and kept having bloodwork done over and over. She had a little elevated T4 level but when looking at all of the thyroid levels together, she wasn't hyper-T. She stabilized at 6 lbs and has been thre now fo well over a year and while I think she looks a little thin, the vets all think she is the perfect weight; I weigh her often and we do bloodwk every 3 months as last year her renal values started creeping up. They are back down again now (creat 2.2) altho her BUN is a little elevated (prob due to high protein diet). I agree that you should weigh her often and keep track of it just as you have been doing. If she loses more, I would definitely get more bloodwork done as it is just a snapshot in time and Sept is 3 months ago; a new panel will give you peace of mind. Hugs to you and Muffin and we wish you the healthiest, happiest 2011.
 
MUFFINS!!!! HI!!! IS DE B!!! U SLIMMIN' DOWN?? U SLIMMIN' DOWN TOO MUCH??? HOW DA FALLS, GURL FREN??? I GOTS A MOUSIE...U WANNA PLAY WIT HIM???
LUBS U BERRA MUCH!!!
Binks


Hi, Anne! it's so good to see a muffin condo..even if generated by concern. If i may (and you know i'm not one of the wise ones)...the weight issue doesnt catch my attention nearly as much as the fur issue...i know exactly what you mean by "just doesnt lay right....and i've always seen that as a sign that something may not be quite kosher. Hate to be the "doubting Thomasina"...but if i recall correctly the last time she had bad hair days, didn't she have an infection?

ON THE POSITIVE SIDE...good to hear from you! HAPPY & HEALTHY NEW YEAR!!
celi
 
Ann If you feel something is not right-go with your gut feeling>
I took Copper to the vet this summer because he looked very skinny to me & the vet said that as cats age they do lose some weight-He weighs about 10 lbs now & vet said he is nice & lean! I started to feed him a little steak & some turkey, gave him some mini meals, and he came up a few ounces, which made me feel better--
I felt his ribs right under the skin, which upset me because he was always quite thick..But he is just fine--Go anyway!--I'm taking Copper also this week,just to be checked, then Moonie's turn-
Hope everything will be just fine--Big comforting Hugs to you!!
 
Celi, you have a great memory! Yes, last time she had bad hair days, she had a UTI and p'titis...and now that I think about it, it did take 3 days before her numbers went up. So I'll probably make her an appt for thursday, and test her and weigh her daily until then. If her numbers go up I can move the appt earlier, I'm sure.

Roni - funny that you say Copper gaining a few ounces made you feel better....I was fine with Muffin being 11 lbs, but now that she's down to 10 lbs 11 oz, I'm a little worried. I can feel her ribs right under the skin too...and if she lays down I can feel her hip bones, but not really when she's standing. So I think I'll take your advice and just "go anyway!"
 
Hi, Anne,

Just passing through quickly today (wow, the new year has started with a work load!), but just wanted to send good thoughts. Kitty also lost some weight, and it freaked me out. he was due for a vet visit, so I ran the thyroid tests, just to be sure he wasn't getting hyperthyroid.

Will look for your updates. Meanwhile, sending good weight vines to Muffin!
 
Thanks Kathy. I made an appt at the vet for Thursday morning...that way I can watch her for a few more days first to see if the bad hair days are indicative of something else going on. I'd hate to have to take her back in a few days if bg starts going up. Weight today was 10 lbs 13.5 oz so up a little from yesterday and that was before breffis. BG a couple hours after breffis was 82, so still looking good there.
 
MUFFIN_GURL! we "wishin & hopin & thinkin & prayin" fur good vetty bisit fur u!

coming to Frip's pardy 2day?? can't wait to sees u!!

binks
 
Hi Anne and Muffin - nice to hear from you guys. I'm less concerned about the weight loss than I am the fur thing. I think the vet appt was a smart move and if you decide between now and then that you are worrying about nothing, it is easy enough to reschedule it. Here is a chart Larry sent me when I was worried about skinny male civvies on the LC diet - it was very beneficial and is a variation of the one that Ann sent you. I think I'm conditioned to look at chubby cats and not think anything about it and I have a little dog that looks absolutely scrawny to me and the vet thinks she is the perfect size/weight.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Img ... 062148.jpg

It is a surprise, isn't it, to finally start to see a cat's waist. I honestly was not familiar with the concept that a cat has a waist. :lol:
 
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