? Maki, healthy, good weight, time to stop worrying

Patricia & Maki (GA)

Patricia & Maki (GA)

Member Since 2021
Hi,
Maki is a former FDMB patient. She had been doing really well as far as blood glucose. She is off insulin. But I just can't seem to get her to put on weight. She is the lightest she has been and is eating three cans of FF pate a day. Yet she begs for more. I have tried researching why. Her vet seems unconcerned. But it just doesn't seem normal to me. Any advice is appreciated.
Patricia
 
Have you had blood work done recently? In addition to thyroid, some GI conditions mean they can't absorb nutrition from food as well. I'd do a senior blood panel first (add thyroid if that panel doesn't already), and if nothing pops out there, run a GI panel. There is one by Texas AMU that is complete.

How many calories per day is she getting? How much does she weigh? Something higher fat like kitten food might help.
 
OK, thank you. I will ask for those tests specifically. She's at 6.9 pounds. She was at 11, but just dropping. Never been this low. She's on 3 cans of fancy feast a day, but I am thinking maybe I add some of her previous dry food.
 
Ditto what the others have suggested regarding bloodwork, thyroid, and GI panel.

What does the poop look like? Normal color/texture/frequency?

Does Maki go outside? Have you had fleas? Another thought is to check stool for parasites. Even strictly indoor cats can pick up a tapeworm if you’ve had fleas get in, or sometimes they get something if they eat a mouse, etc.

In the meantime, if Maki is hungry and feeding more doesn’t cause vomiting or diarrhea, then I’d certainly increase the food. Like Dr. Lisa once said (general rule of thumb)… if too skinny feed more, if too heavy feed less.
 
Thank you, all. Still learning. I thought once she was OTJ that the diabetes was gone. Thanks for teaching me that's its always there. No dry food! I will increase her wet food. She enjoys minnows so I will order her some more of those also. I have a call into the vet for an appointment. Living in the country is beautiful but vet care and expediency are the sacrifice.

MAKI never goes out. She is 100% indoor kitty. I will have her checked for parasites though. Her poop is good. Same color, consistency, amount. She pees baseballs. She drinks a lot so, but always did from the time I got her. So litter box use is all good and she never misses. She is a sweet girl. Very cuddly lately as I have been packing up for my surgery. Just 19 days away. I am nervous and I wonder if she senses that. I will be gone 2+ months. It will be very tough being away from her that long.
 
Any vet that isn’t concerned over that significant kind of weight loss isn’t a good vet and is shirking their responsibility. You will have to advocate strongly for your cat if he/she is the only vet available. You’ve already gotten the suggestions that I would have made so I won’t repeat them. I would start with the bloodwork. Good luck. Who is taking care of Maki while you are gone? Best wishes for your recovery!
 
The vets here are geared toward livestock. So I will read up and be Maki's best advocate. Thanks for all the encouragement.

It worries me, obviously, having to leave her with this going on. So I will try my best to get as much handled before I leave as possible. My husband and his mom will be taking care of her. She has recently become more used to my Mother- in- law when my husband is away. So MIL will be feeding her and watching her litter box for any changes.

I will update you on the progress the next two weeks. Thanks for all the advice. May all your kitties be happy and healthy. :bighug:
 
Ok team, Here's the update and diagnosis:

Maki's vet said her blood work all looked great and urinanalysis too. Her weight as he measured it was 9.4 pounds.

So diagnosis is 'overattentive pet parent' with an inaccurate scale!!!!!!!! So about the 9 pounds I thought I had lost, well that's only 5 now.
And Maki is a healthy, active 12 y.o. kitty. SORRY to have bothered you all. Apparently I need a new scale and she has a full, clean bill of health.
As far as her appetite, the vet said to keep feeding her what she is eating since she acts hungry but not to go over 3 little cans a day.

I am embarrassed that I didn't consider using another scale before bothering y'all.:banghead:
 
Are you saying your kitty lost 5 lbs? This is confusing. Unless your cat was really obese that would still be a cause for concern. Do you have copies of the bloodwork results that you can share? Maki weighs 9.6 and was how much before? If there has been weight loss... if she looks too thin to you... I would feed her however much she will eat! It's NO BOTHER at all!

Good luck with your surgery.
 
Ok, my bad for not being clear.

Previously Maki was 8-10 pounds typically. When I weighed her a couple weeks ago she was 6.7 pounds and I got concerned. During the same timing I was trying to lose weight for my surgery and had lost 9 pounds. All according to my bathroom scale. So I was happy about my weight loss and concerned about hers. Well, turns out neither of those were accurate. Thus, causing my 'overattentive pet parent' worrying. Maki has a narrow waist to begin with. Me, not so much. LOL.

When we went to the vet this week and Maki weighed 9.6 pounds. NOT 6.7 pounds. The vet also let me step on their scale and sure enough I was not 9 pounds lighter, only 5 pounds. SO all the issues and worry stems back to an inaccurate home scale. Maki is a healthy weight, even toward the top of her range and eating a good amount according to the vet.

SO the vet told me to toss the old scale at home, and stop worrying. Maki is good to go until her next yearly appointment. I am relieved. No health issues and I can go to surgery without worrying that she is ill. I think I am just nervous for this surgery or I would have noticed the scale issue or at least checked myself on another scale, but I wasn't thinking straight.
 
Patricia & Maki said:
Ok, my bad for not being clear.

Previously Maki was 8-10 pounds typically. When I weighed her a couple weeks ago she was 6.7 pounds and I got concerned. During the same timing I was trying to lose weight for my surgery and had lost 9 pounds. All according to my bathroom scale. So I was happy about my weight loss and concerned about hers. Well, turns out neither of those were accurate. Thus, causing my 'overattentive pet parent' worrying. Maki has a narrow waist to begin with. Me, not so much. LOL.

When we went to the vet this week and Maki weighed 9.6 pounds. NOT 6.7 pounds. The vet also let me step on their scale and sure enough I was not 9 pounds lighter, only 5 pounds. SO all the issues and worry stems back to an inaccurate home scale. Maki is a healthy weight, even toward the top of her range and eating a good amount according to the vet.

SO the vet told me to toss the old scale at home, and stop worrying. Maki is good to go until her next yearly appointment. I am relieved. No health issues and I can go to surgery without worrying that she is ill. I think I am just nervous for this surgery or I would have noticed the scale issue or at least checked myself on another scale, but I wasn't thinking straight.
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Well, All’s well that ends well! I am very happy about Maki. I pray your surgery is very successful and that you heal swiftly!
 
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