My cat is getting so skinny.

[Anonymous]

I am taking him to the vet on Saturday, but thought I'd post here too.

He is 11 and always has been a slim guy, but I just feel like he looks like he is getting skinnier and skinnier. All our cats (3 total) eat wet food only and he *does* eat, I have seen him eating. He *has* had a lot of teeth removed b/c he had what's called feline absorbtive lesions, where it's genetic, you cannot do much about it, but the roots of the teeth start disintegrating and would be reabsorbed if you do not have them pulled. So, maybe he eats more slowly and less b/c of this. But still, I feel like he is just furry skin over bones these days. Otherwise, no other things out of the norm as far as I can tell. Same sleeping, eating, eliminating habits. Well, maybe he is using the litter box more than he used to (?). Still active and loving, etc etc etc. Help? What could this weight loss mean in an 11 yo cat?

[Anonymous]

Every time I've had an older cat lose weight and start trying to use the litter box all the time its been kidney disease/renal failure. I'm sorry.

[Anonymous]

We've dealt with that with two cats.

With the first, he died within a few months of liver cancer.

With the second, we found out that she's hyperthyroid, so she gets thyroid pills now. But she hasn't regained weight fast enough, so we did bloodwork for gastrointestinal issues, which revealed small intestinal disease. That could be a long lasting chronic thing, or it could be lymphoma. The only way to tell is a biopsy. She's on prednisone now too which has helped with the weight loss, and time will tell.

So: Thyroid, inflammatory bowel, lymphoma or other cancer, diabetes, kidney issues... Prepare for your vet to do bloodwork and possibly an x-ray to look for any signs of tumors.

Good luck. This stuff isn't fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every time I've had an older cat lose weight and start trying to use the litter box all the time its been kidney disease/renal failure. I'm sorry.

This was my experience as well, my cat started losing weight and it turned out to be her kidneys. Unfortunately, it's very common in cats.

[Anonymous]

My guess, as a 40-yr cat owner, is that there is either a thyroid or a kidney problem that has developed. Esp. because you said he IS eating.

The thyroid issues are easiest to treat (with just meds). Kidney diseases are harder to treat, but you can treat them with diet, meds, sometimes fluids. (basically, the filtration ability of old cat kidneys plummets, and the cat is constantly dehydrated as a result, so it needs IV fluids put back. You can do this at home if you learn how).

It could also be cancer, causing but that is much more rare. You would also know if it was other rare things, like end stage bowel disease, bc the poop would be so obviously different.

Again, my money is on advanced renal disease. Given the age. Do you live in Washington? my experience is that **cat-dedicated** clinics (vets) do the very best with this common problem. They'll know the best meds combo and the most current protocol.

You can keep a cat going for years without pain, seriously. Which is perfectly humane if his brain is happy.

[Anonymous]

Mine had a thyroid disease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every time I've had an older cat lose weight and start trying to use the litter box all the time its been kidney disease/renal failure. I'm sorry.

This was my experience as well, my cat started losing weight and it turned out to be her kidneys. Unfortunately, it's very common in cats.

Same here. We had to put our boy to sleep last year because of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine had a thyroid disease.

+1

[Anonymous]

It could also be diabetes. My cat that for years and we treated him with insulin shots.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, all. Gosh, now I am getting terrified and so sad an anxiety-ridden to go to the vet's with him on Saturday. But ok, I can do this. Thanks for the heads-ups. I will post back afterwards.

To the OP who asked if we are in DC, yes, we are (NoVA) and thankfully our vet, Dr. Fiona McClure at Northside Veterinary Clinic in Arlington, really has a lot of experience with feline issues and in fact used to be a specialist at South Paws. But gulp, ok, I'm still really scared of what we are going to find out on SAturday. But I can do this for him.

He is such a good cat and a good boy. He sleeps between my legs every night and also will come up and tap, tap, tap me if he needs attention - haha - like, 'Hi, Mom, remember me? I am here." And even though he didn't love it when we introduced the two kids into our household, I taught them to respect him and stay away from him and give him his space (until now he has warmed up to my older daughter now that she is older [8] and moves more slowly and predictably around him) and everyone co-exists in a spirit of mutual respect.

Gulp, I love this little kitty so much!

Ok, thanks again.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, OP.

And you probably won't get a final answer right away, which is part of the hard part. You'll be waiting for blood test results in all likelihood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry, OP.

And you probably won't get a final answer right away, which is part of the hard part. You'll be waiting for blood test results in all likelihood.

Ok. Thanks for preparing me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all. Gosh, now I am getting terrified and so sad an anxiety-ridden to go to the vet's with him on Saturday. But ok, I can do this. Thanks for the heads-ups. I will post back afterwards.

To the OP who asked if we are in DC, yes, we are (NoVA) and thankfully our vet, Dr. Fiona McClure at Northside Veterinary Clinic in Arlington, really has a lot of experience with feline issues and in fact used to be a specialist at South Paws. But gulp, ok, I'm still really scared of what we are going to find out on SAturday. But I can do this for him.

He is such a good cat and a good boy. He sleeps between my legs every night and also will come up and tap, tap, tap me if he needs attention - haha - like, 'Hi, Mom, remember me? I am here." And even though he didn't love it when we introduced the two kids into our household, I taught them to respect him and stay away from him and give him his space (until now he has warmed up to my older daughter now that she is older [8] and moves more slowly and predictably around him) and everyone co-exists in a spirit of mutual respect.

Gulp, I love this little kitty so much!

Ok, thanks again.

OP, I am one of the PPs. I have had a cat with diabetes and currently have a cat with thyroid disease. Both of them did/are doing well on medication. So, hopefully it is one of those issues. Good luck!!

[Anonymous]

I had one cat that got skinny and it was renal failure. I have another that has always been slim and about every three to four years, he loses several pounds and I think he's about to die. I've had every test run on him (blood work, ultrasounds, ECG) but they don't come up with anything. I tried switching up the food to no avail. Then I got a new kitten and he started eating the kitten food. He regained his weight and is healthy once again. Now i mix kitten food in with his adult food and he is maintaining a healthy weight. Don't give up hope yet!

[Anonymous]

Oh -- if you can, take a poop sample with you to the vet appointment. They'll check it for parasites, worms, etc. Sometimes it is just that easy. Could be a tapeworm.