Anorexic cat?

[RolliePollie]

I think my cat has an eating disorder. She is extremely finicky and very skinny. She hates meat, despises fish, and runs away from canned cat food. The ironic thing is that my other cat will eat anything (even broccoli and orange juice) and she's super fat. Anyway, back to the skinny cat...unfortunately she also suffers with hairballs, but I bought a tube of Laxatone and she loved it! I think it actually helped her appetite because she gained half a pound. Now here is the weird thing...we went through one tube and I bought another. Now she won't touch it. Does anyone else have a cat this finicky?

So now I have to smear the Laxatone on her paw and then she looks at me like this:

[lph]

Nice cat :) Have you checked her for worms? Cats are usually pretty sensible creatures that eat whatever or whenever they need to.

[alpinerabbit]

Hyperthyroid? I saw a methusalemic cat at a friend's who is soooo skinny, she says he is hyperthyroid.

[CATWOMAN]

My cats always seem to eat too much, and since they are indoor cats the weight just keeps adding up, at least on my orange male.

I feed mine Iams Indoor Weight and Hairball Control. If your cat would eat it it might help with the hairball problem. A weight control food would be better than nothing. Sophie rarely gets a hairball, even though she is obsessed with grooming herself AND Eddie too:)

[RolliePollie]

Iams hairball formula is a great idea...currently I'm mixing Iams kitten food in with their regular CostCo food to try and get her weight up a bit. And she's eating it so I guess she doesn't hate the taste of Iams. Of course, the kitten food is heaven for my other cat...she's just getting fatter!

It's just really funny to have one cat who is basically a living garbage disposal and another cat who won't eat anything. She does like popcorn of all things. Maybe I'll have to start making that for her every day!

[Tuckervill]

Maybe it's a territory thing? My cats won't eat out of the same bowl. They won't share the same sunny spot, and get in nasty fights over territory (then sometimes they're all lovey-dovey curled up around each other on the bed). Maybe you can separate the fat cat and let the skinny one eat first.

And I'd definitely have it dewormed.

Karen

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Have your vet check the cat for kidney disease. Non-eating is the first obvious sign. Dehydration follows, even though they typically drink excessively in early kidney failure stage.

[mimitabby]

yeah, that's what i was thinking too. how old is she?

[emily_in_nc]

I don't think animals can have eating disorders! They are psychological in origin and unique to our freakish human culture. Definitely have your cat checked for hyperthyroidism, kidney/liver function, etc. Something is going on...

Good luck -- keep us posted.

Emily

[makbike]

I would have to agree with the others regarding a visit to the vet. Bloodwork and even an urinalysis is probably a good idea. Kidney disease, IBD, hyperthyroidism, dental disease, etc all come to mind. Check her water consumption, watch her litter box happens (frequency and volume), food consumption. If she does have some medical issue it is best to catch it early then to allow it to progress untreated. If the vet checks her out and all is normal then I would suggest visiting your local pet store and asking for sample bags of the foods they carry.

[RolliePollie]

I'm kind of going back and forth on the vet thing. Poor thing was very sick about 8 weeks ago, throwing up bile and very lethargic, and I took her to the vet and they couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. We decided maybe it was just a humongous hair ball and they gave her fluids under the skin and told me to give her as much Laxatone as she'd take. He recommended blood work, but I took her home and within 48 hours, she bounced back to her old self.

Ever since then we've been doing the Laxatone, which she loved up til the second tube. She's gained about half a pound, which is actually kind of a big percentage gain because she only weighs 6.5 pounds. She very energetic and alert and looks/acts healthy (except for the skinny part). So we haven't been back to the vet. She's only 9years old, which the vet says is early for kidney problems, but he was suspicious. I'm not noticing any difference in water consumption or the litter box. For now, I just want to wait and see. She's always been thin...her name is Quinn and we call her Thin Miss Quinn.

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I don't have any kids so my cats are like my children. I actually think having pets should be required for anyone who is going to become a parent!

[jesvetmed]

Rollie: How old is your kitty?
As a vet, I have to agree with the need for bloodwork and urinalysis. She could possibly have a little kidney problem going on -- it often can cause finicky eating as a first clinical sign. Hyperthyroid often starts as "overeating, yet losing weight"... later it can lead to not eating as well, but not at first.

Either way, with the history of vomiting, and weight loss, I'd highly recommend bloodwork. At least you will have a basis on which to rule out other problems, and concentrate on whatever else may be going on. And an x-ray can SOMETIMES be very useful, and other times not so much. Unfortunately, you don't know if they help until you've taken a look at them. So keep this open if no other answers show up.

And obviously, if she is outside / hunter, have her stools checked for worms, and consider routine deworming for roundworms and tapeworms just to cover your bases.

I hope you come up with some answers soon and that she is feeling better. She is a sweet looking girl!
Jes

[makbike]

RP, I've had cats who have developed early kidney disease at a young age. Both Scooter and Saw were diagnosed at age nine. If you catch kidney disease early there are a lot of things you can do for your buddy. If you let it advance treatment becomes more difficult.

[bmccasland]

Go for the blood work. I have one kitty with hyperthyroid, one with diabeties, and one young and overweight (Bonnie, Herald, and Calypso respectively). Three cats, three different diets. I get my exercise keeping Herald (diabetic cat) from eating out of Bonnie's bowl.

I'll have to try Iams for Bonnie. She doesn't seem to like Science Diet anymore, but tries to steal Herald's SD prescription food all the time. I try to tell her that she can have the high calorie food, doesn't need low fat!

Hope your kitty gets to feeling better.

[Possegal]

i second, or third or fourth - the idea of going to the vet. the not eating thing can be any number of medical issues. one of my cats, it was dental in nature. the one i have now, i figured the same thing, and turns out, he has cancer. we're at 5 months after that appt and he's still here, but the clock is ticking loudly on him.

i used to joke that the other one was bulimic, as she'd eat like a pig, then vomit. in hindsight, some of it was furball related, but when it got more frequent, it was actually the start of CRF, which i then treated with her for another 6 yrs until i had to put her down.

good luck, your kitty is quite beautiful!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

We had four cats- 5 years ago cat #1 got kidney failure and almost died (she was 5). She miraculously recovered after two years of home water injections. Then cat #2 got kidney failure 3 years ago (she was 7)- despite our best efforts, she died.
Then 2 years ago cat #3 got kidney failure (she was 5). We treated her and at that point I caught on to the fact that there were toxic ingredients in most commercial cat food....the whole rat poison/Chinese gluten thing hit the news.
Ironically, one of the recalled canned foods was a high priced canned vet food for cats with kidney problems. :mad:
None of the foods I had been feeding our cats were on the recall list- yet I'm convinced they all had bad things in them.

Since then, for the past two years I feed only Newman's organic pellets and a mix of my own homemade stuff....and our 3 kitties have been thriving ever since.
Kidney failure is not just an old cat issue- there are bad things in lots of commercial pet food, and I bet there still is bad stuff in it.

[ilima]

If this is recent, please don't wait to get your cat checked out by a vet. Cats can deteriorate very quickly if they stop eating. Or the lack of eating could indicate an underlying problem, such as a failing liver.

[bmccasland]

Since then, for the past two years I feed only Newman's organic pellets and a mix of my own homemade stuff....and our 3 kitties have been thriving ever since.
Kidney failure is not just an old cat issue- there are bad things in lots of commercial pet food, and I bet there still is bad stuff in it.

small hijack... BleeckerSt ---- recipe???
I would absolutely LOVE to be able to feed my three cats the same diet. Knowing cats are obligate carnivores, I admit I like the ease of food-in-a-bag, but I am concerned about what's actually in the bag.

[BBsw]

We had four cats- 5 years ago cat #1 got kidney failure and almost died (she was 5). She miraculously recovered after two years of home water injections. Then cat #2 got kidney failure 3 years ago (she was 7)- despite our best efforts, she died.
Then 2 years ago cat #3 got kidney failure (she was 5). We treated her and at that point I caught on to the fact that there were toxic ingredients in most commercial cat food....the whole rat poison/Chinese gluten thing hit the news.
Ironically, one of the recalled canned foods was a high priced canned vet food for cats with kidney problems. :mad:
None of the foods I had been feeding our cats were on the recall list- yet I'm convinced they all had bad things in them.

Since then, for the past two years I feed only Newman's organic pellets and a mix of my own homemade stuff....and our 3 kitties have been thriving ever since.
Kidney failure is not just an old cat issue- there are bad things in lots of commercial pet food, and I bet there still is bad stuff in it.

Tainted pet food continues to be a problem. There is all kinds of crap in pet food. Have you tried the higher end pet foods, like California Natural or Natures Variety? Nature's Variety is a close to raw as you can get with a bagged food. Also remember to mix in the new food with the old gradually. Your kitty is very, very finicky! Switching food too quickly can make finickiness worse.

Have you found the discussion forums at Itchmo!.com? Itchmo started at the beginning of the pet food crisis last year. The front page is no longer being updated but the forums are still very active. Many members lost pets from renal failure caused by tainted pet food. The members over there are warm and friendly and will be more than happy to answer any of your questions about food. You will get some who say a fur-parent should only a certain diet (the raw vs. homecooked vs. brand kibble/canned debate) but most of us think as long as your feeding them good stuff you will do fine.

I started homecooking for my dog. The cats are a different story. Iams kibble and Pinnacle moist only, please. UGH! Good thing they are cute or I would kick them to the curb! Yeah right!

[mimitabby]

Feeding my own 50% raw and 50% dry rice and some animal from a local pet food company. Since i put my cats on the raw food (which they used to pick at) the fat ones lost weight and now ALL their fur just shines..
for the first time in 30 years I don't have a cat bordering on obesity.
recipe on request.

[wackyjacky1]

I have permanent Laxatone stains on my curtains and couch -- when I put it on Hobie's paw, he would freak out and go zooming all over the house, smearing it everywhere he went. Turns out he loves the taste, he just hated having it on his paw (which is how they recommend giving it). Now I just squeeze it into a spoon and he licks it clean. If only I'd tried that first! :rolleyes:

RolliePollie, it kinda sounds like a kidney thing with your kitty, especially since you say she seemed better after she received IV fluids. Years ago I had a cat that began having kidney failure. She wouldn't eat or drink, but after a trip to the vet and receiving IV fluids, she would be her old self for a week or so, then the decline would begin again. I know that a lot of people learn to administer the fluids themselves so no weekly trip to the vet is required. I had a friend who gave her cat IV fluids at home, and that cat lived to a fairly ripe old age despite the kidney problems.

Regarding what to feed your kitties, I highly recommend this article: Feeding Your Cat (http://catinfo.org/)

It really opened my eyes about what cats need in their diet. I miss the convenience of dry food, but the trade-off is a much healthier animal.

Good luck with your kitty.

[bmccasland]

Well, I'm now on a mission. Bonnie cat (hyperthyroid) is not looking good, seems to continue to loose weight, and is definitely more cranky. I'm going to try her (+ the other 2 cats) on Wellness, and found where I can get some on the way home. She's 14, but I'm ready to give up yet.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

small hijack... BleeckerSt ---- recipe???

welll like I said my 3 cats get 'mostly' Paul Newmans organic dry cat food.
Howver the 19 yr old one cannot chew the pellets, so she's mostly on my 'recipe' which the other 2 get once a day for a treat:
I make a huge bowl mixed of:
3 large cans human-grade jack mackerel fish w/liquid
a 4-pack of chunk style white tuna packed in water
6 small cans of Wellness canned cat food (mostly natural, no glutens)

I just mash it all up and add water to make it like a stew, then ladle it into pint sized freezer tubs and use up one while another is defrosting. Old kitty gets a cat vitamin crumbled in the fish stew as well.
All cats are thriving for the past year. Fat one is now ideal weight, and ancient emaciated one is glossy-furred and slightly less thin now. I also notice that all 3 cats are about 50% more demonstratively affectionate since the 'toxic' food has been eliminated. It's quite a change, and it's obvious that they feel wonderful now. I didn't realize that they didn't feel well, it was subtle.