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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

1583.0. "So skinny!" by MTADMS::ALANDRY () Mon Jul 25 1988 13:15

    Hi there!
    
    I have a recent concern about my 2 kitties.  They are very skinny.
    They don't have worms and they act perfectly healthy (ie purring,
    cleaning themselves all the time, eat very well, they vomit
    furballs every other week or so).  But they are very thin.  The
    vet says there is nothing wrong with them, but every other cat
    I see always looks bigger than mine.  Zildjian is 4 years old,
    the runt of the litter, so that's why I feel she is thin.  But
    Spunky (3 years old) has husky legs and paws, but her belly
    sinks in!  And she is our garbage cat!  Will eat anything
    that isn't tied down!
    
    Both cats are female, and I love them both!  What do you think?
    
    Thanks in advance,
    
    Anna/Zildjian/Spunky
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
1583.1as long as they are healthy, butEDUC8::TRACHMANMon Jul 25 1988 13:253
    What type of food are they eating?  How much do they weigh?
    
    E.T.
1583.2a little more weightBRUTUS::SOBEKMon Jul 25 1988 13:298
    Tapeworms don't always show up under the microcsope when running
    a fecal test ....though you can ususally see what looks like "cooked
    rice" in the anal area.
    
    ...I recently added Iams dry cat food to the diet of my 16 and 18
    yr. old Siamese, and although they had looked healthy, they took
    on an added bloom and a little more weight. ...It looks good on
    them...
1583.3Any more info?MTADMS::ALANDRYMon Jul 25 1988 14:1521
    I know all about tapeworms.  Zildjian had had one for about 1 year.
    I didn't know it until it came out on her fecus one day.  I asked
    the vet "how do you know when they have one?"  He said they can
    only get them from fleas, and Zildjian's fleas have been long gone.
    Spunks was not around then, so I know she's alright.
    
    They will only eat Purina cat food mixed with tunafish.  I know
    this sounds unhealthy, and it is against most feliners, but the
    vet says as long as they eat their hard food (friskies) and drink
    alot of water, and as long as they have regular/good-looking bowel
    movements, they are ok.
    
    I have considered changing their food, but they alwasy get diahreah
    (SP?).  I think I will try changing to IAMS and see what happens.
    
    Any more comments/info?
    
    Thanks again.
    
    Anna/Zildjian/Spunky
    
1583.4Mix the Iams with the FriskiesFSHQOA::RWAXMANMon Jul 25 1988 14:214
    Most of the cats I know love the taste of Iams, but mine are a bit
    stupid.  They won't eat it straight; I have to mix it in with their
    Crave.  Result:  A lot of Iams, a little Crave, and two fat kitties!
    
1583.5CIRCUS::KOLLINGKaren, Sweetie, & Holly; in Calif.Mon Jul 25 1988 15:113
    You might try introducing the new food a tiny bit at a time, and
    increase the amount each day.
    
1583.6I don't worryWITNES::MACONEMon Jul 25 1988 15:355
    My Oscar is a skinny cat.   But, since he eats 4 square meals a
    day and he is healthy, I don't worry about it.  I used to add vitamin
    supplements to his food since I was worried about him being so small,
    but my vet reassured me that he's just fine.  I guess he just has
    one of those metabolisms that most of us would kill for!
1583.7Another vote for IamsMYVAX::LUBYlove them furry terroristsTue Jul 26 1988 10:0023
    
    
    
    	I'm feeding my two cats Iams and it is 21% fat (32% protein)
    as compared to almost all other expensive cat foods which are
    16% fat (32% protein).  Grocery store food is about 16% fat too
    but high in Ash Content.  I initially rebelled against feeding
    cats something that was 21% fat because I kept thinking that
    if fat is bad for people, how could it be good for cats.  But then
    I thought about it and realized that I've never heard of cats
    with high blood pressure, cholestorol problems, or heart attacts.
    So I stuck with Iams.
    
    	One of my two cats is quite slim even though he is eating Iams.
    The other has a belly that almost touches the floor.  But I think
    that this pouch is characteristic of cats with Maine Coon in them
    (anybody want to correct me on this).
    
    	My mother has been feeding Cinamon Iams and he looks and acts
    much healthier than the previous year.  You would never know he
    was 12 years old!!!
    
    	Karen