in article , Cathy Friedmann at
wrote on 5/7/04 7:15 PM:

"dgk" wrote in message
...
Jackie has arrived! I took her home from the pet store on approval. If
it works out then I have to pay them the adoption fee and collect the
papers.

I really don't need a third cat. Espy and Nipsy are enough. But I saw
her sitting in the cage last week and just shook my head, knowing that
disaster was now impending. Today I brought her home and she is in the
Cat Introduction Room where all my cats have started their existence
with me.

This one was a bit different though. No hiding under the bed for two
days like the others. She came out of the carrier and marched around
the room investigating everything. Rubbing me, back to investigating.
Espy and Nipsy are outside the door sniffing like mad.

Well, here's the problem, and the reason I took her. She is around 12
years old or so (maybe, who really knows?). She weighs perhaps three
pounds or four. All skin and bones, and not a lot of those. I can feel
every one. Fur is not healthy looking but no gaping holes. Frankly, I
hoped to make her last year or so a comfortable one, hopefully not too
expensive for me.

I just fed her. She eats like a horse. Every last bit of the wet food
and some of the dry. Like she hasn't been fed in a week. But she has
been fed. The folks at the store told me that she eats like a horse.
Now verified.

Thyroid? Cancer? I can't believe a cat with cancer would eat like
this. I guess that means thyroid. She apparently doesn't throw up. I
didn't ask but they would likely have mentioned it. Maybe IBD but no
sign from either end, so far.

This is one delightful purring cat. Sort of browish tigerish looking.
Pure alleycat. No fancy breeds in this one. I hope she is ok. I can
handle thyroid treatments if necessary. I think that is the best that
we can hope for.

I pressured my vet into giving us an appointment tomorrow so I can get
their impression. I'll write after the vet visit.


dgk

My personal bets are on her being hyperthyroid. Combo of her being a senior
cat, huge appetite, yet way too thin. Yes, let us know what the thinks,
results of her bw, etc. I hope it's just hyper-T & that some
Tapazole/methimazole will slow down her metabolism & put some meat on her
bones. She sounds like a lovely cat.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon



Indeed. And how nice of you to take in an older kitty. Keep us posted!