"kraut" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 6 May 2010 13:52:38 -0400, "cybercat"
wrote:


I have an 18 / 19 years old indoor only tortie that weighs about 5
pounds. She weighed about 4 when we had her spayed (Female) after
having kittens when she was about 3 years old. She eats well and has
no problem with the litter box. She pees and poops fine. I can not
feel her ribs or bones but she just looks skinny and always has. I
pick her up and it is like picking up a feather. The other 4 all are
in their mid teens weight wise and from 9 to 11 years old. She runs
and jumps and plays with toys though not like when she was younger.
Now when she walks it is like watching an 80 year old human walk


That's because 18 years for a cat is physiologically equivalent to 88 years
for a human.


compared to a teenagers walk. If interested a pic of her is at
http://users.ameritech.net/lestark/kitty-stand.jpg or
http://users.ameritech.net/lestark/kitty-win.jpg

She goes to vet and was checked and found everything within normal
range about a year ago.

Do you remember what her urine specific gravity was? A lot can happen to a
cat in a year- Remember, a year for an adult cat is about the same as 4
years for us. You might want to get her blood & urine checked again. As
cats get older, they should have more frequent exams.




Rene is right. The best thing you can do is go to all canned. I base that
upon what I have seen with my own cats. If she doesn't like canned after
a
respectable try, then give her both canned and dry.

Though she is small, it sounds to me like she is meant to be. Some cats
are
just this way. So many health problems accompany overweight, it might be
better for her to be slim. I think what I would do is give her more of
whatever she loves the best, at her age.


Thanks all for the replies. Will try the Evo and she if they like it.


The phosphorus content of Evo is w-a-y too high for a 18/19 year-old cat
who may be in the early stages of CRF. Remember, the BUN and creatinine
don't start to rise in cats until 65-75% of renal function has been lost.


Phil