Healthy cat losing weight?

Hi,

I have a twelve and a half year old cat who seems to be losing weight
despite the fact that she has a big appetite, plays a lot, and
generally seems healthy. She's been somewhat overweight (not obese)
since she had her second litter of kittens in 1994 but as of late she
feels like she's dropped a number of pounds and has, if you'll excuse
my crassness, very saggy titties. She seems particularly boney around
her shoulders, but I can't really feel her spine and her ribs without
applying some pressure. What's the deal? Is it just mid-age? If
she's sick with something, she doesn't show it, because she seems a
lot more active than some of my other cats. Also, her coat is
healthier than it's been in years, for some odd reason.

Thanks,
Perry

"Perry Justus" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I have a twelve and a half year old cat who seems to be losing weight
despite the fact that she has a big appetite, plays a lot, and
generally seems healthy. She's been somewhat overweight (not obese)
since she had her second litter of kittens in 1994 but as of late she
feels like she's dropped a number of pounds and has, if you'll excuse
my crassness, very saggy titties. She seems particularly boney around
her shoulders, but I can't really feel her spine and her ribs without
applying some pressure. What's the deal? Is it just mid-age? If
she's sick with something, she doesn't show it, because she seems a
lot more active than some of my other cats. Also, her coat is
healthier than it's been in years, for some odd reason.


How do you know she is healthy? Has a vet checked her? She is
about ten years old, judging from your saying that she had a second
litter of kittens in 1994. She could have any number of health problems.

On 2 Feb 2006 00:36:57 +0100, "cybercat" wrote:


"Perry Justus" wrote in message
.. .
Hi,

I have a twelve and a half year old cat who seems to be losing weight
despite the fact that she has a big appetite, plays a lot, and
generally seems healthy. She's been somewhat overweight (not obese)
since she had her second litter of kittens in 1994 but as of late she
feels like she's dropped a number of pounds and has, if you'll excuse
my crassness, very saggy titties. She seems particularly boney around
her shoulders, but I can't really feel her spine and her ribs without
applying some pressure. What's the deal? Is it just mid-age? If
she's sick with something, she doesn't show it, because she seems a
lot more active than some of my other cats. Also, her coat is
healthier than it's been in years, for some odd reason.


How do you know she is healthy? Has a vet checked her? She is
about ten years old, judging from your saying that she had a second
litter of kittens in 1994. She could have any number of health problems.


I already said that she's twelve and a half. (Reread my original
post!) If she's eating, and active, and seems normal, what could be
the problem?

Perry

Perry Justus wrote:

I already said that she's twelve and a half. (Reread my original
post!) If she's eating, and active, and seems normal, what could be
the problem?

Just off the top of my non-expert head: hyperthyroidism, cancer, heart
disease, lung disease, infection, worms...

Take the cat to the vet

Corey

"Perry Justus" wrote in message
...
On 2 Feb 2006 00:36:57 +0100, "cybercat" wrote:


"Perry Justus" wrote in message
.. .
Hi,

I have a twelve and a half year old cat who seems to be losing weight
despite the fact that she has a big appetite, plays a lot, and
generally seems healthy. She's been somewhat overweight (not obese)
since she had her second litter of kittens in 1994 but as of late she
feels like she's dropped a number of pounds and has, if you'll excuse
my crassness, very saggy titties. She seems particularly boney around
her shoulders, but I can't really feel her spine and her ribs without
applying some pressure. What's the deal? Is it just mid-age? If
she's sick with something, she doesn't show it, because she seems a
lot more active than some of my other cats. Also, her coat is
healthier than it's been in years, for some odd reason.


How do you know she is healthy? Has a vet checked her? She is
about ten years old, judging from your saying that she had a second
litter of kittens in 1994. She could have any number of health problems.


I already said that she's twelve and a half. (Reread my original
post!)

I missed that. Sorry.

If she's eating, and active, and seems normal, what could be
the problem?


That is what they have vets for. Take her in.

She needs to see a vet. Weight loss is a symptom of a health problem (ie.
chronic renal failure, hyperactive thyroid, etc). Please don't delay since
these conditions are treatable.
Gail
"Perry Justus" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I have a twelve and a half year old cat who seems to be losing weight
despite the fact that she has a big appetite, plays a lot, and
generally seems healthy. She's been somewhat overweight (not obese)
since she had her second litter of kittens in 1994 but as of late she
feels like she's dropped a number of pounds and has, if you'll excuse
my crassness, very saggy titties. She seems particularly boney around
her shoulders, but I can't really feel her spine and her ribs without
applying some pressure. What's the deal? Is it just mid-age? If
she's sick with something, she doesn't show it, because she seems a
lot more active than some of my other cats. Also, her coat is
healthier than it's been in years, for some odd reason.

Thanks,
Perry

On Wed, 1 Feb 2006 17:20:59 -0700, "Corey Kaye"
wrote:

Perry Justus wrote:

I already said that she's twelve and a half. (Reread my original
post!) If she's eating, and active, and seems normal, what could be
the problem?

Just off the top of my non-expert head: hyperthyroidism, cancer, heart
disease, lung disease, infection, worms...

Take the cat to the vet

Corey


Jeeze... I should've known better than to even ask without going
through the usenet archives first. She'll be going to the vet ASAP,
but we're basically poor and still paying out money for visits that
happened last year (plus, the vet office has had a notice up on the
wall that they won't allow anyone to pay later anymore, so we're
pushing it -- I think our vet was the only one in town who would even
let people do it in the first place).

Perry

Perry Justus wrote:

Jeeze... I should've known better than to even ask without going
through the usenet archives first. She'll be going to the vet ASAP,
but we're basically poor and still paying out money for visits that
happened last year (plus, the vet office has had a notice up on the
wall that they won't allow anyone to pay later anymore, so we're
pushing it -- I think our vet was the only one in town who would even
let people do it in the first place).

Well, Perry, you got answers. It could be a lot of different things.
Several of them aren't serious or expensive, and several of them could be
life threatening. What's an exam fee run at your clinic? At mine, it's
around $30. For $30, your vet should be able to give you an idea if you're
in for a lot more $$$, or just a bit.

Corey

"Perry Justus" wrote
Jeeze... I should've known better than to even ask without going through
the usenet archives first.

Sorry for frustrating you. Weight loss when a cat is eating as usual is just
such a typical sign of illness, some serious, some not so. I am also sorry
about your financial situation, I have been there. She does need to see a
vet, though. There is just no way around it.

On 2 Feb 2006 01:40:51 +0100, "cybercat" wrote:


"Perry Justus" wrote
Jeeze... I should've known better than to even ask without going through
the usenet archives first.

Sorry for frustrating you. Weight loss when a cat is eating as usual is just
such a typical sign of illness, some serious, some not so. I am also sorry
about your financial situation, I have been there. She does need to see a
vet, though. There is just no way around it.


It's okay. It just really is frustrating, especially when one has as
many cats as I have and not enough cash. Luckily, most of them have
been extremely healthy (*knocks on wood*), so they've rarely had to
see the vet, but most of them are nearing the 10 year mark or older,
so I can just imagine all the problems that will start popping up...

Perry