Old Cat questions

My dad's cat is at least 16 years old. He doesn't seem to be in any
distress but all the hair on his belly fell out, and the skin on his
lower abdomen is droopy (maybe he needs a little kitty truss). And he
seems to be a little on the thin side.

He's done surprisingly well as an indoor/outdoor farm cat. But we want
to make him comfortable in his sunset years. Any suggestions?

He should be checked by a vet. He can be suffering from a variety of
illnesses at that age (chronic renal failure, hyperactive thyroid, etc.).
Gail
"Blastforth" wrote in message
ups.com...
My dad's cat is at least 16 years old. He doesn't seem to be in any
distress but all the hair on his belly fell out, and the skin on his
lower abdomen is droopy (maybe he needs a little kitty truss). And he
seems to be a little on the thin side.

He's done surprisingly well as an indoor/outdoor farm cat. But we want
to make him comfortable in his sunset years. Any suggestions?

"Blastforth" wrote:

He's done surprisingly well as an indoor/outdoor farm cat. But
we want to make him comfortable in his sunset years. Any
suggestions?

Since he's physically less capable, keeping him in doors probably
will help. I liked the idea of giving an indoor cat a high-fiber
food. I think some hairball formulas are high-fiber.

Looks like IAMS has come out with an Indoor Hairball Formula. I
suspect it has a different type of laxative/whatever that is not
high-fiber, so the pet owner does not have to mess with the litter as
much. Going on that assumption, the problem with that IMO is that it
is less healthy for the cat. Fiber is good.

Good luck.

in article et, Gail at
wrote on 4/13/05 10:25 PM:

He should be checked by a vet. He can be suffering from a variety of
illnesses at that age (chronic renal failure, hyperactive thyroid, etc.).
Gail
"Blastforth" wrote in message
ups.com...
My dad's cat is at least 16 years old. He doesn't seem to be in any
distress but all the hair on his belly fell out, and the skin on his
lower abdomen is droopy (maybe he needs a little kitty truss). And he
seems to be a little on the thin side.

He's done surprisingly well as an indoor/outdoor farm cat. But we want
to make him comfortable in his sunset years. Any suggestions?



Yeah, the hairloss does suggest a thyroid problem. He might be easily made
more comfy with medication for it, but the poster will have to ask the vet
specifically for thyroid tests.

"Karen" wrote in message
...
in article et, Gail at
wrote on 4/13/05 10:25 PM:

He should be checked by a vet. He can be suffering from a variety of
illnesses at that age (chronic renal failure, hyperactive thyroid,
etc.).
Gail
"Blastforth" wrote in message
ups.com...
My dad's cat is at least 16 years old. He doesn't seem to be in any
distress but all the hair on his belly fell out, and the skin on his
lower abdomen is droopy (maybe he needs a little kitty truss). And he
seems to be a little on the thin side.

He's done surprisingly well as an indoor/outdoor farm cat. But we want
to make him comfortable in his sunset years. Any suggestions?



Yeah, the hairloss does suggest a thyroid problem.

No it doesn't. Allergic cats typically groom their itchy skins more.

"John Doe" wrote in message
...
"Blastforth" wrote:

He's done surprisingly well as an indoor/outdoor farm cat. But
we want to make him comfortable in his sunset years. Any
suggestions?

Since he's physically less capable, keeping him in doors probably
will help. I liked the idea of giving an indoor cat a high-fiber
food. I think some hairball formulas are high-fiber.

Looks like IAMS has come out with an Indoor Hairball Formula. I
suspect it has a different type of laxative/whatever that is not
high-fiber, so the pet owner does not have to mess with the litter as
much. Going on that assumption, the problem with that IMO is that it
is less healthy for the cat. Fiber is good.

Good luck.

MY 16 yr old siamese, who has a thyroid problem,is very thin so I give him a
heating pad on low and his bed on top to keep him warm since he has no body
fat left plus it feel good on his joints. But if he has thyroid I recomend
the topical cream you rub in his ear. The pills caused alot of problems
,like ulcers and not eatting. So if that's it tell your vet about the cream.
But good luck anyway ,If anything just love him and do anything to keep him
happy.

"Blastforth" wrote in message
ups.com...
My dad's cat is at least 16 years old. He doesn't seem to be in any
distress but all the hair on his belly fell out, and the skin on his
lower abdomen is droopy (maybe he needs a little kitty truss). And he
seems to be a little on the thin side.

He's done surprisingly well as an indoor/outdoor farm cat. But we want
to make him comfortable in his sunset years. Any suggestions?

I'd take him in to the vet for thyroid bloodwork. This might explain his
hair loss & his thin-ness. In case he is hyperthyroid, it's quite easily
managed - via 1 - 2 doses of Tapazole/methimazole per day, for ex., &
treatment will help him to 1) feel more comfortable (one's whole body is
running like an over-revved engine if hyperthyroid) & 2) live longer (due to
less stress on the entire body - all of its systems/organs).

If it turns out he isn't hyperthyroid, well, then... good!

Cathy

One of my cats had these same symptoms and was diagnosed (sadly, several
months later) with diabetes. Once he started treatment, the hair grew
back. I never suspected for a moment that he might be diabetic.

Blastforth wrote:
My dad's cat is at least 16 years old. He doesn't seem to be in any
distress but all the hair on his belly fell out, and the skin on his
lower abdomen is droopy (maybe he needs a little kitty truss). And he
seems to be a little on the thin side.

He's done surprisingly well as an indoor/outdoor farm cat. But we want
to make him comfortable in his sunset years. Any suggestions?