Healthy cat losing weight?

Perry Justus wrote:
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

With an apparently healthy 12.5 yr. old cat losing wieght, my first
guess would be hyperthyroidism. Very common in older cats, & classic
symptom is weight loss, despite eating well. Plus you say she's very
active. (The entire body - all of its organs/systems - over-revs when
hyperthyroid, whether human or feline.)

But it could be virtually anything. Besides a physical exam, a full
blood panel would very likely pop up the probable suspect. IOW, vet
time.

In the event that it actually did turn out to be hyper-T, that's
actually a fairly good diagnosis IMO, in that it's relatively easy to
control, once the med is regulated.

Cathy