Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: MrsR on November 26, 2008, 20:19:24 PM

Title: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: MrsR on November 26, 2008, 20:19:24 PM
Guys need some help as struggling with Vesti at the moment and his rapid weight loss, vets have done full bloods and all normal but would like to know from you if you had a cat that rapidly lost weight what the reason was.  Thanks.
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: blackcat on November 26, 2008, 20:20:51 PM
In my experience it is usually cancer or leukemia, or thyroid problems, but they would all have shown up in blood tests, so not much help there ...
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on November 26, 2008, 20:22:03 PM
Tumour on thyroid, non-malignant but after removal of the thyroid Kocka never got the weight back on.........however this showed up in a blood test.
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: Liz on November 26, 2008, 20:23:10 PM
In our case Diabetes and Thyroid

One at 12 the other at 15 - both are still with us and thriving
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: candyshandy on November 26, 2008, 21:08:11 PM
Hypercalcaemia with Fabes - did show up on bloods though (when requested)
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: Kirst on November 26, 2008, 21:14:52 PM
HCM in Oscar. :(
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: blackcat on November 26, 2008, 21:15:03 PM
I think the pattern that is emerging is that you need to ask the vet what it was the bloods tested for. If the options below were not covered, they probably should be considered and more tests run.
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: Philip on November 26, 2008, 21:43:29 PM
In my cats:

Neoplasia/cancer - blood tests showed neutrophillia, raised inflammatory markers.

Chronic renal failure - High BUN values. caused uraemic ulceration in gums so painful to eat.

Also consider Dental/oral problems, thryoid, constipation, ringworm.

Is there any behavioural element to it. Could Vesti feel insecure where her food normally is. Try changing the location.
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: Janeyk on November 26, 2008, 21:55:55 PM
Thyroid (as I prev said on other thread) 2 of my cats aged 13 & 14
CRF our Schui
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on November 27, 2008, 08:22:34 AM
Cancer doesn't always show up on bloods. My vet said a urine sample had to be taken to rule out diabetes so that might be worth looking into.
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: Zenith (Liz) on November 27, 2008, 10:22:37 AM
An overactive thyroid with our old 17 year old cat, and kidney failure in my 13 year old cat both caused fairly rapid weight loss.
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: Millys Mum on November 27, 2008, 19:38:58 PM
Lymphoma for Taffy  :(
His bloods were ok, couldnt feel anything by palpatation but an x-ray picked up a small lump in the intestine. He also had diarrhoea
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: Hippykitty on December 03, 2008, 02:42:01 AM
Most serious illnesses, especially cancer and hyperthyroidism.

Is your cat wormed? This could be one simple reason.

What is Vesti's appetite like? Is it normal, reduced or increased?

This really is one for the vet. But I've had cats who have been seriously ill and always stopped eating and lost masses of weight in the weeks running up to pts (usually Felv related cancer, or, in Max's case, non Felv related malignant tumour). But not all weight loss indicates something fatal.

Have a good chat to your vet. If you have no faith in your vet, go to another.
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on December 03, 2008, 07:45:30 AM
one other thing that might be worth mentioning to the vet is that I have known cats be in the normal range for hyper-t, but they were at the top end of the scale, and it was too high for them, and the vets treated for clinical signs rather than off the bloods, and it worked. There is another thyroid test that can be done, which can be more accurate.
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: swampmaxmum on December 03, 2008, 10:04:29 AM
How is Vesti, Mrs R and how are you? I know how scared you must be and I hope that it's nothing serious after all.
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: MrsR on December 03, 2008, 13:17:42 PM
Will take him back to the vest to be weighed next week - he doesn't seem like he has lost anymore weight and since I have been really fussing him overley he seems a little more lively, thought I'd try fussing him more and osmeone on here mentioned about maybe he is affected by my pregnancy.
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: swampmaxmum on December 03, 2008, 16:50:47 PM
When Max was stressed and not eating properly he weighed a full kg less than he does now. Hope it's just he doesn't like your bump - although that could be tricky too. x
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on December 03, 2008, 18:08:53 PM
it was me who mentioned it mrs r.....i have resd somewhere they seem to know and sometimes are already jealous.

if he is more lively now then sounds like the extra fuss is calming him but think you need to watch out for jealousy latter too.........i do hope that if he feels he isnt being opushed out he will be fine  :hug:
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: MrsR on December 03, 2008, 19:51:55 PM
Think you migh have been spot on Gill as the only difference has been the extra fuss of him I have been making.   Cannot wait to see if he has put on weight and its not my eyes and hands that are deceiving me.
Title: Re: Rapid weight loss in cats - if you cat had this what was the reason for it
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on December 03, 2008, 20:25:54 PM
I do hope he has put on some weight cos then you will know things are heading in the right direction  :hug: