Weight loss in elderly cat - any ideas?

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

IT WAS UMMMMMMMMMM MY HEAD HAS JUST DIED!!

THE PATE ONE ALSO FROM VETS BUT CAN BY ONLINE,,,,,,,,,,,,,CANT REMEMBER NAME BUT THAT SAVED MY KOCKAS LIFE AND SHE USED TO EAT IT OFF MY FINGER..CAN SEE TIN BUT NOT NAME GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[Rosella moggy]

I'm convinced liquivite saved our Bobbys life when he had cat flu.  He ate so very little for so many weeks. 

[heather sullivan]

Liquivite is 2.49 for a small tin. When Tabby was alive I bought a tin from the vets. Would she eat it?  of course not!

[Kay and Penny]

This soup is really just an expensive gimmick but I can see it being useful to get a reluctant cat drinking more

[Cloveart]

It's too late, they already have expensive taste (Whiskas Salmon and Gourmet Gold)! They'll be chauffeur-driven in a Rolls Royce down to the village to make their own selection next.

[emmmy_lou]

The single sachet I got was from Sainsbury a couple of weeks ago - on offer at 50p per pouch if I remember rightly.

Just be careful not to encourage the cats to get expensive taste!!! 

[Cloveart]

Tesco only had big multi-packs of cat soup and I only wanted a tin or two. In the end I bought a little can of Gourmet Gold with Salmon, which is a terrine and not soup at all.

[Rosella moggy]

I think one of the pet food companies should  make a completely smooth liquid cat soup with no bits, for all the fussy, toothless, old moggies out there

Liquivite 

[heather sullivan]

yes its not really soup, its just meaty bits in clear gravy.  My Tabby liked the Whiskas soups, but again, lots of meaty bits in there, so I had to cut the corner of the sachet off and squirt all the soupy juice out, which she liked. I once tried blending it all into a fine soup but, of course, she didn't like that.  I think one of the pet food companies should  make a completely smooth liquid cat soup with no bits, for all the fussy, toothless, old moggies out there

[emmmy_lou]

I got a pouch of the Gourmet soup to try for my 3. All of them liked it, although a bit of the meat was left.

It's just like a finely shredded meat in quite a lot of gravy rather than a soup!

I've just seen Felix have brought one out that they say you can also pour it over dried food?! 

Don't remember what its called, but dont fancy that idea.... 

[Cloveart]

I can imagine cat soup being good for our office cats as the environment is very hot and dry. Our cats are quite elderly too. I may buy some this afternoon to try later in the week. I would be interested to hear how you get on with it Lotzy4, or in anyone's experience of giving soup to cats. 

[Lotzy4]

Thanks for your replies and support.

Cloveart, I haven't tried the Gourmet soups yet. I understand Gourmet Gold is higher in phosphorus than some products, and as I'm trying to keep this down I'm sticking with what he'll eat at the moment. If he goes off it, then I'll check the level of phosphorus for my lad. The product is advertised with no preservatives, colourants or flavourings which makes it sound good.

[Cloveart]

Good to have the update. He may enjoy some of the Gourmet soups

Has anyone tried the soup for cats?

[Judecat (Paula)]

Trouble got very scrawny by the end of his 17 almost 18 years, he still ate AGAIL like a trooper, still lost wieght, but I honestly believe that when you have an elderly cat it is quality of life that matters. He enjoyed the AGAIL, wasn't keen on the 'special' foods even though his kidneys were failing.

My thoughts on the matter anyway.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I AGREE WITH DAWN  BETTER QUALITY FOOD ITS WHAT HE WILL EAT THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT. 

[alisonandarchie]

Good to have the update. He may enjoy some of the Gourmet soups

[Dawn F]

I'd let him eat what he likes at his age to be honest as we all know if you find something they like its worth its weight in gold

[Lotzy4]

Just an update from my post last year as CKD was mentioned by various posters.

The vet tested Toby's blood again in November as I was still concerned about him and nothing showed up.  I took him back earlier this month as he'd started drinking more and you can now easily feel his backbone and ribs.  This time the blood tests showed renal disease. In 2014 he weighed 6.85kg and he's now at 4.25kg - I have no idea if it's connected to renal disease but bearing in mind a lot of renal function has already been lost when symptons appear, it does make me wonder. I didn't worry about the initial weight loss in 2014/15 as we moved house and he no longer had neighbours to visit who gave him snacks.

He's been a little pain over renal food, occasionally will scoff the lot, other times won't even touch it. I started buying Felix AGAIL Senior as his sister wasn't eating very well - and he seems to like this - I know it's not ideal, but he's eating better than he has done in ages and I think the extra food and liquid are doing him good - I'm half hoping he's put on a tiny bit of weight.  The vet suggested I try him on a higher quality cat food, by trying to understand what's best is another matter!

[Rosella moggy]

Always a good idea to have elderly cats tested for common illnesses and delighted to hear that all is well. It's good that your vet not jumping to medicate top end of normal T4 result too.

Hope nothing comes of crackly chest esp as he is uncooperative with pills  and you can enjoy the years ahead with Toby 

[Lotzy4]

Thanks for your replies. The vet phoned to say his liver, kidney and glucose levels are all normal. His thyroid is verging towards the top level of being normal, but they wouldn't normally treat at this stage. She suggested I keep an eye on any noisybreathing or coughing bearing in mind his chest was crackly (and had no temperature), but if I had no worries to take him back in three months for weighing and review.

Whatever the future holds for him, I feel it's just a case of keeping the little monster comfortable in his old age.

[jezebel]

Sorry Rosella, probably got that wrong!

Drum was diagnosed at least two years ago with CKD but has had no symptoms other than drinking a little more than usual (which hasn't increased since diagnosis). Possibly the weight loss is part of that, but she has a great appetite (for everything except renal prescription food!). I weigh her regularly now and she's not lost any more.

[Rosella moggy]

I would expect  a certain amount of weight loss through muscle wastage by age 17.  Hyper T not always easy to detect though from physical exam so it's good that blood being tested for that and kidneys. 

2kgs alot of weight to lose.  Over what sort of period? If 4 or 5 years, maybe to be expected bit if only a couple of years maybe of more concern? 

Don't understand vet not linking weight loss to CKD Jezebel  I thought it was one of the more common symptoms?

Howling can be linked to deafness 

[Lotzy4]

Thanks for your further replies.  Vet let Toby go in the room and had to follow him around the room until she was brave enough to grab him nad then had to get nurse in to take blood from Toby, so he sounds a bit like Moses the Devil cat.  Pilling him will be impossible if that's what he needs to help him.  I guess I will just have to see what vet says tomorrow and, if nothing comes up, ask what they suggest next. 

[heather sullivan]

Sounds exactly the same as one of our cats (Moses the Devil Cat) who is around 17. He has lost quite a bit of weight but has always been a fussy eater. He went to the vets last year for blood tests but the vet ended up giving more blood than the cat!  Couldn't find much wrong with him. Thyroid was okay. Wanted to do a parathyroid test but involved taking blood a few times over a few days and over £500 and I don't think the vet was keen as he had a large bandage around his thumb! Moses has begun to come upstairs in the morning around 6am and howls and howls and howls!!! He does have a heart murmur too and drinks lots of water.  But seems fine in himself just very skinny........ Think he just getting a bit old and confused......

[jezebel]

Elderly cats do lose weight. My tabby (Drum), who's 16 next month, was always a bit tubby until about two years ago. She was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, although the vet doesn't think this has caused the weight loss.

I try and give her good quality, high protein food like Royal Canin and Encore, and although so far she hasn't put any weight on, she's not lot lost any more.

Good luck with Toby's tests, I hope they come back clear.

[Lotzy4]

Thanks for your reply.  I think the blood the vet took today will measure T4 levels and glucose levels.  Vet thinks its unlikely to be hyperthyroidism, but I still wanted that tested as his sister has it.

[Liz]

I would have a full blood panel done and include T4 and diabetes sugar curve both have caused weight loss in our oldies

[Lotzy4]

Toby is nearly 17 years old. We first realized he'd lost weight about a year ago (after we'd moved house so put it down to that), and in March his weight had reduced again (but this was overshadowed by the fact his sister had also lost weight and the vet was worried about her heart - she had hyperthyroidism).

Anyway, took him to the vet today as I felt he'd lost more weight - he was overweight for most of his life at 6.85 but is now 4.85. He's showing interest in food and no other symptons I'd noticed than a couple of coughing sessions over that four months and howling for no known reason. Vet has taken bloods for testing from memory for hyperthyroidism, glucose levels, kidney and liver functions. She doesn't think it's hyperthyroidism. She felt around his tummy, checked teeth and temperature - all okay. She did notice a wheezey chest (everything was fine back in March) but didn't seem overly worried about his couple of coughing fits.

Just wondered if anyone has any thoughts ahead of getting results tomorrow, or there's anything I should ask when the vet phones.