This is such a disturbing email because there are all the classic symptoms of a SICK CAT!! All the warning signs that tell you to make that vet appointment and get right in there – change in behavior and personality, sitting by himself, losing weight over a few weeks (despite eating decent amounts (but then not eating normally), listless, lethargic.
Hi Tracie – This is ‘Lindsay from Denver’ – I’ve tried to call into your shows a couple of times but haven’t been able to get through yet. I wanted to get your advice on an issue I’m having with my cat after making the transition to wet food.
We have two cats and the dominant cat made the switch to wet food in about 20 minutes – our other cat however took about 2 months. He now will eat non-seafood flavors of Weruva cat food as he has been for about a month, however he just doesn’t seem to eat enough of it. Over two feedings, one in the morning and one at night, he manages to get a maximum of 4.5 to 5oz of food eaten. I know you say that a cat will eat the amount they want to eat, and I don’t have an issue with that – but I’m concerned he’s not getting enough food because his behavior has changed dramatically in the last month.
He is a small cat, but has always been very playful and happy. Lately he has been very isolated, and often sits against the wall with his face to it and his back to everyone else. He no longer plays with his ‘brother’ or us, even with his favorite laser toy. He is always laying down or sleeping, and doesn’t even lift his head up when we come in the door anymore, which is highly unusual for him. He has gotten very skinny in the last few weeks, has no energy, and just seems really depressed.
He still gets excited for food, but will only eat a little bit at a time before he runs away. He seems to have trouble eating the chicken pieces. We’ve tried isolating him during feeding, letting food sit out a little longer, and making it ‘soupier’, but we just can’t seem to get him to eat enough (or so we think).
Perhaps his depression has nothing to do with eating, but I’m hoping you have some insight and advice for how to proceed in getting our frisky little cat back…
Thank you,
Lindsay
Jeepers Lindsay – you wait weeks and weeks and look at a list of symptoms as long as your arm and without any professional medical attention you decide the cat is “depressed?” Either he has some sort of metabolic disease process going on or a serious dental problem or god knows what – but all you worry about is the quantity of food he’s eating (which would be fine for a small cat if there was nothing else going on)?? I know you care about him or you wouldn’t be writing me but I don’t understand about not “getting through” on my show?? I take all the calls that come in and it’s “first come first served,” so call early (right around 8 PM EST) and keep calling if you get a busy signal. But before you do another thing, get that cat to the vet for a full check up with blood work, dental exam, etc. Your cat needs medical attention right away – and I hope you got Pets Best insurance as I’ve been begging listeners to do so that you only have to pay a fraction of whatever the bill is for diagnostic work, which is expensive lab tests and perhaps x-rays and more. I want to know what happens – PLEASE let me know so I can put my mind at rest.
UPDATE:
Hi Tracie – I took my cat to the vet after writing to you and after running many tests, the vet determined there was nothing wrong with him, other than the fact that he is a bit underweight. We have worked out a better feeding routine and he is back to his normal self. Thank you for your help.
-Lindsay
Phew! I’m so relieved. I had felt terrible not to have been able to write back sooner, I was on a deadline, and hope I didn’t sound too harsh!. Just remember that cats do lose weight when they get off kitty crack – but what about all that other sickly behavior? Maybe he was feeling poorly as his body de-toxified from the kitty crack, and he’s finally feeling healthy again? Anyway, thanks for letting me know so I don’t worry!
Best wishes,
Tracie
