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very thin cat

post #1 of 9
5/11/10 at 6:53am
Thread Starter 
In the last week one of hte cats has lost a lot of weight - i can see his shoulder blades when he walks. He is eating...

I can no longer trap these cats - they dont go near anything ive tried... and this guy is not friendly.

I contacted someone from my animal clinic who can give me a worm pill on thursday.

I had stopped feeding them DE but started again this morning because its supposed to kill any internal parasites.

Would you guys recommend that i continue with DE AND the worm pill?

Also if he does have worms - would you know how long it would take for him to put on weight? just so i have an idea on whether anything is working....

If nothing does work and/or he gets worse - I can get help to come and get him - but right now they want me to try this....

thanks
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post #2 of 9
5/12/10 at 12:14pm
Thread Starter 
guess ill just cross my fingers and hope for the best
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post #3 of 9
5/12/10 at 2:07pm
Sorry I missed this - I haven't been on for awhile. Keep working with the group that can help you trap.

What makes you think it's worms instead of something else? I hate to bear bad news but it may be FELV or FIV. I think the sooner you can trap him and determine the exact cause of his weight loss, the better.

Good luck and thank you for caring!
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post #4 of 9
5/12/10 at 2:25pm
^ Or it could be infection of some sort, such as a dental infection. You just don't know unless you can catch him.

If you can get him to eat wet food and/or at least some dry kitten food it might help him a little.
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post #5 of 9
5/12/10 at 2:31pm
In my experience, worms makes little kittens thin, but older kitties often get "bellies" that are a result of being full of worms if it's that bad - they're bony and loose their fat layer, but they often have those pot bellies.

A skinny kitty is usually a sick kitty if being fed.
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post #6 of 9
5/12/10 at 5:00pm
Thread Starter 
thanks...

a woman from an animal organization suggested worms and another from the clinic agreed to give me the meds...

but now i know it could be something else...

Ill contact her again and see if they can catch him for me - if not for clinic next week maybe a vets visit (they paid for the cat i have now to see a vet)....

she jsut said to try a worm pill first (Im using DE) and then see if he gets better before they get involved... but what if its too late!
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post #7 of 9
5/13/10 at 6:31am
If you can get the dewormer in him, it's worth a try while you wait for help and also the time it may take to trap him anyway.... Let's hope it's just worms, right?
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post #8 of 9
5/13/10 at 7:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LDG View Post
If you can get the dewormer in him, it's worth a try while you wait for help and also the time it may take to trap him anyway.... Let's hope it's just worms, right?
Yeah, definitely lay the trap again. It may be that such a dramatic weight loss also means friendlier, low energy and docile and not capable of surviving as an unmanaged feral....
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post #9 of 9
5/13/10 at 7:33am
Thread Starter 
I was thinking trapping him might be easier now too. the last 3 days he's been coming up to the dish as im pouring it - i take that as hes very hungry. If i can get some good canned food in a trap - it might not be so hard.

HOWEVER- today was clinic. I wanted to get a trap this morning and take him back but they had an early day and i wasnt able too.

Hes not bone thin... yet. The lose doesnt seem as drastic anymore.

Im giving him DE every feeding - is this as good as the pill though??

If it works is there any way to say how long before he'll gain weight?

THANKS!!!
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