Amber won't gain weight!!

Hi, sorry this is my first post. I'm posting it on different forums to see what advice I get!
We have amber a small asian/burmese cat, and he's about 10 years old. He's always been slight but I can feel his ribs and kind of his hip bones, I don't know his exact weight cos he wont register on our human scales. He was fed crap wet food for most of his life, but after we got our Great Dane we researched canine nutrition in dog foods and all the crap that goes in and it goes hand in hand with cat food. we learned a bit more about the ingredients used etc and switched him to almo nature wet food and science diet dry food(not the best but he eats it thats a start!!) as I read it was good for them to get a little bit of both dry & wet. He is SUCH a picky eater, he gets sick of the same thing in like a week and he hardly eats anything, he seemed to like almo at first but he only picks at it now. I'm desperate! I really want him to gain weight.. He's regularly wormed and he's getting on in age, I don't wan't him to be skinny and old cos if he gets sick it won't help.. We now feed our great dane on raw but to be honest I can't see it happening for amber. He might like it for like a week... and stop eating. Argh!

Have you taken him to the vet lately for a senior check up? This is the first thing you really need to do - get a complete senior panel done, to rule out health problems. He is 10, and something can be going on, such as Thyroid problems. When my cat came to me malnourished, immediately I put her on kitten food - it has far more calories than regular adult food. Talk to your vet about drawing a plan to your kitty...
Sicence diet is by no means the best... If she is eating just a little of it, I would highly recommend switching to for something better. You will likely pay less and get more.
But, as I said, the first thing I would do is get your kitty tested at the vet.
P.S.: Your vet will likely recommend Science Diet, as most do, unfortunately.

He goes to the vet ever year for a check up, he hasn't had a blood work up done yet so I'll ask my vet about that when he goes next. I know about science diet but its actually the only thing he eats >.< He'll kind of eat his almo but really not alot..

Originally Posted by Emma&Amber

He goes to the vet ever year for a check up, he hasn't had a blood work up done yet so I'll ask my vet about that when he goes next. I know about science diet but its actually the only thing he eats >.< He'll kind of eat his almo but really not alot..

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If you are concerned about weight loss, or him not gaining weight and not eating properly, I would not wait - I would just take him to the vet now and get a full senior checkup with senior blood panel included. He should be getting that done every year since he was 7... It can be something amiss, and the more you wait, the bigger the problem... IMHO there is really no reason to wait. Please do take your boy to the vet sooner than later.

I agree a visit to the vet for a senior panel is a good idea - and I also suggest, pending the vet's suggestion, to not overly worry about which food Amber likes, as long as it's some food - I don't care if it's Friskies, if he eats it, that's the main idea. I'd get back to Science Diet if that's what he likes.

As long as the food is marked as being a completed and balanced food, he'll get the basic nutrients while you research foods that he might try. But, IMO, something can be listed on the internet as the 'best food in all the world' - but if kitty doesn't eat it, the food isn't right for kitty.

Please get to the vet for a exam and senior panel.....

May I ask what country you are in>

I'm in Ireland, will bring him to the vet. He was never that much of an eater, sometimes he would get bits of chicken one day, and he would gobble it up and then if you give him the same thing the next day he wouldn't touch it. . The only thing he would consistantly eat was really crap store brand food, and even then he wouldn't eat more then 3 pouches at MOST and the back said he needed 6 'cos it was so bad, so I HAD to switch him even if he did like it he still wouldn't eat enough to sustain himself... Right now he eats a decent amount of science diet and sort of eats a tiny bit of almo. Like a pouch at most. Whyyy does he have to be so picky He's like a princess.. He must be embarrased to be called Amber..

some pics of him here http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...44#post2914944
he doesn't look skinny but under all that hair you can feel he is..

Amber is a handsome guy! I like his name. I would recommend the same as the others. Get him to the vet for a blood panel and overall check up to be sure he is medically ok. If everything is ok then research what other foods are available in your area. Maybe check into a senior diet, it could be more tailored to his needs. He doesn't look emaciated but if you are uncomfortable with is weight a vet visit then reevaluating his food is a good plan. My Chester is 12 years old and he can be picky about his canned food too. He only likes the sauce(gravy) & chunks varieties. They used to be in pouches but changed to 3oz cans. He never has liked the pate style the little stinker!

Good luck to you and Amber. Keep us posted, I hope all turns out well.

I have two cats I've brought to the vet for being skinny (though neither of them was a senior). One of them, Rachel, is a horrendously picky eater, the other was an abused boy, Ralph, who just didn't seem able to put on weight.

In both instances, the vet said they were fine with respect to both their weight and their health, saying that although they were thin, they were still within the range he considered healthy - if just barely. He had no thoughts as to why Ralph wasn't putting on weight.

Both cats have gained weight since then, Rachel because I've launched a heavy-duty campaign to the effect that, picky eater or not, she's GONNA EAT. I put more on her plate than I give to anyone else, I often feed her further away from the others so she's more comfortable and I regularly put enticing things on her food: freeze-dried meat sprinkles, tuna or sardine juice, etc. I also cut her bone-in meals quite small.

The only thing I did for Ralph was transition him over to the same raw diet everyone else is eating. Almost immediately, he began gaining weight.

Hope this gives you some helpful food for thought. And I definitely hope the vet visit goes well!!