Bella is gaining needed weight and is very content

The love I have for my four year old gray/white tabby female cat, Bella, is as deep as anyone might expect from an owner. She is my friend who loves to sleep either on my left or right side, loves for me to scratch under her neck, sides of her face, belly and purrs like a symphony.For some time, she would not put on any weight, remaining at 7 lbs., and has always been gentle. From Banfield, I purchased a healthcare packaged that suits her as she almost never has trouble. When she was found, she had a recurring virus that kept popping up, but it passed after the first year due to the use of a medication when the problem arose.Bella had a female tabby housemate for about a year or more who was much more aggressive, who, as I see it now, was the cause of Bella's low weight. I found a pair of cat lovers who adopted Sophia the very day my ad showed on Craigslist, so I don't worry about her not being in good hands. Now, with the absense of Sophia's competition Bella is finally eating, and has gained perhaps as much as three or more lbs. Her outward appearance is even more appealing than in years past. If she stays at her present weight, that will be fine. Nothing more than dry cat food, Iams hairball formula, does she eat.I'm finding, also, that Bella no longer tries to "escape" the house to run the neighborhood like she used to. I longed for control of her running, mostly due to the declining neighborhood, and now, even that has past.Anyway, I thought I'd give a kind of praise report for the changes that have taken place at our house.David

I guess Bella was meant to be an only cat! At least you gave it a shot and found a good home.

Is Bella spayed? Sometimes unspayed cats will try to escape the house.

Yes, she has a good home, and one that I think was destined.  Some of her desire for affection -- for instance, just as I sat here at my computer desk she wanted me to pick her up and rest her along my right shoulder, which always blocks my view of the keyboard -- can be a little distracting.  But we're about to retire for the evening so she'll be beside me for the night anyway.

Yes, Bella has had all her shots and is fixed.  I think the addition to my house a couple of years ago of a stylish screened in patio, or lanai as some Southerners call them, was all she really needed in the first place.  I used to take Bella out for walks, hoping to satsify her urge to be outside.  She took to the walks well.  These days, she doesn't insist on taking them as in the past, so her harness and leash just hang on their hooks.

Her favorite lounging spot these days, even on warm summer mornings, is on the table I built her and have covered with a towel located near the patio doorway where she likes to observe the happenings along the sidewalk.

You were so kind to ask, Draco, thanks.

Great news, David. Glad to hear Bella is putting on weight. Yes, some cats just do better by themselves. My parents' cat is like that. My three, however, like the company of each other.

I hope Bella continues to thrive, and I encourage you to introduce wet food for at least 50% of her diet. An all dry diet truly is hard on a cat's system. It would be like us eating Cheerios all day, every day...without milk. The moisture and higher protein content of canned food will be beneficial to her.

Thanks for the suggestion, but Bella absolutely refuses wet food, GH.  Neither does she enjoy treats.

Most kibble eaters will refuse wet food. I had one that refused to eat wet food for the first two years after I adopted him, but I finally got him to eat two kinds.  This website - www.catinfo.org - is a great resource for feline nutrition and there's a section about how to get cats to eat wet food.

Anyway, I won't say any more about that since that is not why you started the thread. Wishing you and Bella all the best!

Thanks, Go, for the reply.  I don't really know what goes into making an extraordinarily healthy cat except that my vet says Bella is one of the healthiest ones he's ever seen.  She passes all her tests with flying colors and doesn't have one health issue, thank God.   

Personally, I haven't found holistic medicines or lifestyle to be a great benefit to my own life.  Herbal concoctions I have never been able to digest, plus they really don't get to the heart of the condition.  Especially in regard to pain.

No offense.  Honest.

Thanks for the web site.  I'll look at it.

David

That's great that Bella is healthy! You couldn't ask for more than that. 

No offense taken. But you are wrongly assuming that my username has something to do with my suggestion for Bella's diet. I am not recommending an herbal concoction or holistic medicine. Simply food. Not herbs or acupuncture or feline yoga. Just wanted to make that clear.

I am glad to hear that Bella is healthy now, but I would really encourage you to take a look at the site that GoHolistic posted. Species-appropriate food is the key to continued good health, and dry food, especially Iams Hairball formula, contains way too many carbohydrates which cats have no nutritional need for. Cats need a wet meaty diet. Think mouse, not cereal.