Older cat losing weight, does not seem to be eating enough

Hi there, we are finding that Fortiflora doesn't contain near enough healthy flora or the proper kind to make a real difference. Plus it contains animal digest which is just disgusting. LOL. We're finding that human probiotics with as much healthy flora and several different strains are much better. One that contains no additives. Also, I agree that maybe it's time for something like an ultrasound as IBD (inflammatory bowel disease, thickening of the intestines) needs diagnostic testing. One thing is for sure she needs to eat more soon or she is in danger of developing hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease). It really doesn't take long at all for this to happen so I would consider calling the vet back, and asking for cyproheptadine (appetite stimulant) and telling them you'd like an ultrasound done. In the meantime, I also agree that something with higher calories, like kitten food or even ask your vet for some Science Diet A/D. I'm not a fan of SD food but A/D is good for getting some calories in her and helping her through this crisis. Even if you have to syringe feed it, I recommend doing so if she's not eating. It's imperative that she does eat!

I'd say do another weight check in about 2 months and see if she is stable - as others said the switch to all wet (which is lower carb & higher protein) could account for some weight loss.  Unless she continues to lose weight, don't worry & stick w/what you're doing.

I would be happy to mail you a pack of Forti-Flora if you want to pm me your address (I bought them for our previous kitty so no longer need them, & it was a box w/about 30 tiny packets); that way you could try it before purchasing a lot.  Check your pet store for a tube nutrient supplement - most cats (supposedly) love it - it's high calorie so if she eats just a little that will help.  Nutri-Cal or Nutri-Stat.

If she does continue to lose & you don't feel she's eating well, there are good tips for getting cats to eat (or eat more) here.  Good luck!

You can just weigh your cat yourself too, using a digital food scale, and keep a daily or weekly record of their weight. Then you can report the weekly number to your vet as needed, instead of taking the cat to the vet for just weighing them in. I do this for one of my cats that was sick with a stubborn UTI last spring and lost 1/4 of her body weight. After being on Orbax to kill the bacteria twice in a month, I put her on Proviable-KP for the diarrhea, and Proviable-DC. Then she also went on Mirtazapine to help increase her appetite to gain the weight back. She didn't gained it all back, and unfortunately she had to go back on Orbax for another stubborn UTI that started the day before Christmas, and again lost weight. So, as of today, I've got her off the Orbax, for the second round in a month's time. I'm keeping both my cats on Proviable-DC for the rest of their lives and have my UTI prone cat back on Mertazapine as of today.

I hate that the Mertazapine makes her so whiny though. Drives me batty and since I work from home, it's a problem, but I'll keep her on it to see if she'll gain back some weight. I'd like to see her get back to 8 pounds, but not sure if she ever will. She's almost 14 years old too. I'm feeding her 3 times a day, but she never eats all her food. However, it's all I can do for her. She seems happy and is playful, and will take her back to the vet next week for a UTI recheck.

My vet recommended wet and dry cat food for our 14? year old cat.  Sometimes they can be finicky little devils and all you can do is keep on trying to find out what they like.  Been there and done that with my 18 year old cat.  As he gets older he gets pickier about what he eats.  Fortunately, his rejects go to the feral cat colony that I'm taking care of and they have no problem scarfing it down.

Well, after the recheck last week, my littlest girl kitty had to go back on Orbax once again. The vet cultured her urine and found e.coli still there. Seems she wasn't on the Orbax for long enough or at a high enough dose (different vet but same practice had prescribed it the last time). The vet I like the best said to keep her on it for a month this time, and upped the dosage by .2 ml too.

Her weight was down again to 5 lbs. 5 oz. from 5 lbs. 11 oz. too. Vet was again concerned, as was I. I told him I'm now feeding her 4 times a day, so she's eating at least 5.5 - 6 oz of wet food every day, and she's eating it all too, or whenever she acts hungry. She's not on the Mirtazapine anymore tho. It didn't seem to be working for her. In fact, she would barely eat for the first two days on it, drive me nuts with her whining :shocker:, wander around the house, never settling down for the first day or two. Then she would be sort of normal for the next day or two. This wasn't helping her.

I think the vet and I have come to the conclusion the weight loss is because she's not on any dry food anymore, nor am I feeding canned food that has grains, potatoes or vegetables. Cats don't need those fillers and she turns up her nose at the foods that have it anyway. I'm mostly feeding both cats duck (higher in fat), turkey, chicken, and salmon with the occasional sprinkle of dehydrated salmon or duck liver treats. I guess I'm just going to have to start making my own pet food again. The one brand I was buying and had recently recommended too - First Mate - because it was 99% meat - has started adding potato to it... makes me so mad! Potato is just a useless carbo filler!

Thank you  and sorry for the delay in replying, but in addition to Chester my husband had surgery a few weeks ago......Anyway I did buy the Forta Flora  and was putting it on her food. Cant really say if it made a difference or not. I had her back at the vet last week, she is down to 6lbs 7 oz. she was at her highest 8lbs 6 oz. but it is a substantial loss for a kitty so small. The vet reviewed the blood work and then did a urine test and it came out her urine was very deluted so she said she has the beginning stages of kidney issues. the vet gave her a appetite stimulant to try and get her to eat. She also wanted me to give her 1/4 tablet of Pepcid daily. I've started that last Thursday. Not sure how fast this stuff is suppose to work, I've seen a little difference. Anyway have to call the vet tomorrow and give her update and see what next step is. I just wish she could tell me what didn't feel good or what would taste good, but I bet everyone with a sick kitty wishes the same.

Bad news for my Angie. Just before I left town in late April 2014, she took a turn for the worse. I rushed her into the vet the day before I had to leave. Three days later, the results were back. Lymphoma and leukemia were confirmed. These were both suspected in early 2013, but now we know for sure why she kept loosing weight last year and this past winter, and not gaining much back. Also, the leukemia confirms why she couldn't fight off the stubborn UTIs all last year and this one. She's hanging on, now that I'm home, but we have decided not to let her suffer any more pain. So, this week we will be putting Angie to sleep. RIP my lovely little girl.

Jill-E said:

Bad news for my Angie. Just before I left town in late April 2014, she took a turn for the worse. I rushed her into the vet the day before I had to leave. Three days later, the results were back. Lymphoma and leukemia were confirmed. These were both suspected in early 2013, but now we know for sure why she kept loosing weight last year and this past winter, and not gaining much back. Also, the leukemia confirms why she couldn't fight off the stubborn UTIs all last year and this one. She's hanging on, now that I'm home, but we have decided not to let her suffer any more pain. So, this week we will be putting Angie to sleep. RIP my lovely little girl.

Click to expand...

Oh, no! @Jill-E, I'm so very sorry to hear this news.    How devastating for you. Making this decision is so difficult, but it is the last loving thing we can do for our furbabies to end their suffering. I will thinking of you and Angie this week. 

I am so very sorry you are going through this.

Thank you for all your kind words. We all have to make necessary choices at times.

So sorry!

I haven't read thru all the responses, so forgive me if I am repeating someone elses advice, but I would have your cat checked for kidney disease.  My cat from many years ago, got thin suddenly, stopped eating and that is what it was.  We did the sub-Q fluids, etc. and got another three years with her.    In addition, I currently have a cat that suddenly got very thin, over a period of two weeks, peeing a lot, and he ended up with a diagnosis of diabetes...we are now giving him insulin shots.  

I just want to pop in here and ask if the vet checked her teeth?  Has the vet checked for Stomatitis in her mouth?  With a cat her age, she might have bad tooth/teeth or that painful Stomatitis.  I had never even heard about Stomatitis until my rescued kitten was throwing up any and all dry cat food and could only keep wet food down.  Turns out, he had severe stomatitis.  My one cat, Minnie, who is gone now, lived to 11 years old and did have bad back teeth, which caused her to throw up her food.  That was years ago, but lesson learned!  Both of these things can make a cat not want to eat much.  If I think of anything else, I'll write. Meanwhile, ONE of us on this forum might hit it for you and  her.

In the last couple of years I lost 2 old cats - 1 to kidney disease and 1 to hyperthyroidism. When they got skinny I started feeding them kitten food - both wet and dry. Kitten food tends to have a bit more calories and protein and helped both my girls as well as raw meat - beef and chicken. People will tell you don't feed them this or that depending on their disease but really the most important thing is that you get your cat to eat and put on some weight. I hate to say it, but a cat that doesn't get enough calories can't keep going. I wish you all the best. Hugs

Sorry to hear this! I reiterate what Beaverlaker said, have someone look at her teeth to double check them. Just in the off chance it is something simple like that.

Good luck!

I know you said the Fancy Feast was grain free but only a few of the flavors have no wheat gluten in them like the chicken feast classics pate, turkey & giblets Pate Classics and Chopped grill classics.. What I don't like about FF is I noticed they are putting Soy flour & soy Protein in them (don't remember them having this in them a few years back)... My cat has Probable IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) and apparently some food intolerances, he is on Royal canin  Duck & Pea Canned Hypoallergenic from the vet and some Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Duck & Pea (bought at Local Pet stores).

The Royal canin canned is the only brand of the Duck he will eat, tried Nature's Variety Instinct (a very good brand ), would not eat it, tried Natural balance Duck & Pea in canned, wouldn't eat it either, tried others too and RC is the only one he does not turn his nose up at in the canned.

If your cat would have something like undiagnosed IBD  which can only be rightfully diagnosed by a biopsy but an x-ray can tell a lot, your cat would need to be on a Hypoallergenic diet, one protein source, preferably one your cat has never tried before like Duck or Rabbit and also grain free since grains can be an allergen..

The vet at first wanted me to try the Gastrointestional RX Diets they had, since I was uneducated about IBD I did purchase it  but he continued to vomit and was scratching like crazy. I did some research and asked if we could try a hypoallergenic food and vet was agreeable. This has worked so far along with giving him Fortiflora dusted over his dry food (not the best choice but it helps with his appetite) and Curcuvet from Thorne Research (helps with inflammation, protects the liver & Kidneys).

Foods, check the ingredients carefully, make sure there is no wheat gluten or soy products and some people have had issues with their animals when Guar gum is in pet's  canned food.

Have your vet check your cat's teeth as suggested from a few members and possibly do an x-ray to rule out inflammatory bowel disease.

Also , B-12 injections have helped some as it usually increases appetite.....

Some good non Rx canned foods are : Nature's Variety Instinct Limited ingredient diet canned and dry in turkey  and Nature;s Variety Instinct LID canned Duck , Nature's Variety Instinct Rabbit  LID in canned and dry.(no soy, no grains, no guar gum)

Another couple choices would be Addiction canned in duck but I can not find it in any of our local pet stores or neither First Mate which appears to be a great cat food.(I don't think first mate has turkey or duck though)

The fortiflora , it can be ordered online at a cheaper price than at the vet, I don't think it is considered a prescription that can only be purchased from your vet.

I only use Fortiflora because my cat eats so much better when I dust some over his dry and because he expects it now... .

I had a cat once that started eating less and she had a chipped tooth so checking out the teeth is a very good idea...

Good luck

.

some after thoughts/ information

Even if the vet checks out the teeth/mouth, possibly does an x-ray of the GI tract and is fine I would still try a gluten free, grain free, one protein source food.

It is hard when you don't know if just maybe it could be an ingredient in the pet food like soy, grains, guar gum or the actual protein source .

With senior cats the three common illness are Diabetes, usually but not always the symptoms may be: Drink alot, pee alot, weight loss but still have a good appetite.

Hyperthyroidism, vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, usually has an excellent appetite but does not gain weight, sometimes  very vocal

.

Kidney failure, drink alot , pee alot, lack of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, sometimes very vocal

When these three have been ruled out another likely source might be the GI tract, possibly Inflammatory bowel disease which symptoms could be vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, weight loss, lack of appetite.. an x-ray or ultra sound can be helpful but does not give you a definite diagnosis without a biopsy which I personally would not do with a senior cat .The x-ray or ultra sound can sometimes reveal abnormalties though and gives the vet more insight.

I am assuming a urinalysis has been done to check out concentration of urine, make sure there are not alot of proteins in the urine, etc... ?

Has the vet already looked at the mouth and teeth ?

Has the vet suggested or performed an x-ray or ultrasound of the GI tract ?

T3- freeT4 thyroid , total thyroid has been Done , right ? reference range is usually 0.8-4.7 for T4, older cats or cats that have clinical signs , a range of 2.3-4.7 might put them in the "grey zone " for hyperthyroidism so a free T-4 should be included when checking for thyroid disorders...

All electrolytes such as potassium, etc normal range ?

Red blood cell , HGb, HCT all well within higher end of normal ?

lymphocytes, eosinophils all well within normal range also ? Abnormal values(even normal Lows) could indicate GI disorders such as Inflammatory bowel disease.

Gums are nice and pink ? Pale gums could suggest Anemia but I am sure blood test would have confirmed something like that ...

Just some after thoughts......

I know exactly what you are going through.  My oldest cat Bo, started to lose a lot of weight towards the end of his life.  He did have some health issues though (diabetes and epilepsy)  

Anyway, I'd suggest sub-cutaneous fluids.  I took Bo to the vet usually 2-3 times per week for fluids.  Those always seemed to  kind of "perk him up"

As for foods, the majority of the people on here are saying switch away from Fancy Feast.  My vet told me that a study showed that Fancy Feast is the best tasting cat food for cats.  I'm not for sure how valid or reliable that study was....or where that information came from....but that is what my vet told me.  

When Bo started losing weight, I went out and bought a bunch of different brands/varieties of wet food.  For the most part, he wouldn't touch any of the natural food like Wellness, Blue Buffalo, etc.  He did like some of the packets of Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance cat food.  I would also suggest trying the Fancy Feast Elegant Medley's (if you haven't tried them already)   That was Bo's favorite!

I used to buy my Fancy Feast at places like Target....but I'd suggest visiting a Petco or Pet Supplies Plus store (I had a VERY bad experience with Petsmart...so I don't shop there)  They have a MASSIVE selection of Fancy Feast.  

I wish you the best of luck!

I have a (now) 13 year old cat that dropped from 10 lbs to 7 due to hyperthyroidism. 2 years ago had the iodine therapy done, and over the last year he's struggled somewhat with IBD. I've had good luck with Merrick grain-free wet food (duck pate, since I wanted to try him on a novel protein). I've also had him on Natural Balance/Limited Ingredient Diet (wet) venison & pea. I elected not to do a biopsy on the IBD, but have have good results from a depo-medrol shot once every 4-6 weeks. I have a now 17 year old Himalayan female who is a little over 5 lbs; she has taken to eating the Merrick as well.

I would take a look at the nutritional value of the food you are using and maybe lean toward something with higher protein?

http://binkyspage.tripod.com/CanFoodNew.html

After having my 14 year old cat Angie euthanized last week, my other cat, Tibby, has taken a slight turn for the worse. The two cats weren't all that fond of each other the past 10 years, but tolerated each other. I don't think Tibby really cares one iota that Angie isn't here anymore. No apparent depression-like behavior, but I have noticed her health is going down hill too. They both had feline herpes and both began showing signs of CKD about 2-3 years ago. Angie developed leukemia last year and Tibby started having epileptic seizures.

Tibby's seizures are now under control with Phenobarbital, but after Tibby's recent semi-annual exam, her blood and urine results are pointing to definite CKD. Symptoms are peeing lakes in the litter box, decreased appetite, some weight loss last year but she regained it this year. She's only vomited once, so the vet suspects acidosis too. So, she's now also on 1/4 of a 10 mg Pepcid AC pill every other day. I also had her take some Slippery Elm Syrup the past two days. This soothes the acidosis, helps to coat the esophagus, stomach and gut. But, I'm concerned about having her on the Pepcid AC, the Slippery Elm, and the Pheno at the same time.

I've read seizures can be caused by CKD, so I'm thinking of stopping the Pheno, but haven't discussed it with my vet yet. My favorite vet from the practice moved away a few weeks ago (boo-oo, cause we all really liked him - me and the cats - but he got married and moved to MA). I'm now thinking of moving to a vet that comes to the house to reduce Tibby's stress, which she gets going to the vet. Stress causes her feline herpes to flare up. When that happens, she can't smell her food so won't eat anything. It's also springtime so the neighbors' cats are also out more and coming by my house. Tibby sees them and tries to attack them through the glass door to the back yard. More stress is not good for Tibby.

One of the vets at the current practice recommended moving Tibby on to Hills k/d; so, I bought one can to try it. She won't touch it, though I only put a tiny amount in her normal food. None of my cats every liked that brand. I also started her on a liquid B-vit complex with iron (also recommended) yesterday. The brand I found is made by Nature's Plus, which appears to have her more lively now, but I'm concerned about some of the ingredients, so I'm not going to give her anymore until I discuss it with more than one vet. Still, she's not eating much. So, I'll try a few other brands of cat food and see what I can get her to eat. Raw food, she doesn't like either. Not a fish or beef fan either. I hope I can find something she likes soon. Would hate to loose her so soon too.