Thinner?

My beloved Putan Bare Scherezade AKA PuBare will turn 15 in May. His weight has been dropping slowly for maybe the last year. I can feel every ridge in his spine. He's 9.5 pounds, down from 11 most of his life.

He eats like a horse, he's showing no signs of weakness, he's happy and social with a best friend who hangs with him. His hair has thinned a bit (he just got his haircut in this photo) and when it grows out, it gets gray and brittle at the ends (he's quite longhaired). He's been on 5 mg. of Claritin for his asthma and hair patches for several years now (and indeed, he no longer has asthma attacks).

So, is this weight loss entirely due to aging? Should I be worried? 2 of my friends cats are near the same age and also getting thinner. But I hope someone has greater knowledge.

Thanks,

Have you had him checked for hyperthyroidism? Yes, it's normal for cats to lose a wee bit of weight but if you can feel his spine then that to me sounds as if it's not quite normal. My 14 year old cat Holly died from hyperthyroidism 3 years ago. She had lost a lot of weight and by the time it was diagnosed her heart was damaged and she died of a massive heart attack. With hindsight, I should have had her at the vet a lot sooner but I thought her weight loss was normal and she still had a good appetite!
I would get your fur baby checked out!y

Thanks. If I ask for advice ,  I take that advice. I'll get him to the Vet on Monday. Hyperthyroidism. 

I know the average age of indoor cats is supposedly 14. I try to make myself accept that. but I know that I really need him to live a lot longer so he can take care of me in my own dotage (I'm 70). I've met cats that made it to 22 and I need him to do the same!

Again, thanks for helping.

I'm glad you're taking him to the Vet.  My first thought was Hyperthyroidism also, especially since you said he eats like a horse.  Luckily they have medication for Hyperthyroidism, so if that's what it is, he might still make it to age 22 .  They also have some sort of radiation therapy which can completely eradicate the problem, if, indeed, that's the issue.  It's kind of pricey, but from what I've heard, works extremely well. 

Keep us posted

I will keep this thread updated and I appreciate you.

He is my good friend and lifelong companion. He is polite and a good communicator. He really is a great guy and I need him to keep myself stable. I will do anything at any cost as long as he does not suffer. 

poppysmummy said:

Have you had him checked for hyperthyroidism? Yes, it's normal for cats to lose a wee bit of weight but if you can feel his spine then that to me sounds as if it's not quite normal. My 14 year old cat Holly died from hyperthyroidism 3 years ago. She had lost a lot of weight and by the time it was diagnosed her heart was damaged and she died of a massive heart attack. With hindsight, I should have had her at the vet a lot sooner but I thought her weight loss was normal and she still had a good appetite!
I would get your fur baby checked out!y

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mrsgreenjeens said:

 
I'm glad you're taking him to the Vet.  My first thought was Hyperthyroidism also, especially since you said he eats like a horse.  Luckily they have medication for Hyperthyroidism, so if that's what it is, he might still make it to age 22

.  They also have some sort of radiation therapy which can completely eradicate the problem, if, indeed, that's the issue.  It's kind of pricey, but from what I've heard, works extremely well. 

Keep us posted

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Apparently the lab does not find indication of thyroid issues. I spoke briefly to the duty Vet but I'll learn more when I see my main Vet tomorrow. 

He seems so healthy and yet this is a 20% weight loss in less than a year and more yet from his all time record of 12 pounds. 

Any suggestions as to what to test for will be appreciated. 

I'm trying to remember the details, but it seems to me that when we were having Cindy tested they told us that sometimes thyroid problems don't show up in the standard tests and we had to have a special one done.  Can somebody elaborate or correct me if I'm wrong.  Poor little Cindy has had so many tests, and I'm thinking that particular issue was thyroid but I'm not 100% sure it wasn't some other thing. 

I took him back in today so they could take more blood and run as full of a panel as possible. Interestingly, he gained 8 ounces since 2 days ago so either the scales are not dependable or ???

I asked the Vet if there was any chance this was just weight loss due to aging. He said that was possible and that is what I hope is the real situation. 

When the tests come back tomorrow, I'll ask if it might be worth treating him with thyroid medication on sheer speculation. Just in case....if there is nothing to lose by doing so.

I'm at a loss as to my next move. Even 2 Vet visits in 2 days has not upset the Pu. He's quite upbeat, if anything, he feels special, just as he does after he gets a haircut (the other 2 are shorthairs). I can just hope for the best and please know that any advice I get here I do take to the Vet. He respects the opinions of others and sometimes we owners have experiences that are helpful to guiding the Vet (that will listen).

The tests are back.

His blood sugar is low. My Vet says he has never seen this condition in a cat, just dogs...but it might be that he is "starving" even though he is eating. The treatment is a regimen of cortisone, I'll pick it up tomorrow.

Otherwise, his tests show normal.

PREDNISONE

5 mg. tablets

take 1/2 tablet (2.5 mg.) every 48 hours for 60 days (fully use all 30 tablets)

...and my tip. There is a treat called OH NO! HAIRBALL. It is big enough, soft enough and tasty enough that I just hide the pill inside and they scarf it up without a word or meow. I've tried every kind of pill [pocket and treat strategy and this is the winner. 

I'll update his weight periodically so you can learn if this is the solution to his low sugar/weight loss.

Can I ask where you bought Oh No Hairball? Is it available in the UK? My cat is an absolute nightmare to get tablets into and this sounds perfect! Hope you fur baby continues to improve and puts on weight!

Here is the product 
I don't think it's in the UK though. I got mine at Petsmart and then I bought bulk from Amazon.

Misty8723 said:

 
I'm trying to remember the details, but it seems to me that when we were having Cindy tested they told us that sometimes thyroid problems don't show up in the standard tests and we had to have a special one done.  Can somebody elaborate or correct me if I'm wrong.  Poor little Cindy has had so many tests, and I'm thinking that particular issue was thyroid but I'm not 100% sure it wasn't some other thing. 

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If you can find out, I'll really appreciate it. Sometimes you have to encourage your Vet because they don't know everything and they will listen if you bring them info. 

specklebang said:

 
If you can find out, I'll really appreciate it. Sometimes you have to encourage your Vet because they don't know everything and they will listen if you bring them info. 

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I've looked back over Cindy's records and asked DH about it.  It was definitely thyroid, because Cindy had two tests and they both came out fine.  Then we were seeing and internal medicine specialist and she told us that sometimes the regular tests don't show it and they have to do a special test.  I don't see any record of what the test was actually called, but I do remember that there was one test that could only be analyzed at Texas A&M (I think, it was some place in Texas and other vets I've spoken with have known what it was without my telling them.)  If I can find out more information, I'll let you know. 

Thank you. I will ask my Vet to look into this and/or ask him to treat for thyroid condition. He's not regaining any weight.  I'm giving him his cortisone dose every other day as instructed. He's still very active and happy and eating anything he can get his paws on.