Ideal weight for a cat?

indie-n-button

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Nov 29, 2015
Messages
345
Purraise
50
Location
Lahore, Pakistan
Alright so I've noticed that one of my cats, Indie, isn't as chubby as most of the other cat's I've seen. He's still active and playful though and almost all day he's playing around with me or trying to investigate everything and anything different!! He's always been rather slim, though he eats just as much as my other cat, Button, who is a lot more chubbier than he is. I'm guessing Indie's about 4-5 pounds (maybe a little more bc I'm terrible at judging weight lmao) would that be an alright weight for a cat? Oh and I should also add that he's un-neutered -- they both are.
 

They have a diet of raw chicken heads, liver, heart, lungs, and the 'port' as they call it over here? They also have egg whites too, and a spoonful of yoghurt every day. I give them some uncooked bones to chew on too, every so often. Could there be any foods that could fatten him up a little? Or would it be best to just leave him as he is?
 

ruaryx

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Dec 1, 2014
Messages
517
Purraise
145
It really depends on the cat.  There are so many factors such as breed, age, body type.  You could take them to a vet and ask them. There are also body charts online that help you figure out their ideal size.

http://burnspet.co.uk/assets/images/gallery/condition charts/Dog-&-cat-body-condition-chart-1.png

One of my cats looks too skinny to me, but when I asked the vet, they said he's at a perfect weight.  I guess I'm too used to my chubby cat's body type.  Also, any reason why they aren't neutered?  Personally, I would get that done ASAP. Hope this helped!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

indie-n-button

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Nov 29, 2015
Messages
345
Purraise
50
Location
Lahore, Pakistan
Well the cat in question was a stray, so I'm sure that hes probably just a standard domestic shorthair? Anyway I found out about the Feline BMI yesterday and his score is 15? I think that's okay? Plus he looks a lot like the 'ideal weight' in that chart you sent me, if not a bit chubbier!!

And they're not neutered bc where I am, they don't do it :/ I'm trying to look around to find a vet who can do it for me, but so far I've had no luck!!! Argh :mad:
 

ruaryx

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Dec 1, 2014
Messages
517
Purraise
145
Since he's a stray, it's very likely that he has worms.  He might be looking skinny because he's not getting all of his nutrients.  Can you take him to the vet to get dewormed?    

Are you making sure that the raw food you give him is balanced?  It should be 80% meat, 10% bone, 5% liver, and 5% other secreting organ.  Also, in regards to the egg, you shouldn't feed them only egg whites.  Whole eggs and yolks are okay but raw egg whites shouldn't be fed on their own (however you can cook them).  Raw egg whites have something in it that makes vitamin b unavailable.  

Thanks for taking care of these babies!  I hope you can find a vet that'll neuter soon.   
 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

indie-n-button

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Nov 29, 2015
Messages
345
Purraise
50
Location
Lahore, Pakistan
I'm pretty sure it's not worms, he was a stray as a kitten and I don't let him out of the house at ALL now!! But is there a physical exam I can do to check if he's got worms at home before I take him in to the vet? The vets is about an hour away and he really hates being in the car :/

Yes it's definately all that!! :D But could you give me another example of a secreting organ? I feed him heart, lungs, stomach and brains (he gets that from the chicken heads I give him... along with the tongue too which he loves! YUCK!). And I boil the egg-whites I give him, are those okay? And I've tried him on egg yolk, but he's really picky about eating it, he has to really be in the mood!! And wouldn't they get salmonella from the raw egg? Oh gosh sorry for all the questions!!! :S

I hope so too!! I'm sure it'll make them a lot less of a handful, haha xD
 

ruaryx

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Dec 1, 2014
Messages
517
Purraise
145
Hm, I think the only way to check for worms that I'm aware of (other than your cat pooping them out or puking them out) is getting a fecal exam done at the vet.  You can just drop off the sample without bringing in the kitty, however you might want to bring in kitty and get an exam done anyways.  I'm not sure about where you are, but here it is normal to run certain tests with formerly stray cats.  They're usually dewormed, given their rabies and FVRCP shots, and tested for FIV and FELV.  This is usually done before letting the stray mingle with a healthy house cat.  Worms are pretty common in cats even if they don't go outside.  

Here's a good cheat sheet about what counts as organs vs. meat:

http://catcentric.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Prey-Model-Raw-Cheat-Sheet.pdf

Yup, boiled egg whites should be fine.  Here's a good article regarding your concern about salmonella:

http://catcentric.org/care-and-health/salmonella-e-coli-and-listeria-oh-my/

Ask away!  It's great that you care so much about your kitty. :]  
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

indie-n-button

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Nov 29, 2015
Messages
345
Purraise
50
Location
Lahore, Pakistan
He doesn't seem to be pooping them out? And if he had them would my other cat have them too? But Butty isn't showing any signs of worms or tummy upsets!! :O I'm in Pakistan at the moment, and over here veterinary care is almost none-existent :/ I'm yet to find a vet who actually knows what they're doing and doesn't charge an arm and a leg for simple things... Oh? I didn't know indoor cats could get worms too oh bOY :S

Thanks for the links!! And yes I'm definately feeding my cats enough!! Though they get wings like every day at the moment (My mum was able to pick up some for a rlly good deal at the butchers) Other than that they're on liver, lungs, heart, brain, chicken heads, and spleen, as well as that weird wrinkly looking organ that I don't know the name of... (Indie LOVES it though and is always meowing for more once its all gone!!)

Another thing, is it true that cooked bones aren't good for your fur-babies? I give mine uncooked ones just to be on the safe side but I'm still curious oops!! Annnnd does boiled chicken still contain all the nutrients they need? Or is raw always best?
 

ruaryx

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Dec 1, 2014
Messages
517
Purraise
145
He would only poop them out if he had a very heavy infestation, so it's still very possible that he has them even if you can't see any.  I think you can use worm medicine for cats that you can get at the pet store, but the problem is that it won't be able to kill certain species, but it should be better than nothing if you can't get to the vet.  Worms are transmitted through the litterbox, so if your cats share a litterbox and your formerly stray cat does have worms, then they probably have them too, which means you'll have to treat all of them.  Having worms isn't a very serious condition in an otherwise happy cat though, so don't panic.  

Cooked bones are BAD for cats.  They can splinter inside their throats and tummies.  Raw bones are fine because they are soft and pliable.  I believe raw chicken has more nutrients than cooked chicken.  Some people cook the chicken for their cats if they feel uncomfortable with feeding raw.  

Hopefully somebody with more knowledge chimes in too.  I'm definitely not an expert or anything. 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

indie-n-button

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Nov 29, 2015
Messages
345
Purraise
50
Location
Lahore, Pakistan
I'll have a look at the petstore for some dewormer, have you got any brands that you would recommend? And they don't have any nasty side-effects do they??? Also how would it be possible for an indoor cat do get worms? Would if be via mosquito or? Because he doesn't eat any rodents or come into contact with any other animals feces!! :O

Alright thanks!! Glad to know I'm on the right track there :) Hmmm I'll have to do some more research into it... either way my babies get both cooked and uncooked daily, so!!
 

ruaryx

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Dec 1, 2014
Messages
517
Purraise
145
Sorry, I've only ever treated my cats with prescribed medicine from the vet.  I am using Panacur right now, which seems to be accessible on Amazon.  I'm not sure about other worms, but the kind I was thinking of are roundworms.  They can be transmitted through breastmilk, sharing a litterbox, eating wild animals, eating things off of soil.  Even though he is indoors now, he might've gotten them when he was young.  I'm not saying that he definitely has them, but he likely does.  I haven't had any side-affects with dewormers personally.  
 
Top