Thin and shivers occasionally

mainecoonmama12

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So Lilly-Belle is still very thin, but we've now noticed something new. She shivers sometime. I think she's cold, because it happens when she goes outside. I'm just not sure if we need to do more food for her or what. I'm also not sure what's causing all of this
 

fyllis

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Is this a continuation from another post? 

We would need a LOT more information if you wanted advice. 

I'm confused.....
 
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mainecoonmama12

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Is this a continuation from another post? 

We would need a LOT more information if you wanted advice. 

I'm confused.....
Somewhat, I posted a couple days ago about Chewie being heavy, and Lilly-Belle being very thin. She's a year and a half old Maine Coon/Siamese mix and weighs 4 lbs, which I know is super underweight, you can feel her spine when you pet her. I've also noticed that if she's in certain environments, she'll start to shake, I assume it's because she is so thin, that she doesn't have enough body fat to keep her warm, but I'm not totally sure. Her previous owners fed her low-grade wet food as a treat, so she never ate too much with them. 
 

donutte

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I remember you talking about Lilly-Belle in that other thread. It sounded (if I recall right) based on what you mentioned about her, that she might have some sort of thyroid issue. But regardless, it definitely sounds like she needs a trip to the vet. Not sure what the shivering would be from. I know kidney cats can twitch but that's when they're late-stage usually, and she'd have no appetite long before that point. I think you had said she eats a lot.
 
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mainecoonmama12

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I was, we plan on taking her sometime soon, it's just really hard to plan that time. She's still eating, and she's even been more active and playful, so I'm not sure. 
 

donutte

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I was, we plan on taking her sometime soon, it's just really hard to plan that time. She's still eating, and she's even been more active and playful, so I'm not sure. 
In her case, I would not use her still eating as a determination of health, nor the fact that she has a lot of energy. One of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism is eating a lot, as well as losing weight while eating a lot. You truly, truly don't want to wait until she shows symptoms of obvious illness. By that point, it's a LOT harder to treat. I'm not speaking off the top of my head here, but from my own experience. By the time I took Sara in, her T4 was through the roof at 21. For reference, the high normal is 4, and even then vets prefer it to be under 2 as a rule. What's worse though was she has atypical symptoms when it gets really high - she stops eating. Trying to feed a cat that doesn't want to eat is not any fun at all.

I would just try to plan it as soon as possible. Please don't wait until she's symptomatic, or use how she is acting now as a basis for "when". I'm not saying she has this, but if she does, you want to catch it ASAP.
 
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mainecoonmama12

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In her case, I would not use her still eating as a determination of health, nor the fact that she has a lot of energy. One of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism is eating a lot, as well as losing weight while eating a lot. You truly, truly don't want to wait until she shows symptoms of obvious illness. By that point, it's a LOT harder to treat. I'm not speaking off the top of my head here, but from my own experience. By the time I took Sara in, her T4 was through the roof at 21. For reference, the high normal is 4, and even then vets prefer it to be under 2 as a rule. What's worse though was she has atypical symptoms when it gets really high - she stops eating. Trying to feed a cat that doesn't want to eat is not any fun at all.

I would just try to plan it as soon as possible. Please don't wait until she's symptomatic, or use how she is acting now as a basis for "when". I'm not saying she has this, but if she does, you want to catch it ASAP.
Right now, we're trying to get the money to do it, so we're either taking her to Banfield, which is where we take Chewie, or to Orange County, where there's a low-cost clinic. 
 

donutte

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Right now, we're trying to get the money to do it, so we're either taking her to Banfield, which is where we take Chewie, or to Orange County, where there's a low-cost clinic. 
That is a good plan. Her weight is so low so it worries me a bit already. But when you are able to take her in, please let us know how it goes.
 

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Are you in Florida?  If you're in Orange County, Florida, please don't go to Banfield.  Their services are poor and they are very costly when compared to private vets.  Banfield will seduce you with the "free" exam but then, once you're in there, hit you with every conceivable charge possible.

A much better low cost option would be http://www.michiganstreetanimalhospital.com/index.php

Or http://www.affordable-vet-care.com/

Pet Alliance is also quite good but I find the wait can be intolerable and the service is never as good as the above two establishments.
 
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mainecoonmama12

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Are you in Florida?  If you're in Orange County, Florida, please don't go to Banfield.  Their services are poor and they are very costly when compared to private vets.  Banfield will seduce you with the "free" exam but then, once you're in there, hit you with every conceivable charge possible.

A much better low cost option would be http://www.michiganstreetanimalhospital.com/index.php

Or http://www.affordable-vet-care.com/

Pet Alliance is also quite good but I find the wait can be intolerable and the service is never as good as the above two establishments.
I am in Orange County, Fl. I've heard that before with Banfield, but not until we had already signed Chewie up for it, we haven't really had any problems with pricing and the services have been good. They all know Chewie and love when he comes to visit. But we'll definitely look into those others as well, thank you!
 
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