Cat's lower body is significantly indented

savilyn

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My cat has appeared this way for a while now, but recently I've started to question whether this is normal or not.










This is Oreo, and she's a hefty cat. I'm aware that she's a bit overweight, and I've been trying to gradually fix that. What I'm really worried about is how her body gets thinner further down. Her tummy/pouch area hangs down (which I understand is common in cats, especially overweight ones) but strangely, her sides will curve inwards to make her lower body much more skinnier compared to the rest.





Is this normal? I personally haven't seen this on other cats before, but I can't afford to trek to the vets' unless I know that this is a problem. 





If it helps any, she doesn't seem to have much of an appetite. Oreo doesn't consume much at a time, and I find myself having to bring out the food bowl just a few hours after she's eaten because she hardly ate the first time. (I put away bowls right after feeding to prevent another ant infestation) She's also a (mostly) indoor cat. She does go outside, but usually, she'll spend her time lounging around the house. Even when she's outside, she's often laying down somewhere. 





Also, this hasn't happened in a few weeks, but Oreo has had a history of peeing in places that she shouldn't...usually right in front of me. I have had to lock her out of my room on several occasions because she would urinate, most commonly, on my bed, rarely a wall, and unfortunately on me. I haven't seen this behavior for a while now, but I think it's worth mentioning.  
 

thekittykeepers

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First thing I would do is start weighing her daily, see if she is indeed losing weight at an alarming rate. Second, but simultaneously, I would monitor her hydration level, and keep a close eye on her water bowl, make sure she is drinking. The fastest way to check her hydration is pinching the skin on the back of her neck, it should rebound instantly. If a ridge forms, and the skin does not rebound back to flat, she is already dehydrated. Small things will cause a cat not to eat of drink, tiny mouth problems, gingivitis, a tooth ache, or something viral, like herpes in cats can cause them not to eat/drink properly. You should look at her gums, they should be a healthy pink, if they are pale, this is not normal, nor is bright red or bleeding when pressed. If you see any of these signs, it's best to take her to the vet.

Don't wait too long, often minor problems can rapidly change into major one, and what might have taken a relatively inexpensive round of anti-biotics can turn into a life/death situation where hospitalization and IV treatment are required. When in doubt, see a vet. If you are having trouble affording this, call the local animal shelter and ask if they can just check her out, this usually costs nothing and you might get the answers you seek. Sincerely, the kittykeepers.

PS. It is always a great idea to start a relationship with your vet, let them know your situation, and most will do simple examinations at no charge, but that relationship needs to be a strong one for this to happen in most cases.
 
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savilyn

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Thank you for the tips and information! I checked for dehydration and pinkness in the gums, and both seemed to be in fine shape. I don't notice any abnormalities when I look in her mouth, but it's possible that I could have missed something.

As I was feeding her today, I also noticed that she scoots after she uses the litter box. She's done this on several occasions. I'd like to schedule something with my local vet, but my main problem is transportation. I don't have a car and neither do most of the people that I know (who live in the area). I didn't have too much of a problem when toting my other cat to the vets' and back on foot, but that's because it was an extremely light carrier and she was an underweight cat that I took in. Even then, carrying her for even a few minutes would strain my arms. Do you know if there are specific carriers that can help people who have to walk their cats to the vet? Or any ideas of how I could find transportation outside of friends/family? This has been the main thing that keeps me from taking my cats in. Getting a driving license isn't really an option for me, as I have certain impairments that would make driving dangerous.
 

thekittykeepers

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When I run out of carriers, I use my backpack. If it has a chest snap, then I move it to the front of me so I can interact with the cat while walking. This makes carrying a heavy cat so much easier, and since I am a disabled veteran, with 2 open spine surgeries under my belt, I need all the help I can get.

Hope this helps, can save you lots of money on buying a special carrier, for now at least. Sincerely, the kittykeepers.
 

darkhorse321

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My female has the same issue---she's quite..um, chubby ;) And, as a result, her belly sags. The vets say that it's quite common--much like someone elderly, you lose muscle tone as you age (my girl is almost 17). Add to that she was spayed and likely the muscles don't bounce back well, it can happen. 

It's good to make a note of it and if you notice any other signs such as increase in drinking water and urination, take her to the vet to check kidney values
 
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