are birmans meant to be thin

hi all
my sister took in a 2 year old birman from a neibour who didnt want her anymore because shes peeing on her couch, well when we got her into the house the cat started purring away and is happily settling in ok, but shes VERY VERY thin her spine is sticking up and shes soo light the last owner says she just ate tuna but i think we need to feed her up and get some weight on her she look healthy enought , bright eyed ect, but what can we give her that can be bought in scotland , or any home made recipes thanks all

When you say all the cat was fed is Tuna? Do you mean canned Tuna for humans? If so then thats the main cause of the cats weight problem. Tuna is not a healthy diet for any cat. As a treat once in awhile. Or to entice a sick cat to eat then yes . But as its main diet. NO!
I don't have any idea what types of cat food are available in Scotland. You must have pet stores that sell high quality pet foods. Even super market cat food is better then tuna fish.
Check around pet stores in your area and pick a good brand of dry (kibbles) and also serve your cat canned high quality cat food.

i will let her know asap.
i take it it is canned tuna the last owner gave her , but shes just so thin i dont think this lady meant any baddnes but shes not done this beuty any favors either i will get the new food personaly for my sis tmorrow thanks cheryl xx

Birmans should have a heavy to medium build to them, and you should definately not be able to feel the spine or ribs. If this poor kitty has been fed tuna her whole life, she might be a little small, but a typical Birman girl should probably weigh in somewhere around 10 pounds, give or take a few up or down if I remember right. They're pretty large cats overall. Glad your sister has taken her in, and we'd love pictures (especially me! I've yet to meet a Birman I didn't like! )

In any cat, you should not feel any bones sticking out. It is okay to feel the hip bones but there should be a layer of fat over them. If the hip bones feel like there is nothing covering them but skin and fur, that is the biggest sign that a cat is too thin. Cats are genetically programmed to be different sizes (one of mine is less than 3 kg at almost 3 years old!), but there is a difference between normal thin and too thin.

Poor cat. On a diet of tuna she will have vitamin deficiency as well as weight loss. I hope your sister will take her to the vet asap for a full checkup - if she has come from an ignorant (if well meaning) home she will probably not have shots or been dewormed, and that could also cause weight problems. I am so glad she now has people who want to do the right thing!

Try hi-life kitten food (kitten food has more calories so will build her up a bit) or royal canin kitten food.

I like Hi-life because its made with real meat and actually looks and smells like food!

thanks for all your help i will buy hi life in morn we get it ok here aslo as soon as i get a pic i will post it , i saw the cat toaday its a shame for her shes just very quiete but ill make sure she gets better soon and build her up , shell be fine xxxxxx

You should tell your sister that she must have a vet check up. She might very well have worms. And she does need shots if she has not had them

How did that poor cat come along after getting proper food and care? Any pictures from before and after?

My Birman, Punky,  (altered male) is nine years old and  weighs between 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 lbs. Our vet thinks he may get to ten pounds and not be overweight. I do hope you are able to bring her to a vet soon for a checkup and get  proper nutrition for her.  Please post a picture of her when you can.

Punkysmom said:

 
My Birman, Punky,  (altered male) is nine years old and  weighs between 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 lbs. Our vet thinks he may get to ten pounds and not be overweight. I do hope you are able to bring her to a vet soon for a checkup and get  proper nutrition for her.  Please post a picture of her when you can.

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My spayed female Birman named Capucchino is 16 years old and she weighs now 9 1/2 lbs but she used to weigh 12 lbs and she was not fat then, probably had more muscles and she ran  and jumped around a lot. Now that she is getting to be a grand old lady she sits around a lot more, sleeps more and is more affectionate. Just like a lot of older people start losing a bit of weight my cat also has but she has also been stable at the same weight for a few years now.  i just hope this poor cat gets the proper food and care she so desperately needs. Obviously the former owners thought that fish would be a good food and canned tuna was easy and probably cheap too. They just never found out about proper care of cats, so many of us in our younger years didn't either, but things have changed and the info is out there everywhere unless you live without TV and radio, never read a magazine and have never spoken to anyone else about your cats.

Snowis mom, please post pictures of this poor cat, we would all like to root for her but it would be easier if we had an image of her better than just our imagination. 

segelkatt said:

 
How did that poor cat come along after getting proper food and care? Any pictures from before and after?

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This thread is originally from 2006; it doesn't look like the Original Poster has been on in several years so you may not get a reply here. 

I did notice that but I had hoped to hear something about this poor cat. In any case, if even one other cat can be helped by our comments it is worth it. Who knows, this cat may still be living a happy and healthy but elderly life, considering that so many live to be over 20 and we don't know how old this particular cat was when it was rescued from ignorant people.  But thanks.

Thanks, Segelkatt, I hadn't noticed the date. Need to remember to do that!  I hope the OP does notice the replies and lets us know how the kitty fared.