starving cat is filling out

the cat the i found that felt disgustingly skinny is filling out I have him on kitten food right now but when do i know hes filled out enough and i can switch to adult? He sure does eat a lot~! But ive beewn feeding him can after can of wet kitten food but I can still feel his ribs VERY VERY well and i can also feel his back bones when i pet his back its like im petting a alagator with fur on TOP! SO boney! BUt he has filled out though!


HAve any of you had cats this skinny/boney? how long did it take to fix them >?

Originally Posted by chausiefan

the cat the i found that felt disgustingly skinny is filling out I have him on kitten food right now but when do i know hes filled out enough and i can switch to adult? He sure does eat a lot~! But ive beewn feeding him can after can of wet kitten food but I can still feel his ribs VERY VERY well and i can also feel his back bones when i pet his back its like im petting a alagator with fur on TOP! SO boney! BUt he has filled out though!


HAve any of you had cats this skinny/boney? how long did it take to fix them >?

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That is so good to here. I think it is when you look at him and he seems fat LOL am not to sure.

Since kitten food has extra calories and nutrients, and your guy is so skinny, I'd wait till he reaches a normal weight to switch to adult food.
Bless you for taking him in!

I agree with Zissou'sMom!

Switch him when he reaches the weight you want him to maintain.

I think I saw a website before that has a graph that shows what they look like. Sort of like the one in the vets office that has ideal weight overweight charts.

Originally Posted by momof3rugratz

I think I saw a website before that has a graph that shows what they look like. Sort of like the one in the vets office that has ideal weight overweight charts.

Click to expand...

Here you go.

http://www.placervillevet.com/feline...0condition.htm

Originally Posted by chausiefan

the cat the i found that felt disgustingly skinny is filling out I have him on kitten food right now but when do i know hes filled out enough and i can switch to adult? He sure does eat a lot~! But ive beewn feeding him can after can of wet kitten food but I can still feel his ribs VERY VERY well and i can also feel his back bones when i pet his back its like im petting a alagator with fur on TOP! SO boney! BUt he has filled out though!


HAve any of you had cats this skinny/boney? how long did it take to fix them >?

Click to expand...

When we took Frankie in, her back legs couldn't support her if she tried to pivot, and she frequently would tip over, she was basically skin over bones. For the first three weeks that we had her, she did nothing but eat and sleep and gained 3 lbs. in 3 weeks! I too fed her kitten food, dry, with a little bit of canned - she seemed to prefer kibble. Our vet estimated she was up to 5 lbs. below her normal weight, and I do admit that after the 3 weeks, she kept gaining until she had quite a little round belly. I then cut back just a bit and she slimmed down a little, but could stand to lose a bit more.

Our vet said she was okay so long as she gained no more, before she lost a bit, so I feel pretty good about where she's at now.

I'd keep feeding this kitty all he'll take in until he's got a bit of padding over that backbone, hips and ribs.

Did your vet give an estimate of the kitty's age?

You will have to post pictures please.

hello

yes the cat is about 4 or 5 years old he weighs 9 pounds the vet said at about 11 or 12 he would be perfect size

When, where, how did you find him? Poor kitty I'm glad he's with you now

nevermind I found it: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81866

on your new kitty-- I hope he continues improving can't wait to see a pic.

just curious a cat being to skinny and unhealthy skinny at 9 pounds isnt that a really big cat? its just my other cat is 6 pounds and the vet said shes perfect and she doesnt seem overly small or anything

Nope, 9 to 11 pounds is right for an average adult cat...

Some breeds are small-boned, though; and of course younger cats will weigh less. Perhaps your cat is a small breed (or a mix of small breeds), or a young adult?

I took care of a cat who weighed about 6 pounds; he was, at the time, only 11 months old--barely grown up, really--and a neutered male. A lean cat with good muscles and a high level of energy is probably fine--especially if, as with the cat I knew, he is also extremely mischeivous and tends to tire out anyone who plays with him... and still be begging for more!

Well Skittles might be a tad over weight then she is almost 11

It really varies based on their bone structure. Willow has consistently been 7 to 8 pounds her entire adult life, and she's a perfect weight. Spot was skinny, due to his thyroid. He finally started to look normal at 11 pounds, though he spent most of his year and a half with me at much lower weights (he was 7.5 pounds when I found him). My boyfriend has one cat who's normal weight is about 5.5 to 6 pounds, but the others should be around 10 to 12 pounds (they're all overweight). Each cat, like each person, is different.