I adopted a cat today!

deadirishd

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I adopted a cat today of which seems 100% healthy EXCEPT for his coat, his sneezing, and him being way to skinny... still acts like a normal cat though.

my ?'s are

What can be affecting his sneezing?
What are some good ways to get an old cat to gain weight?
and what are some good ways to get his coat beautiful and healthy again?
 

xocats

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Has your kitty been checked by a vet?
That is very important to rule our illness, begin inoculations & worming.

Congratulations on your new kitty.

Welcome to TCS.
 

tnr1

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Originally Posted by DeadIrishD

I adopted a cat today of which seems 100% healthy EXCEPT for his coat, his sneezing, and him being way to skinny... still acts like a normal cat though.

my ?'s are

What can be affecting his sneezing?
What are some good ways to get an old cat to gain weight?
and what are some good ways to get his coat beautiful and healthy again?
Thank you for adopting..it is always recommended to take a cat to the vet within 7 days of adoption to verify that the cat is healthy and has received all it's shots. Sneezing can be allergies or a URI..but that is best diagnosed by a vet. Feeding him a high quality cat food will probably improve his coat and his weight. Look for one with "meat" as the first ingredient (chicken, lamb, beef, tuna)

Good Luck

Katie
 

cloud_shade

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Do you know how old the kitty is? I would highly suggest that he have some bloodwork done, as he may have an underlying condition causing his skinniness. Treating the condition would help him gain weight. It's also possible that he was stressed from being in a shelter environment.

When I found Spot, we immediately discovered he was hyperthyroid. He was very thin when I brought him home, but he did gain after being given the appropriate treatment. He was treated with pills and did very well on them (there are other options for thyroid conditions as well).

After Spot passed on, I adopted Odo. He had lost some weight while at the shelter. After I brought him back for a recheck, I learned that the vet who treated him at the shelter thought they would lose him because he was so stressed from being there. When I brought him home, he was borderline anemic. After two weeks, his anemia is completely resolved and he has gained 11 ounces.

The key is to find out what underlying conditions may be causing the skinniness and then acting on them.
 

emily_325

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If he has been at a shelter the sneezing is probably a URI. It's very contagious amongst cats. You will need to take him to a vet
and they will prescribe you an antibiotic, and your kitty will probably start feeling better and stop sneezing in a week or two, depending on the severity of the URI. Don't be surprised if it gets worse before it gets better too. My husband and I just went through this with our new kitten.

The important things are: take your cat to a vet and get their professional opinion, keep nose and eyes clean if they start to run or have discharge (use a warm rag and be gentle), and if your cat has trouble breathing when it gets too congested a humidifier in a room with it might help.

Other than that lots of TLC, rest, and good high quality meat based food as suggested above. Should help weight and coat. Good luck and welcome to TCS!
 

kluchetta

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Originally Posted by emily_325

The important things are: take your cat to a vet and get their professional opinion, keep nose and eyes clean if they start to run or have discharge (use a warm rag and be gentle), and if your cat has trouble breathing when it gets too congested a humidifier in a room with it might help.
Also running the shower on hot and making steam in the room helps with congestion. Like with a baby with croup.
 
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deadirishd

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Originally Posted by cloud_shade

Do you know how old the kitty is? I would highly suggest that he have some bloodwork done, as he may have an underlying condition causing his skinniness. Treating the condition would help him gain weight. It's also possible that he was stressed from being in a shelter environment.


When I found Spot, we immediately discovered he was hyperthyroid. He was very thin when I brought him home, but he did gain after being given the appropriate treatment. He was treated with pills and did very well on them (there are other options for thyroid conditions as well).

After Spot passed on, I adopted Odo. He had lost some weight while at the shelter. After I brought him back for a recheck, I learned that the vet who treated him at the shelter thought they would lose him because he was so stressed from being there. When I brought him home, he was borderline anemic. After two weeks, his anemia is completely resolved and he has gained 11 ounces.

The key is to find out what underlying conditions may be causing the skinniness and then acting on them.
(He is around 15 years old, and was adopted from someone on Craigs List.)
 
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deadirishd

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Also,

I adopted him, knowing that this cat used the litter box 90% of the time, and did pee outside of the litter box, but other than that thought that he was perfectly healthy.... I have a very limited amount of cash due to family issues, and really need to find a vet in the NH area that'd be willing to treat him, either for a cheaper price, or work out some kind of payment plan.
 

jen

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what city do you live in?
Has the cat been to the vet lately by the people who previously owned him?
He really needs a vet and a senior panel done to find out if htere are any illnesses present that you may be unaware of. Also his peeing could be from a UTI or crystals.
 

sashacat421

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You are an angel.
Welcome to TCS and thank you from the bottom of my heart for adopting a senior - a true senior!! golly. Most vets will work out a payment plan, or if there is a Humane Society near you they have a sliding scale. He needs a check up and most likely picked up a URI. At 15 that's fairly common and treatable.

I adopted my Sammy May 20, and he's a beautiful 8 year old brown tiger tabby. Nobody wanted him. He is allergic to everything, but we're in food trials right now and I've had the house professionally cleaned.... he's the most affectionate, sweetest, coolest, most loving guy. I know my Sasha (RIP May 11, age 14) would approve.


Please keep us posted!!
 
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deadirishd

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Originally Posted by Jen

what city do you live in?
Has the cat been to the vet lately by the people who previously owned him?
He really needs a vet and a senior panel done to find out if htere are any illnesses present that you may be unaware of. Also his peeing could be from a UTI or crystals.
They said that he had alot of testing and everything done, but I am hoping that they send me paper work, as I had asked... funny how the conversation was good before, but now it turned to stink?

I live in Portsmouth NH.
 
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deadirishd

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Originally Posted by sashacat421

You are an angel.
Welcome to TCS and thank you from the bottom of my heart for adopting a senior - a true senior!! golly. Most vets will work out a payment plan, or if there is a Humane Society near you they have a sliding scale. He needs a check up and most likely picked up a URI. At 15 that's fairly common and treatable.

I adopted my Sammy May 20, and he's a beautiful 8 year old brown tiger tabby. Nobody wanted him. He is allergic to everything, but we're in food trials right now and I've had the house professionally cleaned.... he's the most affectionate, sweetest, coolest, most loving guy. I know my Sasha (RIP May 11, age 14) would approve.


Please keep us posted!!
You may call me an angel, and thank me all you would like, but you know what, it's worth it, I don't care how long this cat, has to live as long as he has a happy life-long home, and knows the true meanng of love.

I had loved this cat, since the day I read the post about him, and to me I have all of the thank-you's I need because of his love for me.

I do not care if a cat goes to the bathroom, outside of the litter box, or is allergic to anything, heck where is the love for the love?!?! why love a cat less for being a sweet heart, and lovable and judge it by minor down falls? Yano?
 

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I completely understand. There was nothing in the world I wouldn't do for Spot just for those moments when he would sit on my chest and gaze at me with a look of appreciation. He too was an older kitty (don't know how old for sure, as I found him at the Community College all skin and bones), and I had 19 wonderful months with him. Two months after he passed, I adopted Odo, who is about 11 (a stray, who I adopted from the shelter). He's still a little skittish, but he is also happy to be petted and to have a warm safe place to be.
 
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deadirishd

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you guys happen to know how to introduce 2 cats?
 
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deadirishd

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my problem is the total opposite though... it's the new cat being afraid of Meadow.
will it still be the same princibles, I am pretty good at reading animal language and so far from what I can gather from Boris is that he bluffs alot but neither one of them have gotting into a fight, nor have they tried.... Boris is declawed.... and when Boris does hiss and trust me the hiss itself scares me, but Meadow does not move and just stays there checking out Boris.
 
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