Is it unrealistic to get a cat to gain 1 pound in 30 days?
On Dec 28th I adopted 2 more cats, a total of 8 now, a 4 month old kitten named Sophie and a 10 year old boy we named Murphy from a local animal shelter where I have adopted all my cats from present and past. This sad story is about Murphy the 10 year old. Murphy was given up to the shelter 8 months ago by his elderly owners who could no longer care for him. The was adopted within a week, the new owner, although they signed an agreement to do no harm or alterations to Murphy did, they first had him declawed then neglected him because he started biting them. After 6 months he was returned to the shelter, declawed, under weight, skin acne under his chin and so flea infected that he hardly has any fur left on his body. He still has scabs from flea bites from his neck to the end of his tail. So I have taken on the responsibility and challenge to make Murphy once more a happy cat in a living and caring home. On the day I picked him up from the shelter we went right to my vet for shots, a full exam and blood work. He is free of flea's but not the damage they did to him both physically and mentally. He was very good at the vet, no hissing or growling but more traumatized then anything. My vet cleaned his ears which though disgustingly filthy had no ear mites just heavy wax build up. For a full grown cat, who is a nice size male, he only weighed in at 8 lbs. Every rib of his is showing. His feet for some reason has ulcers on them, my vet said it could have been caused by him sitting in his cage at the shelter in his own pee because he is so traumatized, as I know the shelter very well and all cages are cleaned daily. My vet also told me he is probably very depressed. So after the vet, we head home. The little kitten went into my house first, since I had to set her up in a private room so she could relax after being fixed the day before I picked her and Murphy up. I left Murphy in the hallway, behind closed doors, in his carrier until I was done with the kitten. I always believed in immediate introductions with newbies but Murphy was a special cat. So I tried my usual way and decided if it went bad I could snatch Murphy up and put him in his own room as well. So I placed him in the middle of the living room and opened his carrier. Murphy walked right out of the carrier into my Virgil's nose, they did sniff sniff and all was well as Virgil walked away, next Matthew, sniff sniff nose to nose and Matthew was done. Now coming down the steps is Ryan the Alpha cat in my house, sniff then lots if hissing and growling by Ryan. Murphy just stood there looking again traumatized. So for 2 days their was lots if hissing and growling by Ryan, finally on day 3 Murphy hissed back and things started to settle down, except I couldn't get Murphy to eat. I tried hard food, canned food, raw food. I put hard food in doggie bowls on all 3 floors and in 5 different area's. Finally I got him to eat some hard food out of my hand while gently rubbing his face only on the side. Day 4 the blood work is back, all is some what ok, vitamin deficiency only so me and Murphy head back to the vet for a B12 and a vitamin shot. Now it's 12 days later, kitten is free doing her thing, running and jumping on everyone and anything. Murphy is still not eating good, he is only eating handfuls of IAM's dry. We go back to the vet on the 22nd and I was hoping that I can get Murphy to gain a 1 lbs in 30 days. Please I am looking for any advise or recommendations you can offer. Some other things Murphy hasn't missed the liter box once, I showed him the basement with 9 litter boxes. Also Murphy is drinking plenty. I have big water bowls in every bathroom and even one in the basement. So if you have any suggestions, comments, etc. I would appreciate hearing from you. Thank you, Rose
On Dec 28th I adopted 2 more cats, a total of 8 now, a 4 month old kitten named Sophie and a 10 year old boy we named Murphy from a local animal shelter where I have adopted all my cats from present and past. This sad story is about Murphy the 10 year old. Murphy was given up to the shelter 8 months ago by his elderly owners who could no longer care for him. The was adopted within a week, the new owner, although they signed an agreement to do no harm or alterations to Murphy did, they first had him declawed then neglected him because he started biting them. After 6 months he was returned to the shelter, declawed, under weight, skin acne under his chin and so flea infected that he hardly has any fur left on his body. He still has scabs from flea bites from his neck to the end of his tail. So I have taken on the responsibility and challenge to make Murphy once more a happy cat in a living and caring home. On the day I picked him up from the shelter we went right to my vet for shots, a full exam and blood work. He is free of flea's but not the damage they did to him both physically and mentally. He was very good at the vet, no hissing or growling but more traumatized then anything. My vet cleaned his ears which though disgustingly filthy had no ear mites just heavy wax build up. For a full grown cat, who is a nice size male, he only weighed in at 8 lbs. Every rib of his is showing. His feet for some reason has ulcers on them, my vet said it could have been caused by him sitting in his cage at the shelter in his own pee because he is so traumatized, as I know the shelter very well and all cages are cleaned daily. My vet also told me he is probably very depressed. So after the vet, we head home. The little kitten went into my house first, since I had to set her up in a private room so she could relax after being fixed the day before I picked her and Murphy up. I left Murphy in the hallway, behind closed doors, in his carrier until I was done with the kitten. I always believed in immediate introductions with newbies but Murphy was a special cat. So I tried my usual way and decided if it went bad I could snatch Murphy up and put him in his own room as well. So I placed him in the middle of the living room and opened his carrier. Murphy walked right out of the carrier into my Virgil's nose, they did sniff sniff and all was well as Virgil walked away, next Matthew, sniff sniff nose to nose and Matthew was done. Now coming down the steps is Ryan the Alpha cat in my house, sniff then lots if hissing and growling by Ryan. Murphy just stood there looking again traumatized. So for 2 days their was lots if hissing and growling by Ryan, finally on day 3 Murphy hissed back and things started to settle down, except I couldn't get Murphy to eat. I tried hard food, canned food, raw food. I put hard food in doggie bowls on all 3 floors and in 5 different area's. Finally I got him to eat some hard food out of my hand while gently rubbing his face only on the side. Day 4 the blood work is back, all is some what ok, vitamin deficiency only so me and Murphy head back to the vet for a B12 and a vitamin shot. Now it's 12 days later, kitten is free doing her thing, running and jumping on everyone and anything. Murphy is still not eating good, he is only eating handfuls of IAM's dry. We go back to the vet on the 22nd and I was hoping that I can get Murphy to gain a 1 lbs in 30 days. Please I am looking for any advise or recommendations you can offer. Some other things Murphy hasn't missed the liter box once, I showed him the basement with 9 litter boxes. Also Murphy is drinking plenty. I have big water bowls in every bathroom and even one in the basement. So if you have any suggestions, comments, etc. I would appreciate hearing from you. Thank you, Rose
