Thursday, November 29, 2018

Weight on my Mind

At last, I was able to weigh all the beasts. It’s been too long since I’ve last done so, and the differences in the two instances are plain.

15th July, 2018
Josie: 5.72 kg (12.61 lb)
Renn: 7.32 kg (16.14 lb)
Tucker: 7.27 kg (16 lb)
Cammie: 4.60 kg (10.14 lb)
Parker: 7.63 kg (16.82 lb)

28th November, 2018
Josie: 5.46 kg (12 lb)
Renn: 6.86 kg (15.12 lb)
Tucker: 6.39 kg (14 lb)
Cammie: 4.38 kg (9.66 lb)
Parker: 7.44 kg (16.4 lb)
Raleigh: 5.40 kg (11.9 lb)

Everyone has lost weight except Raleigh (more about him in a minute). I think the diminution is due to the fact that I cannot leave the hard-food bowl out now; every cat is free to roam all day and night, so to maintain Parker's good blood-sugar readings, and to keep Cammie from eating anything that might cause her an allergic reaction, the hard-food cannot be free to all comers. This cuts down on how much the cats have been eating.

Josie keeps diminishing, which I don’t like. Her weight is not bad for her size, but the fact that she continues to lose poundage causes me concern. She was healthy the last time she was examined, but she is fourteen now, and I should perhaps have her given a thorough check-up.


Tucker’s weight change is due to his mouth troubles, which may not be over. He still refuses almost all hard-food, and he won’t gain weight consuming the small amount of soft-food that he does.


Renn’s loss is due, I am sure, to the aforementioned reduction of opportunity at the hard-food, though whenever he asks for it when I am present, I provide it for him. But he has always been a small-eater.


Parker has grown fussier about his menu, and no longer sucks up everything set before him. He is also wanting his bed-time snack less often. A check-up for the sturdy-boy may not be amiss.


I don’t know why Cammie has lost weight. The princess has her special Z/D nutrition given whenever she asks for it, and it is not calculated to slim a cat’s figure.


It may simply be age that is determining my beasts’ reductions. Josie is the oldest, but Tucker and Cammie are both thirteen years old, and Renn is eleven. Parker is about twelve and a half. Pounds are lost and appetites lessen as the seasons roll by.

As for my newest, and youngest, feline roommate, Raleigh, he has gained weight. He registered at 4.7 kilograms (10.36 pounds) when he was last at the veterinary hospital. He has put on almost three quarters of a kilogram (one and a half pounds). Though he does eat hard-food, the majority of his diet is soft-food, so it is good to know that he is gaining weight on such a menu. I like to think that having a meal at certain times of the day not only makes him healthier but gives him peace of mind, which he may not have had for a while. A full tummy and a warm bed are important ingredients in the recipe for peace of mind.


But in regard to the others, I will continue to monitor their weights and attitudes toward food. Tucker is especially worrying, as you may imagine, and I will be talking to his doctor about him.

12 comments:

  1. I would be worried about the weight losses too. I will be waiting to hear what you may learn. And for Tucker...whatever may be wrong that wasn't tended to? I worry about all of them. Raleigh, I am SO glad you gained weight, sweet boy.

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  2. We hope there is no medical reason for the weight losses. One never knows. Too much, or too little it's always a balancing act.

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  3. When we switched Angel and Chuck from kibble to wet food, they both lost weight. Dry food is higher calorie. Since it's across the board, my bet is on the end of free-feeding. And you've made me remember that I want to get a scale to weight our cats at home!

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  4. It's challenging no matter what--whether they gain or lose. Derry has become obese on a mainly canned food diet. I mean, past the plump stage and into unhealthily fat. So I would like to be able to have him give a few pounds to those in your fur crew who need it!

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  5. It's always worrisome when our animals lose weight. But since almost everyone has lost weight, I'd agree that it's probably due do the fact that dry food is no longer available at all times. I'd be more worried if only one cat was losing weight. However, it wouldn't be a bad idea to see what your vet thinks about the situation. Jessica, my 18 year old, started losing weight, and the vet put her on an appetite stimulant and I've been giving her an extra feeding each day, and so far she has put back some of the weight she lost.

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  6. You are such a good dad taking good care of your team. We had a vet senior check last week and I had to say that I was done with worrying about Poppy being on a diet. At 13 and dieting since she was 3 years of age it hasn't really worked. I refuse to starve her and she doesn't actually eat a lot. She often just nibbles a 1/4 of a can of feast at night or licks the gravy off. She has biscuits she can graze on, but seldom scoffs the lot. I have tried taking away the biscuits for a while, but I won't starve her while I am away at work for 9 hours or overnight. She won't eat diet biscuits at all. So I am done. She can be safe knowing that her food is available when she wants it. I will continue to try to get her playing, and outside for walks too.

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    1. I agree with you about Poppy. I have cats who could lose weight, but eating - actually enjoying the food - is one of the delights of a cat's life. That we should ruin that for them should have a correspondingly strong advantage. Unlike us, they can't know that a stringent diet is for their own good and will result in a longer, healthier life. They know only that something they used to enjoy has become an arduous chore. I think your idea for Poppy's future diet is just right.

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  7. I think your explanation of no longer leaving kibble out all day for the cats to eat makes sense. But losing weight is worrisome.
    How is Tucker feeling now?

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    1. Tucker is doing better each day, but it is a very slow process for him.

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  8. As others have said, I think it is the stopping of the hard food always being available. When Eric reached 23 pounds, even those he was a very tall and large framed cat, it was too much. I reduced the hard food and increased the soft until they were both on soft only with the occasional hard as a treat. Eric got down to 20 pounds without going hungry and looked much better for it. Flynn also lost a pound although he didn't really need to lose it, and I also sneaked him some extra kibble when Eric wasn't looking!
    So I would think it is most likely the change of feeding regime that accounts for the weight loss. I hope Tucker soon feels better. If he still seems to have problems it may be worth having his gums checked to ensure there was not a bone splinter left behind. I once worked for a vet and know it can very occasionally happen.

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    1. Yes, even the big cats have an appropriate size. And on the subject of appropriateness, your last comment came at the right time. Read the latest of Tucker's adventures.

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  9. I can understand your worries, especially at the kitties grow older. Sasha was never particularly large but he's definitely lost weight over the past few years. But try as I might, he only eats as much as he wants and no amount of encouragement will get him to eat more.

    Saku is the opposite, especially with wet food...he'll eat to the point of vomiting if he eats his portion and finds Sasha's leftovers. I do leave out kibble for both, but may start putting it up once I'm home more.

    Wishing Tucker all the best - I hope he is feeling better and back to his normal food soon.

    Eileen

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