Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello!

I have a semi-ferral cat I have been feeding and grooming for the past year or so.

She is older, I am guessing about 10 or more. She is very shy, lives in a culvert under a driveway during the day, but at night, she will come and stay on my front porch and let me groom and pet her, but as I say, very shy. She won't even look into my eyes after all this time. But she will come when I call her or at least meow to let me know where she is.

Anyway, my question is:

She is very thin in her back area. Not her rump, but along her spine. I can see her ribs, and if I look at her from above, she looks immaciated. But from the side view she has a belly... As far as I know she has never had kittens, and I know she is spayed. She has never been vaccinated (and please don't suggest I take her to the vet. There is no way I can get her in a crate or anything even close to that without severe blood loss. MINE) I gave her deworming meds last week for round and hook worms, but not tape.
She has a fairly healthy appetite, but it is over 100 degrees in the day here. SHe is a DLH black sweet girl. I have given her some hairball stuff in case she was grooming something that made her not feel like eating. SHe eats as much as my 9 month old kitten. She is not dehydrated, I checked.

So, does anyone know if this figure is normal for an older cat? I have had only one other cat, and that was for a year. He was 12 when he died.

I'm more curious than concerned. She seems somewhat playful, and does chase bugs and mice at night when it cools off.

THanks for any information or links that may give me more information!

Love that Baby Kat!

Jacqueline

Hi Jacqueline!

I guess you probably don't have the chance to have a look at her stool? She might in fact be immaciated but has a bigger belly due to some intestinal problems/parasites. If you could get a stool sample and have it tested that might be helpful.

When you pet her will she allow you to touch her belly? If so, does she show any discomfort when you do that? Does the belly feel hard? If the belly is soft its big-ness is probably simply due to the spay. If it is hard and she shows discomfort there is certainly a problem and in that case only a vet visit will be of help. What about wearing gardening gloves to crate her? If she is ill it will be in her best interest, and with her age, a full blood profile would also be advisable.

She might eat little because she hunts at night.

Tilda

She lets me feel her tummy with no discomfort. It isn't squishy, but firm, not hard. I don't feel any lumps, and I pressed fairly hard but didn't want to hurt her. I think she may just be getting old...

I did deworm her, with OTC wormer. I haven't found anything to take in, as you suspected.

I don't think she eats a little, I think her appetite is normal, and even maybe alot, because she eats as much as my Sara does, and she is a growing kitty.

At any rate, she is happy, and safe here, and I don't want to do anything to loose the trust that took over a year to gain.

Thanks for your input!

Jacqueline & Baby Kat