Question about senior cat and food

[AngryOldDem]

My cat is roughly 14 years old. For awhile he’s had trouble maintaining a weight that makes the vet happy. He gets a dishful of wet food three times a day (roughly a small can) and always has dry food available. He goes through phases where he eats great, then he pecks. Poop and pee are An issue he does have is sometimes upchucking if he eats too fast, or drinks water before or after.

I just read where baby food may be beneficial for cats. Has anyone tried this, and if so, what kind do you recommend? Any other suggestions I can try?

They want to run a bunch of tests on him — which aren’t available where I live, and which I don’t want to put him through if possible. He is active, plays, jumps up on the tops of kitchen cabinets...so I’m pretty convinced he’s not ill. His teeth are deteriorating, but he also has a heart murmur, which puts him at risk if he goes under anesthesia. I’m thinking the teeth may be playing a part here as well, and will talk to the vet again about getting them cleaned/pulled.

Going to the vet during COVID has been difficult. I call from the lot, they come out and get him, then I get a call back and get berated for his weight. It would be easier if this were face to face. Also thinking about getting a second opinion.

Thanks for letting me ramble.

[Ocelot II]

1. Most cats love baby food, and it's OK for them as long as it's just meat

and not other stuff. Your cat might be hyperthyroid, a common problem in older cats. If he eats well and is active but still losing weight, that might be it. It's easily controlled with medication. You might ask the vet to test him (I'm surprised they haven't done it).

[spooky3]

4. Agree about the thyroid condition. OP, that's a lot of food for a cat who is

Underweight. I have cats that are somewhat OVERweight who do not eat nearly that much.

My vet says to avoid baby food with onion in it.

[Ocelot II]

7. Definitely check the ingredients of the baby food for onion

which cats shouldn't eat (I've never seen baby food with onion in it; who would do that to a baby??). And it should be a treat and not entire meals. If the cat is eating that much and not gaining weight, hyperthyroidism is a real possibility. My 16-year-old cat was gradually losing weight (which I didn't notice immediately because he was quite furry) even though he ate everything that wasn't nailed down, and sure enough, he turned out to be hyperthyroid. I gave him the prescribed thyroid tablets and that helped quite a bit; unfortunately he later developed cancer and passed away last summer.

[yellowdogintexas]

13. Get the bloodwork done, and I agree this sounds like hyperthyroid just like one of mine

Hyperthyroid will just burn up everything you eat faster than you can swallow it and your body just seems to melt before your eyes. My brother in law had a terrible round with it.

Your vet may order a prescription food which you can either (1) buy from the vet or (2) order online from Chewy's for half the price. If he ends up needing thyroid medication, ask the vet about the cream application to the ear, rather than a pill. It's fairly new and we love it. It's called Methimazole and it is a compounded medication. The pharmacist makes it up for us, loaded into the syringes for dispensing. I think it runs us around $30 or $35 a month and it is well worth it because we know he is getting his medicines.

Good luck, I know you just want him to get better.

[Ocelot II]

14. I got Methimazole for my cat after he let me know in no uncertain terms

that he was not going to swallow any damn tablets. You just sneak up on the cat and rub the stuff on an ear.

[spooky3]

15. After 15 years, one of mine has decided she DOES like Pill Pockets

She’s happy to take even a bad tasting pill if it’s encased in a Pill Pocket. Then I give her a second as a reward.

[Polly Hennessey]

2. Taking out bad teeth is important.

Teeth play a huge part in pet health. Have them cleaned while under for the extraction. All anesthesia is risky no matter cats age. In the case of teeth health I think the benefits outweigh the risks. I have two cats, fifteen and thirteen. Millie, my fifteen year old, has always had an upchucking problem. Happens when she eats too fast or too much. Her favorite upchuck spot is right at the bottom of the stairs. I think she does this on purpose. It is called aggravating humans. Cats seem to enjoy doing that to us.

[Laurelin]

3. Senior cars

Kidney issues are a problem with many older cats. I don't think I'd do baby food unless your vet recommends it. Cats are obligate carnivores so you'd want meat, but not if he has underlying kidney issues for example. (Not a vet so don't trust me, but my senior cats typically end up on special diets that are often low protein. )

I'd stick to good quality senior cat food, until you can see a vet and get real advice. Mine always prefer the stuff with broth. It can be tricky to get them to eat.

I know what you mean about vet appointments being complicated by the pandemic. My animals are all past due for appointments. I'm taking them in two weeks, since I got my second shot today. Also I'll be catching up on my missed appointments.

Cats are very good at hiding illness so don't ignore your vet's advice. If you think it's bad advice get another opinion, but cats can act fine when they're not. I might get a second opinion before putting an older car with a heart murmur under anesthesia.

[yellowdogintexas]

12. cat could also be diabetic as well, or have a urinary issue.

The vet will certainly have recommendations for the best prescription diet for your cat.

Both of our Senior cats have gotten much thinner over the past 5 yearsThey clock in at about 10 or 11 pounds each now but they weighed 15 or so in their prime. At 18 years of age they are doing pretty well.

One of them has thyroid issues which caused him to lose weight and has to have medication. However, it is NOT a pill or drops!!!!
It is a cream in a little syringe that measures the dosage and you rub it inside the ear, on the bare skin. This cat would be dead if we had needed to give him pills; instead he is doing fine with his twice a day "ear rub".

Our other cat has blood in his urine but he is otherwise feeling fine. After we had him worked up for that, the doc put him on a prescription food from Hill's to help with his urinary track and keep him from losing weight.

He is doing just fine, and he loves the food. However, the other cat (who was doing just fine on a high quality canned food) has now decided he likes the Preescription stuff too and of course it is the most expensive......

[spooky3]

5. Cerenia is good for the times when he is feeling nauseated. But I'm sure

You first want to diagnose why he’s having problems.

[bamagal62]

6. Baby food is good. It needs to not have anything but meat in it.

The Beechnut Stage 1 baby foods are good. Mine loves the beef. But, they also have chicken. Make sure it's only given as a treat or just to get fluids in her as it will not have the proper vitamins in it. Cats must have taurine and that will not be in the baby food. You can also try sprinkling her wet food with bonito flakes, or with some brewer's yeast, or powdered goats milk. My cat also loves to drink goats milk. You can get all of these at a pet store. (My cat is finicky and she sometimes needs a bit of enticement to eat.)

[happybird]

8. Agreeing with the others about the thyroid

My senior guy has hypothyroidism. It’s given him a heart murmur, and before he was diagnosed, he ate like a fiend but was skinny and could not gain any weight.

His coat was also a mess, with mats forming in his armpits and on his sides, no matter how much brushing he got.

If left untreated it will eventually be fatal (heart attack/heart failure).

The good news is it’s easily manageable with medication. Definitely worth asking the vet about!

[Kali]

9. has there been any bloodwork done? urinalysis?

seems those should be the first of any testing as they can rule out a lot before more invasive things need doing

[AngryOldDem]

10. He's had both, but they've not mentioned those lately.

Thursday’s visit was a checkup, in fact.

I’m seriously thinking about changing vets.

I am going to call on Monday and ask for a thyroid test.

[Kali]

17. nothing wrong with second opinions if you can swing it

request all records or the new vet can do it, but I try to keep copies of them for pets and humans because relying on inter-clinic/hospital communication is dangerous.

[AngryOldDem]

11. Thanks, all!

As I replied to Kali, I’m calling on Monday to ask about a thyroid test. The teeth were scheduled to be worked on last year, but the vet decided not to go ahead with it because of the murmur. If he does have a thyroid problem, once he’s been on the medicine that may make the murmur less of an issue.

It’s tough doing everything you can but be told you’re not doing enough, which was the upshot of Thursday’s visit. I thought he would have gained a little, given that his appetite’s been good of late.

[haele]

16. As Princess started fading (she was between 18 and 20)

We would boil a plain chicken and run it through the food processor with about a cup of the leftover water we boiled it in. Then we'd bag it up in portions and freeze anything that was to been eaten three days later. Two bags went into the fridge, and we'd replace a bag to thaw every time we fed her. Occasionally, we would put in a bit of plain yogurt if she seemed to have poop issues or if she started to get bad breath, a sign of digestive issues. She lost pretty neat all her teeth by the time we started preparing her chicken.

She only wanted to eat when we were having dinner, so that wasn't a big deal for us, other than having to keep the other cats from getting to her chicken.
We did that for two and a half years until she finally passed. She never puked up that chicken, only the occasional bit of people food the grandkids would sneak her.
We knew it was time when she just stopped eating.

Haele