Weight loss in elderly cat - any ideas?

[Jodie]

Toby is nearly 17 years old. We first realized he'd lost weight about a year ago (after we'd moved house so put it down to that), and in March his weight had reduced again (but this was overshadowed by the fact his sister had also lost weight and the vet was worried about her heart - she had hyperthyroidism).

Anyway, took him to the vet today as I felt he'd lost more weight - he was overweight for most of his life at 6.85 but is now 4.85. He's showing interest in food and no other symptons I'd noticed than a couple of coughing sessions over that four months and howling for no known reason. Vet has taken bloods for testing from memory for hyperthyroidism, glucose levels, kidney and liver functions. She doesn't think it's hyperthyroidism. She felt around his tummy, checked teeth and temperature - all okay. She did notice a wheezey chest (everything was fine back in March) but didn't seem overly worried about his couple of coughing fits.

Just wondered if anyone has any thoughts ahead of getting results tomorrow, or there's anything I should ask when the vet phones.

[Ruth B]

I hope the bloods come back clear for you, and it is just a bit of old age.

Our Ragdoll lost a lot of weight as he got older, nothing wrong, he just slowly became thin. When he was about 12 he had a problem with his teeth which meant he had to have most out, and a bit of a kidney problem, which resolved itself when the teeth were removed (something to do with secondary effects of the infection in the mouth). Having no teeth didn't stop him eating, but he then started losing weight for no apparent reason, nothing else wrong, he was still happy and lively, just thin. About 4 years later, he suddenly lost a LOT of weight very quickly. He went from 3.6kg (in his prime he had been about 5kg) to 2.8kg in a couple of days, didn't want to eat or drink and just didn't care anymore about life. The change was dramatic. We took him to the vets in hope that there might be something they could do, but deep down knowing it was the end. He quietly went to sleep with me holding him.

My advise, if the bloods don't show any obvious reason, get a good set of bathroom scales and get use to weighing him regularly. If he seems happy and lively in himself and settles a lower weight then I don't think you have anything to worry about for a few years, if you notice a sudden change, you can get it checked out quickly.

[Jodie]

Ruth, thanks for your reply and I was sorry to hear about your Ragdoll. My feeling is that if the bloods come back clear, he will continue to loose weight. I suppose I'm being realistic in that I know he's an old cat, but at the same time want to do whatever I can to keep him happy and comfortable.

[Ruth B]

Blue was 3 years old when we got him from a rescue charity, and 16 when he finally went. Everyone seem to think that was a good age for a pedigree. We had him for 13 good years and he had a good 4 years after he started to grow old, there were times when he was a real grumpy old man, but he was still having a good life. Losing one always hurts, but there are always plenty more that are grateful for the chance of a good home, which is one reason I can't say I won't have any more, I see another sop story and my heart goes out to that cat.

One day I will have another Ragdoll, they are a wonderful breed, and he certainly didn't have the problems with looking after himself that people seem to thing all the breed has.

[Lilith]

Hi Jodie, I've had a lot of 'oldies' - 17 is a brilliant age - and I've come to the conclusion that cats are very similar to humans; in old age they often put on a lot of weight or lose it, and in many cases there's no sinister cause; it's just how they are. I do hope this is the case with Toby and that his bloods come back normal, paws crossed, all the best for the old chap, please let us know how he goes on x

[Jodie]

Thanks for your replies. The vet phoned to say his liver, kidney and glucose levels are all normal. His thyroid is verging towards the top level of being normal, but they wouldn't normally treat at this stage. She suggested I keep an eye on any noisybreathing or coughing bearing in mind his chest was crackly (and had no temperature), but if I had no worries to take him back in three months for weighing and review.

Whatever the future holds for him, I feel it's just a case of keeping the little monster comfortable in his old age.

[Lilith]

Great news - hope he continues in a healthy old age, give him a big love from me

[Jodie]

Thanks Lilith. I'll certainly give him a hug from you.

[Crewella]

My experience has been the same as Lilith's - I've had several oldies and all have lost weight as they got into their late teens. If you find nothing sinister, just keep an eye on the weight loss - I wish him a long and happy retirement.

[Ruth B]

Glad to hear everything has come back clear. It sounds like it is just a case of starting to get old. Keep a close eye on his weight and hopefully you should have several more years together.

I will say sometimes there is an obvious reason for weight loss. We took Tiggy, our grumpy 13 year old granny cat to have her ears checked in February as she seemed to be having problems. (A course of ear drops cleared it up). The vet however was really concerned that she had lost about 20 -25% of her body weight since the previous March when she had her vaccinations and suggested that we take her back when her ears were better to have some blood tests done.

We weren't worried, we knew exactly what had happened. The previous March was when we had Blue pts. Before that we had been feeding on demand to try and keep some weight on him. He picked at the food a bit then would go and eat the dried food leaving Tiggy to finish off what ever was left. She was a tad overweight to say the least. We then got the two youngsters, who are eating us out of house and home. There is never any left over and we have to watch the young lad, Saturn, otherwise he will push the others away from their bowls. There isn't anything wrong, he is just a growing lad with a good appatite, we just have to be careful that he doesn't eat too much and get too fat. Tiggy is now down to a much healthier weight which is doing her good, she is far more active than she was. When we took her again for her vaccinations in March, the vet was fine about it, she hadn't lost any more weight, and he agreed the blood tests weren't needed.

[booktigger]

If his thyroid levels are getting high, it might be worth asking for a free T4 test, sometimes they can be within normal limits but it's actually too high for that individual cat and the Free T4 shows it more accurately