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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / April 2005Old Cat questions
My dad's cat is at least 16 years old. He doesn't seem to be in any distress but all the hair on his belly fell out, and the skin on his lower abdomen is droopy (maybe he needs a little kitty truss). And he seems to be a little on the thin side. He's done surprisingly well as an indoor/outdoor farm cat. But we want to make him comfortable in his sunset years. Any suggestions? He should be checked by a vet. He can be suffering from a variety of illnesses at that age (chronic renal failure, hyperactive thyroid, etc.). Gail > My dad's cat is at least 16 years old. He doesn't seem to be in any > distress but all the hair on his belly fell out, and the skin on his [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > He's done surprisingly well as an indoor/outdoor farm cat. But we want > to make him comfortable in his sunset years. Any suggestions? > He should be checked by a vet. He can be suffering from a variety of > illnesses at that age (chronic renal failure, hyperactive thyroid, etc.). [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >> He's done surprisingly well as an indoor/outdoor farm cat. But we want >> to make him comfortable in his sunset years. Any suggestions? Yeah, the hairloss does suggest a thyroid problem. He might be easily made more comfy with medication for it, but the poster will have to ask the vet specifically for thyroid tests. > > He should be checked by a vet. He can be suffering from a variety of > > illnesses at that age (chronic renal failure, hyperactive thyroid, etc.). [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > > Yeah, the hairloss does suggest a thyroid problem. No it doesn't. Allergic cats typically groom their itchy skins more. > He's done surprisingly well as an indoor/outdoor farm cat. But > we want to make him comfortable in his sunset years. Any > suggestions? Since he's physically less capable, keeping him in doors probably will help. I liked the idea of giving an indoor cat a high-fiber food. I think some hairball formulas are high-fiber. Looks like IAMS has come out with an Indoor Hairball Formula. I suspect it has a different type of laxative/whatever that is not high-fiber, so the pet owner does not have to mess with the litter as much. Going on that assumption, the problem with that IMO is that it is less healthy for the cat. Fiber is good. Good luck. >> He's done surprisingly well as an indoor/outdoor farm cat. But >> we want to make him comfortable in his sunset years. Any [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Good luck. MY 16 yr old siamese, who has a thyroid problem,is very thin so I give him a heating pad on low and his bed on top to keep him warm since he has no body fat left plus it feel good on his joints. But if he has thyroid I recomend the topical cream you rub in his ear. The pills caused alot of problems ,like ulcers and not eatting. So if that's it tell your vet about the cream. But good luck anyway ,If anything just love him and do anything to keep him happy. > My dad's cat is at least 16 years old. He doesn't seem to be in any > distress but all the hair on his belly fell out, and the skin on his [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > He's done surprisingly well as an indoor/outdoor farm cat. But we want > to make him comfortable in his sunset years. Any suggestions? I'd take him in to the vet for thyroid bloodwork. This might explain his hair loss & his thin-ness. In case he is hyperthyroid, it's quite easily managed - via 1 - 2 doses of Tapazole/methimazole per day, for ex., & treatment will help him to 1) feel more comfortable (one's whole body is running like an over-revved engine if hyperthyroid) & 2) live longer (due to less stress on the entire body - all of its systems/organs). If it turns out he isn't hyperthyroid, well, then... good! Cathy One of my cats had these same symptoms and was diagnosed (sadly, several months later) with diabetes. Once he started treatment, the hair grew back. I never suspected for a moment that he might be diabetic. > My dad's cat is at least 16 years old. He doesn't seem to be in any > distress but all the hair on his belly fell out, and the skin on his [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > He's done surprisingly well as an indoor/outdoor farm cat. But we want > to make him comfortable in his sunset years. Any suggestions? |
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