obese cat, lost companion, lost appetite

Question
Hi.
We have a 10-yr-old tortoiseshell female cat who has just lost her lifelong male companion (3 days ago). They were not particularly close but I am very certain she was used to having him around. Her companion was very, very skinny and we had a tough time getting him to eat enough and her not to overeat over the last year of his illness. She is obese and over the last couple of weeks has greatly reduced her food intake. She is unable to groom herself properly, meaning that we cut tufts of hair from her back. I am sorry we have not taken her to the vet sooner; money is an issue. I have bought her a high-quality diet food and am mixing it with her old food but have read that she should also not lose weight too quickly as this can be dangerous as well. I am also trying to encourage her to play but she is not too interested. She still purrs when pet and continues to enjoy belly rubs (flops onto her side almost constantly). She is very lethargic as well, but then it has been very hot here, which she is also not used to. She occasionally hides but this is usually after being out in the heat. We will take her to the vet over the next little while, but is there anything we can do until that time to make sure that she eats enough (but not too much)? She does not have yellow eyes, ears, gums but I am afraid she is going to get sick. Thank you.

Answer
Kate -

Many indoor cats are obese - they are often fed too much and do not get enough exercise.  It is admiral for you to decide to help her get into a healthier state.  The best way to help her is to have her seen by a veterinarian. Overweight cats are more likely to develop diabetes, liver disease, arthritis, and many other sicknesses.  Ask your vet about bloodwork to help determine what is bothering her.  

You may also want to have checked for constipation. Constipation is very common in overweight cats.  Even though she is probably using the litterbox regularly, there is a good chance that she is constipated.  A radiograph can help confirm that she is constipated - cats need to be given supplements such as Laxatone,  to help to have regular bowel movements.  Because she ingests hair all the time, the GI tract is slowed down; because she is obese her GI tract has significantly slowed down also.  

A trip to the veterinarian can help your cat get into shape and help you to determine what is making her uncomfortable.


Best Regards,


Charlotte Sherrell, DVM