old cats

Question
My lady & I have about 20 cats.  Discarded cats & strays.
When they get old they usually get very skinny before they die.  It's heart rending.  Is there a general reason and what can be done?

Answer
Hi Lambert,

You sound like me with all your friends. There could be a few reasons for the cats getting skinny. Thyroid disease is one. It's common in older cats. Any of your old guys meow a lot? When they have thyroid disease they also do this. Have your vet check them out. Here's a link with some info about it.
http://www.2ndchance.info/hyperthyroid.htm

Another is that older cats are like older folks and need a different type of nutrition. They don't absorb what they need as well. I am attaching my recipe for something called Kitty Glop. This stuff is great. It's good to feed newborns on, (raised one that was 4 hours old on it). Sick cats do good on it. And it's fantastic for older cats. Really puts weight on them.

Here's a link with a little info on taking care of elderly cats.
http://www.2ndchance.info/oldcat.htm

I don't know your feeding schedule but I would feed them a few times during the day. Not big meals but little ones. This keeps their energy level at a constant level.

I also don't know the age of the cats when this is happening but there comes a time when it is your cat's time. This is the one thing that really sucks about being a companion to your friends. Sometimes there is nothing that can be done. I hope I helped you a little here. Good luck.

Ciao, Karen