My male cat is really skinny. He still eats plenty of dry food and we usually feed him soft food as well. He had a bad case of feline distemper when he was younger which he was treated for, and he is up to date on his shots. Was just wondering if this is probably just a case of worms and if so are the over the counter medicines ok to use on him. I'm extremly attached to him and i'm afraid i'm going to poisen him or something.
2007-01-26 09:27:00 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
If he has worms, he needs to be given a dewormer from the vet -- the stuff you buy in pet stores is often very dangerous. But worms are unlikely to bother an adult cat so much. It is quite possible that his intestines were damaged by the feline distemper (I assume you mean panleukopenia, which attacks the brain and the intestines). I would suspect that he isn't absorbing the food he eats very well because of damage from the disease to his intestines -- in other words, most of it just passes through him without getting processed as food.
But he needs to be seen by a vet, who can make a diagnosis. There are a number of viral diseases that could cause weight loss, and the vet can check for these. Other diseases (more common in older cats) that cause weight loss include hyperthyroidism, kidney failure, diabetes, and cancer. You can see why only a vet could make a diagnosis!
2007-01-26 09:38:28 · answer #1 · answered by Corinnique 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't give an OTC wormer medicine to your pet unless a vet has actually diagnosed him with worms. Why drug your kitty for no reason, right?
I would get a vet's opinion. Hopefully you can find out that your cat is just naturally skinny. But worms as well as other medical problems can cause emaciation, so it's best to have a vet take a look at your kitty.
Good luck!
2007-01-26 09:37:28 · answer #2 · answered by maxximumjoy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like he may need to be wormed.
In case you didn't know, soft food (canned food) causes cats to have soft bowel movements, even diarhea.
I might ask you vet for some worm meds, I'm not too keen on the over the counter kind.
2007-01-26 09:59:30 · answer #3 · answered by toomeymimi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's best to take him to the vet & get him checked. It's possible something else could be going on. Also, there are several different types of worms that cats can get, so it's best to get diagnosed by the vet & get the right kind of medication. I wouldn't trust an over-the-counter dewormer. If you suspect he may have worms, try to get a fresh sample of his poop (just scoop it out of the box & put it in a plastic bag) to take to the vet with you. The vet will run a test on the sample to determine if your cat has worms, and what kind they are if he does have them.
2007-01-26 10:16:11 · answer #4 · answered by Bess2002 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My male cat gets skinny every spring and it's due to a tapeworm. I take him to the vet just to be sure, get him checked out, and he gets his pill. Then he starts putting the weight back on. I haven't tried any over-the-counter stuff. I even put the Advantage pill on him every month, but sometimes I forget to do it until it is a week past due. That's probably when he gets the worm--during that window of opportunity.
2007-01-26 11:33:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's best not to take a random person's advice on something like this. You should take him to the vet for his yearly regular appointment. Just like people, cats should go to the doctor yearly just for a checkup.
There are many reasons the cat could be underweight. Worms may not be the only reason. There are more serious conditions that could be at work and it's best to check it out before you have a very deathly sick cat on your hands.
Good luck -
2007-01-26 10:23:32 · answer #6 · answered by JadedTLC 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There could be several reasons why your cat can't gain weight. One is worms, others include kidney problems, cancer, thyroid problems, etc. It could also be simply a genetic issue. Only a vet can make a proper diagnosis and suggest possible treatment options. Don't use over the counter medications if the cause is unknown.
2007-01-26 09:43:09 · answer #7 · answered by Audrey A 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you can see his ribs then you have a problem. Your vet can give you a worming tablet - the usually work a lot better then the over the counter ones. Sometimes I feed my skinny cat whatever meat we are having - raw of course.
2007-01-26 09:36:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
my wife and i have three cats total and between our friends theres close to a dozen cats and mine is the smallest and 4 years old. she weighs about 6 lbs when all the other cats are close to 12 and one pushes about 18 lbs. the only one that comes close to my cat in weight is a two year old cat and even that one weighs more than her by about 1lb. as i see it as long as your cat is eating and being active and there is nothing wrong it should be fine. as far as it maybe having worms on the next vet trip just ask the vet with your consern they should be able to do a little test and tell you.
2007-01-26 09:47:39 · answer #9 · answered by drakelungx 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like it may be a case of worms. You can go ahead and try the over the counter medicines and if they don't work, then call your vet.
2007-01-26 09:35:57 · answer #10 · answered by Veneta T 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋