Refeeding a cat?

[Barklands]

We have a semi feral cat that has made a home at our stables, she is elderly and has lost a lot of weight as the others bully her away from the dry food that we put out (the rest are all a very healthy weight and are definitely supplementing themselves with rats/mice etc). We have managed to separate her into a stable and we are giving her two extra pouches of senior cat food per day which she is gobbling up!

I would love to take her to the vet for professional advice but just don't think she would cope with the stress so am very reluctant to do this until she has put a lot more weight on and more used to human company. I managed to worm her today so hoping this will also start to help her. She was looking very withdrawn a couple of weeks ago but now much more spritely however, another concern is that she doesn't seem to be grooming herself.

Has anyone had any experience at refeeding a very thin cat? I have started off at two pouches of senior food a day as was worried about a sudden increase in calories - does this sound too much/too little?

I have also looked at the Hills restorative wet food - can anyone confirm if this is tasty and if she is likely to eat it?

Would appreciate any other tips for getting her weight up!

She is super sweet and getting much bolder each day that we are separating her to feed. I would be devastated if we can't help her

 

[AmyMay]

The Hills restorative food is delicious- she’ll love it.

Apart from the punches, what else are you feeding her?

 

[Barklands]

The Hills restorative food is delicious- she’ll love it.

Apart from the punches, what else are you feeding her?

Fabulous, I will order some now.

They are each getting about 60g of dry food but I expect she has actually been getting very little as the others are chasing her away As we have now managed to separate her for meal times (they really do mean what they say about herding cats!) she is getting the full amount now in addition to her pouches.

Would love to be able to get to the point of being able to have her in the house to live out the rest of her days in comfort but am sure she would fret an awful lot if we did that currently.

 

[m1stify]

I think you are doing everything right especially the worming that should make a big difference soon. Maybe when she has a bit more weight on and is more trusting you could try bringing to the vet. They should give you a pill that will relax the cat enough to be able to put her in a cat carrier etc. I can’t remember the name of it but the vets used to give it to me before vet visits as I had an ex feral cat who did not like going in the carrier!

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I know you have to be careful how you feed a cat (or any animal if it has been starving) although maybe your cat isn’t totally starving and has been eating but just not enough. I would either ring your vet or a local cat rescue and ask for their advice.

I look after our 15yr old yard cat. He did get quite thin last summer as he hadn’t put his usual winter weight on I think partly because he was unsettled as the yard practically doubled in size. He’s not at all feral though so I was able to take easily to vet for blood tests. All was ok and teeth were also fine as this can be an issue.

I know it’s not the best thing but I started to give him some cat milk in addition to his pouches partly because in the summer I was worried he was getting dehydrated. He is looking heaps better now.

 

[ycbm]

Apart from the punches, what else are you feeding her?

I don't know whether to be more shocked that they're giving the cat alcohol or that they're hitting it?
.

 

[AmyMay]

I don't know whether to be more shocked that they're giving the cat alcohol or that they're hitting it?
.

*** DON’T PUNCH THE CAT ***

 

[Ratface]

I read ycbm's post to Madam Carrie Cat. She says that when she's finished snoozing, she'll send The Boys round . . .
Two very heavy-duty entire males, with impressive spherical items attached to their nethers.
You have been warned!

 

[Highmileagecob]

If you think she is old, she may struggle with dry food if her teeth are failing. As long as you are not seeing vomiting or diarrhoea, you can be fairly sure that she is coping with the food you are offering. I'm very impressed you have managed to worm her - my old cat turned into a tiger when the worm pills came out!

 

[Barklands]

I read ycbm's post to Madam Carrie Cat. She says that when she's finished snoozing, she'll send The Boys round . . .
Two very heavy-duty entire males, with impressive spherical items attached to their nethers.
You have been warned!

Yes just to clarify no kitty abuse has taken place Those heavy duty boys may be distracted by another pretty barn cat that is quite the hussy despite having been fixed

 

[Barklands]

If you think she is old, she may struggle with dry food if her teeth are failing. As long as you are not seeing vomiting or diarrhoea, you can be fairly sure that she is coping with the food you are offering. I'm very impressed you have managed to worm her - my old cat turned into a tiger when the worm pills came out!

Yes I was thinking this may also be a problem hence the addition of the wet food, hopefully she picks up as she does seem a lot more spritely! I didn't manage pills only the spot on stuff but I thought something was better than nothing! In a month I am going to try adding a worming paste (was really reluctant in case it put her off the food) or even a pill as I am hoping she will be more confident then

She is very happy today as she has also had some cooked chicken in between meals and was snuggled up in the straw in the stable. The poor little mite just melts my heart!

 

[Gloi]

If she's old the weight loss might be kidney or thyroid problems so a vet check might be in order if you can.

 

[rabatsa]

I have just wormed my barn cat with panacur granules mixed with his pouch. I would feed kitten food.

 

[Mrs B]

If she's old the weight loss might be kidney or thyroid problems so a vet check might be in order if you can.

I was just going to suggest the possibility that she could have hyperthyroidism.

I took on 3 semi-ferals when our yard was sold and both the sisters eventually got hyperthyroidism, one when she was 15 and one 17 - losing weight, coat not looking groomed, wormer not doing its stuff etc
I had the same dilemma as you - to vet or not to vet? I did take them and the blood test told me my suspicions were correct.

Both went onto medication and put on weight again, although I did lose them each after a few months - there could have been underlying problems too - but I'm glad I found out the primary cause and got some veterinary advice for the old ladies.

Good luck with her - she's a lucky girl to have you caring for her.