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are my cats too skinny?

19 replies

booyhoo · 24/07/2010 23:05

i have two DSH cats. the first was 2 years old at the end of may and is male and the second was 1 year old at the end of june and is female. both are neutered. the older weighs 4kg and the younger weighs 3.1kg. the reason i am asking is that my best friend has the sister of my younger cat (same litter) and hers is significantly larger than mine. even it's legs and tail are broader than her.

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booyhoo · 25/07/2010 17:04

bump-anyone?

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differentID · 25/07/2010 17:28

how much do you feed them?

booyhoo · 25/07/2010 17:31

they have free access to their dry food. i was using IAMs until yesterday. i have now changed to hill's science plan.

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booyhoo · 25/07/2010 17:31

their vaccines, flea treatment and worm treatment is all up to date.

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booyhoo · 25/07/2010 17:32

my friend feeds her cat purina one.

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CarGirl · 25/07/2010 17:33

I have a brother and sister out of the same litter, brother was the runt, he is now absolutely HUGE compared to sister, taller, broader and weighs a tonne when he jumps on you for a cuddle.

They're like people all different shapes and sizes!

secunda · 25/07/2010 17:36

If they have free access I wouldn't worry. They won't let themselves go hungry

differentID · 25/07/2010 17:38

it may be due to genetics- are both the litter mates from the same father for example?

I have a sibling pair where paternity is beyond question. One male and one female. They have free access to their food, Iams, but are such different body types.

If I were to comapre them in human terms- K(boycat) is the equivelent of a stereotypical Rugby International and J (girlcat) is the equivelant of a stereotypical ballerina.

booyhoo · 25/07/2010 17:38

that's what i thought. it just shocked me when i saw my friend's cat. i hadn't seen her since she was very small and now, compared to my cat she is massive. do my cats' weights sound ok?

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booyhoo · 25/07/2010 17:41

their colourings are almost identical so i am pretty sure it is the same father but couldn't ever be 100% positive. i guess on e could have taken after the mother and one the father.

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differentID · 25/07/2010 17:44

They aren't fully grown yet- typically dsh reach full maturity between 3 and 4 years and about 5kg is typical for a male and 4kg for a female.

booyhoo · 25/07/2010 17:45

that is good to know differentID. i knew the little one had more growing to do but thought the older one had done all he was going to do.

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schroeder · 25/07/2010 17:51

I've found a pet weight checker from the RSPCA herewww.petsgetslim.co.uk/weight_check/

differentID · 25/07/2010 17:56

i think's muscle is what he'll put on now- I suppose the human equivelant would be late teens for your older cat, so he's just got to put on some muscle, if that's what he's genetically pre-disposed to do. He may be one of those wiry cats who never bloody stop.

I wish my male cat was only 5kg. He's probably closer to 7. Half Birman though, so semi-longhair.

booyhoo · 25/07/2010 18:07

schroeder, thank you. that weight checker said my two should weigh 4.8kg and 3.8 kg so they are a little under that. is there anything i can give them that would help them put on weight?

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kidsncatsnwine · 25/07/2010 18:17

Mine will eat (tesco value) tuna by the bucket load..and I think it helps put a bit more weight on them.
I have one very light 7 pounder who is extremely fussy..has free access to Iams all day plus meals when she nags (frequently but eats two mouthfuls and wanders off)
She also likes cheese..prob not recommended but it makes her happy.

My other cat who has the same access is a hoofing 22 pound (10kg!)maine coon (Massive breed!) he is very slim too but huge frame and he nags continually for food.

I think maybe offer tempting stuff but don't worry too much if they are wormed, happy and lively they are probably fine!

schroeder · 25/07/2010 18:31

You can try offering them pilchards or sardines in oil if they like it. I wouldn't worry overmuch though.

Next time they're at the vet for their boosters, ask if he/she thinks their weight is ok.

Glad to help

DontCallMeBaby · 25/07/2010 18:32

My two cats, both boys, are the same age as your younger cat, booyhoo. One weighs about 3.4kg and the other 4.5kg. The lighter one is right at the bottom of the weight range for his age and sex, and the heavier one towards the top - they're brothers, father unknown, but they look very alike and completely unlike their mother, so almost certainly the same father. They have really different body types - bigger cat was a solid, muscular little thing, even as an 8wo kitten, while the smaller one is a slim little softy.

3.1kg seems like a fine, albeit light, weight for a girl the same age. You should be able to find some diagrams online of how cats look, when seen from above and from the side, if they are under or overweight, or just right. I did ask the vet about the smaller cat - she said he is just fine, and that the vast majority of the cats she sees are overweight, so people can be unaccustomed to seeing a cat of a healthy weight.

Oh, and he eats ANYTHING, to an alarming degree, unlike bigger brother, who is very fussy and has a tendency to throw up!

booyhoo · 25/07/2010 18:37

thank you all, i will try them with some tuna for a month and see if they put on any weight. if not i will just assume they are the weight that they are supposed to be.

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