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Akila not gaining weight
- Thread starter Akila
- Start date
Akila
Site Supporter
Yes, but only like 1 and a half pounds. I have had her to 3 vets and 2 different animal hospitals. I am sooo worried about her that I can just cry.
My family thinks I am nuts
!!!! She just doesn't act like any other kitten that we have had!!! She rarely plays, sleeps a lot , and does not want to leave my side. I truly do not know what to do.
I reached out to her breeder and she sent me a picture of Akila's brother who is also on the small side. I don't know......maybe I am going crazy!!!
I will try to upload pictures and video later.
My family thinks I am nuts
!!!! She just doesn't act like any other kitten that we have had!!! She rarely plays, sleeps a lot , and does not want to leave my side. I truly do not know what to do.I reached out to her breeder and she sent me a picture of Akila's brother who is also on the small side. I don't know......maybe I am going crazy
!!!I will try to upload pictures and video later.
Snakebike
Savannah Super Cat
Did all 3 vets do both the smear and the float for the fecal? Was the sample you brought in fresh and tested right away? If only 1 vet did only a smear or a float and it has not been retested, something easily could have been missed. Did any of the do an ELISA test for immune responses and viral infections?
A picture and especially a video of Akila may be helpful.
A picture and especially a video of Akila may be helpful.
David Z
Site Supporter
If she's eating and had the appropriate checks from the vet, and is not losing weight, I wouldn't worry too much and I'm a worrier.
Try hand feeding her some food to see if she eats more . Amara gets distracted real easy while eating and sometimes forgets to finish her food so I sit with her and make sure she doesn't spaz out on noises or her lil sis, ect.
She might just be a petite girl, and might have a good growth spurt at some point too.
Try different toys to get her to play, being a young kitten she could sleep 18 hours a day, Squeakerz around that age would sleep more then that. Amara not so much, but Squeakerzs takes alot of naps Amara doesn't cause she sleeps all night.
Try hand feeding her some food to see if she eats more . Amara gets distracted real easy while eating and sometimes forgets to finish her food so I sit with her and make sure she doesn't spaz out on noises or her lil sis, ect.
She might just be a petite girl, and might have a good growth spurt at some point too.
Try different toys to get her to play, being a young kitten she could sleep 18 hours a day, Squeakerz around that age would sleep more then that. Amara not so much, but Squeakerzs takes alot of naps Amara doesn't cause she sleeps all night.
Akila
Site Supporter
Only one vet tested the poop. I try and stay by her as much as I can when she eats because she is very easily distracted and she scares easily. I got some chicken I will try feeding her small pieces of that by hand.
You know vets don’t like it when you tell them to test for things that they may not have considered!! Lol
You know vets don’t like it when you tell them to test for things that they may not have considered!! Lol
David Z
Site Supporter
Find a vet you can build a good relationship with, usually smaller veterinarian practices are good for that. The big fancy ones I've been to just want you in and out.
My vet we will bounce ideas back and fourth with me for quite a while and she has no issues with that, and remember just like your doctor they are just practicing medicine.
Try setting her food up in a nice quite room where u can close the door and sit with her while she eats to lessen the distractions.
My vet we will bounce ideas back and fourth with me for quite a while and she has no issues with that, and remember just like your doctor they are just practicing medicine.
Try setting her food up in a nice quite room where u can close the door and sit with her while she eats to lessen the distractions.
Ninja-n-Bear
Site Supporter
Agreed with giving her quiet space to eat, Ninja gets easily distracted and Bear just won't eat out in the open if there's too much neighborhood noise, or we've gotten a new piece of furniture (weirdo!), so I have to bring his dish to his current fave safe spot.
They also slept tons as kittens, that's normal. Bear didn't leave my side much until about 6 months, and they both still follow me around the house when awake.
Oh, and a close friend of mine has a melanistic f6 boy who was 7lbs at 1 year. He's gained a couple pounds since then, but he's almost 2 now. He's not a big eater, either, and is perfectly healthy. Some kitties are just petit bebe's!
Agreed on getting another parasite test done, just to be sure, as some don't show up unless they are actively shedding eggs, and mistakes happen, things get missed sometimes.
Have you tried homemade toys as opposed to store bought? Both of mine prefer the ones I make. Try not to stress - I know it's hard - Akila defs will pick up on it, tho, and it will increase any stress she feels.
They also slept tons as kittens, that's normal. Bear didn't leave my side much until about 6 months, and they both still follow me around the house when awake.
Oh, and a close friend of mine has a melanistic f6 boy who was 7lbs at 1 year. He's gained a couple pounds since then, but he's almost 2 now. He's not a big eater, either, and is perfectly healthy. Some kitties are just petit bebe's!
Agreed on getting another parasite test done, just to be sure, as some don't show up unless they are actively shedding eggs, and mistakes happen, things get missed sometimes.
Have you tried homemade toys as opposed to store bought? Both of mine prefer the ones I make. Try not to stress - I know it's hard - Akila defs will pick up on it, tho, and it will increase any stress she feels.
Snakebike
Savannah Super Cat
I am surprised if you brought her to 3 different vets and 2 different animal hospitals for this problem that only one vet did a fecal exam.
Also, most vets would not require you to bring the cat in to do a fecal float and smear just a sample. If the one vet you brought the sample to missed something it would be good to know.
Also, most vets would not require you to bring the cat in to do a fecal float and smear just a sample. If the one vet you brought the sample to missed something it would be good to know.
Akila
Site Supporter
I agree!! she goes back in to have her eye checked on Thursday, so I will talk to the eye doctor about dry - FIP and she goes in to be spayed a week from Monday so I will talk to that vet about the parasites.
Does anyone know of a great vet ear Pittsburgh PA? I am willing to talk to another vet.
Does anyone know of a great vet ear Pittsburgh PA? I am willing to talk to another vet.
Attachments
Manu+Horde
Savannah Super Cat
Hi ...
with near 6 month of age a kitten should have about 1500-2000g // 3,3-4,4 lbs so i think when Akila is normal eating and not loosing wheigt - it should be ok - with the 3,8 lbs she is "in the range" also don't forget - Savannah's are out-grown with 2.5-3years and they have "spurts" so i would not be over concerned - if you want to get Akila a bit more energy - maybe she likes special cat milk (should be available in zoo shops) if yes - it may help a bit as addon getting her a bit more plus weight - also some Savannah's are very picky - maybe you try as add on to the used can food something like a day old chicken baby - to see if Akila maybe prefers full prey optic as food instead of creamy pate
My cats have dry kibble from Bozita (salmon taste) - they get wet food Purina one and Bozita in rotation and some times ground beef (pure / supplements are not wanted they will deny that) - and their daily 1 day-old baby chicken 2per furr-nose.
They are checked for health yearly (incl. bloodwork) - my vet said their health is perfect / bloodworks / also bones and teeth etc. complety fine ... I have never got problems with stool issue or having probs my cat's are not eating (besides they are in heat it is a bit lower with appetite but after that - clearing up back to normal)
So i think it is maybe a thing, you haven't find the proper perfect appetizer yet - i would recommend you have the royal canin canned what is for now ok - try to stay there as main food and check if you find something as addon she likes too - have you found out if Akila is more the meat or fish type ?
I raised kittens in the past - some were milk junkies (special cat milk as add on was available and all loved it) some preferred chicken & beef - some only fish - Hetty's son who was at her side for 6 month - was still drinking all the time mother milk and Hetty let him to ...
So you need to find Akila's preferred taste. Don't make hard changes of the food / eat habits - just try some new taste only as goodie / sample to know what Akila may like ...
Also i would not do the spaying yet if you are not sure she is in a good healthy condition - the spaying means stress and could make things worse when Akila is not in a perfect healthy condition. As you mentioned before she had diarreha - now eating issues as reported - open dignoses and a re-check cause of the eye - i would wait a bit longer to do the spay - till you are confident she is in a good health condition without running in new problems. Spaying has not to be done that early - specially when you are concerned that something could be wrong with Akila so better reschedule to an later appointment.
Happy cat wishes from the Horde !!!
with near 6 month of age a kitten should have about 1500-2000g // 3,3-4,4 lbs so i think when Akila is normal eating and not loosing wheigt - it should be ok - with the 3,8 lbs she is "in the range" also don't forget - Savannah's are out-grown with 2.5-3years and they have "spurts" so i would not be over concerned - if you want to get Akila a bit more energy - maybe she likes special cat milk (should be available in zoo shops) if yes - it may help a bit as addon getting her a bit more plus weight - also some Savannah's are very picky - maybe you try as add on to the used can food something like a day old chicken baby - to see if Akila maybe prefers full prey optic as food instead of creamy pate
My cats have dry kibble from Bozita (salmon taste) - they get wet food Purina one and Bozita in rotation and some times ground beef (pure / supplements are not wanted they will deny that) - and their daily 1 day-old baby chicken 2per furr-nose.
They are checked for health yearly (incl. bloodwork) - my vet said their health is perfect / bloodworks / also bones and teeth etc. complety fine ... I have never got problems with stool issue or having probs my cat's are not eating (besides they are in heat it is a bit lower with appetite but after that - clearing up back to normal)
So i think it is maybe a thing, you haven't find the proper perfect appetizer yet - i would recommend you have the royal canin canned what is for now ok - try to stay there as main food and check if you find something as addon she likes too - have you found out if Akila is more the meat or fish type ?
I raised kittens in the past - some were milk junkies (special cat milk as add on was available and all loved it) some preferred chicken & beef - some only fish - Hetty's son who was at her side for 6 month - was still drinking all the time mother milk and Hetty let him to ...
So you need to find Akila's preferred taste. Don't make hard changes of the food / eat habits - just try some new taste only as goodie / sample to know what Akila may like ...
Also i would not do the spaying yet if you are not sure she is in a good healthy condition - the spaying means stress and could make things worse when Akila is not in a perfect healthy condition. As you mentioned before she had diarreha - now eating issues as reported - open dignoses and a re-check cause of the eye - i would wait a bit longer to do the spay - till you are confident she is in a good health condition without running in new problems. Spaying has not to be done that early - specially when you are concerned that something could be wrong with Akila so better reschedule to an later appointment.
Happy cat wishes from the Horde !!!