Morbid Obesity In Elderly Felines

Missy is a sixteen year old female mix. We attribute her longetivity to never going to the vet outside of getting her fixed and her initial vaccinations as a kitten. We’ve been told that old vaccination sites often develope into tumors. We’ve never allowed a litter box in the house because we’ve heard they spread disease (we also have a 12 year old siamese), not to mention that they stink. Both cats are happy to do their business outside. Our family of five allows the cats plenty of opportunity to go outside when needed.

Two of our three children have never experienced life without Missy. We’re concerned that Missy is putting on too much weight. She’s always been fat, but it is getting to the point of her gut almost dragging on the floor as she walks. We’ve tried cutting down on the treats and canned food, but this sends her into a severe depression. So does changing her diet to lo-cal. This cat lives to eat. We’re afraid that at her age, severe depression may be her end. She remains very active and still enjoys batting around her toys when nobody is looking. She is a very important part of our family. This cat has the potential of living to 20.

Any cat experts/lovers out there have any suggestions?

Missy may have an underactive thyroid. I sense that you are reluctant to take her to the vet, understandably so, but that may be the only way you can remedy the situation. It is better to take her to the vet if you think something is wrong than to live with the selfcondemnation you will feel if you don’t at least have her examined. I know this from bitter experience. I am still grieving over the loss of my cat 3 years ago.

I know little about cats, but I heard this from a fairly cat-savvy friend (works as a vet assistant) a couple of months ago:

The idea is that cats are natural carnivores, and can readily self-regulate the amount of meat they eat, but not so when there is a substantial amount of non-meat in the food. So a cat that gets a fair amount of dry cat food has some tendancy to over-eat and become obese. Putting the cat on a meat-only diet will fix this, but yoy have to be prepared for a transition period when the cat behaves a bit strangely (exactly how wasn’t made too clear).

Probably best to check this with someone that has first-hand knowledge.

What, no picture links? I love big fat cats.

Here’s one of my favorite cat pictures (drawing, actually).
http://www.walrusproductions.com/iamsmiling.html
I wish Mancat would put on a little weight. The vet say’s he’s fine, but he seems like skin and bone to me.
Peace,
mangeorge