Thread: Need advice ,comment please.

Hi Elizebeth. Not had experience of that, or seen it, but instinctively it feels like a trip to the vets. When was Maisie neutered out of interest?

Certainly when cats are lying down they have very loose, "saggy" skin over their lower abdomens. Maine Coons can get a great deal of fur underneath, so yes, they can nearly touch the ground underneath as they are standing. Furthermore, if they are moving along at a good clip the underneath fur sways side to side. Looks like they have gigantic sagging/swaying bellies (they look almost just like one of our neighborhood shorthairs that does have a giant sagging belly). However, most of that should be just fur. I think the most reliable way to see if cats are getting fat is to feel the body around the sides. Our girls are quite bony on their sides. Boys have more body mass in general I believe, though one of our males has gotten a bit overweight and we are trying various strategies to reduce his intake without disrupting the others' routines too much. Since canned food is nearly 80% water, I assume that it is less likely that cats would get fat on it. The weight gain in the one male in fact coincided with him switching to eating mainly dry.

Do you mean her whole tummy seems fat but skin loose or is it loose flaps on either side that hang low ?
"Luv 'andles" as I class them that swing from side to side when they move.If the latter I wouldn't worry too much,my Shimba has started to get them & daughters female cat has always had them from a young age & both of them never over eat & I just take it they are like human figures & vary a fair bit.If it is the whole tummy hanging low with sagging skin might just pay to do as Karen suggests & get her checked over at the vets,they would soon tell you if it's a weight problem but with your small paws dishing the food out it doesn't sound as if it is likely to be that...!

Two handfuls a day doesn’t sound like much. If the vet can’t find anything wrong with her, you could try getting her to exercise more. I always make them jump and run a couple of times a day… with the help of feathery sticks, little balls, a fluffy toy on a string, etc. Does wonders for my own condition as well.
When feeding her, you can throw the biscuits so she has to chase them. Or hide them in high places so she has to climb.

Also, as NCarver says, wet food is less fattening. Dry food is very high in carbohydrates from all the grain in it. Cats don’t need those carbs. So try to find a grain-free wet food she likes. And if you must feed her dry, look for a grain-free brand with low carb content like Orijen.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Originally Posted by Antonia

When feeding her, you can throw the biscuits so she has to chase them. Or hide them in high places so she has to climb.!

That's a good point. For when you're not around though, you can also get these food balls - they've got adjustable holes in the surface and you fill the ball with dry food and then adjust the size of the holes to make it easier/harder to get the food out. The idea is that the cats have to exercise with the ball and bat it around in order to get the food to fall through the holes. Both our cats got one as part of their Christmas Stocking and Wicca loves hers! If it turns out that Maisie's got a little overweight (not sure how from what you've mentioned though) then it could be a good way to encourage her to exercise.

Whatever you decide to do, keep us posted.

Thank you so much for your comments greatly appreciated.
Maisie had her operation last September.
I don't honestly think it is fat but does look rather portly !
Excercise could be an answer. It is hard to play with her as dog Meg wants to join in and her ladyship gives out about that 'stupid hairy dog'. BUT I will make big effort to have private play time with The Diva . Up to quite recently she was not at all interested in play but thankfully now she is settling in and the playful side is emerging.
'We' do not do climbing, apparently this is undignified or something , but perhaps that too will come. She likes heights but there needs to be stairs to climb, jumping is a no no.

Try her with a laser light,we live in a bungalow & have found thats a great way to get them running about,from kitchen straight down to end of hall allows a good run & by taking the light up the wall at the end of the corridor it gets them stretching upwards,Merlyn who has always had weight problems has his session in the morning on his own & the babes have the evening stint,as its not actually climbing perhaps Maisie might feel it is a bit more dignified & she won't be showing off her knickers so much....
Agree with others about wet food best way to make them loose & control weight,Merl is only allowed a few biscuits a day & it works well .

Thank you, the laser light sounds good,
I will ask the vet about the food, I know Maisie has been on the dry all her life but may introduce some wet.

Originally Posted by candes

I forget what it is called. But some cat breeds shoudl have a little tummy pooch (loose skin). It is needed for their movement dynamics (running). And if I recall correctly MC are a breed known for this. Think about it. You have a long slinky like kitty. When they aren't fully stretched, the extra skin needs to go somewhere. When stretched while running it pulls taunt.

Another thing to consider if it isn't just skin, is a worm burden.

They are called Skirts, and all my cats have them usually specially when they are neutered and usually in the winter, they wobble when they walk. lol