My cat is constantly hungry

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

Phrin Vernon RVN — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:41:30 GMT

Would a cox-specific NSAID such as onsior be an option? Or a course of cartrophen?

Are there any referral centres your vet could ring for free telephone advice?

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

Sal the 1st — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:26:17 GMT

My 21yr old was on glycoflex for the last 18mths of her life and it seemed to make her so much more comfortable - but if you have concerns over another problem then may not be adviseable? what does your vet suggest.

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

Laura James — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:53:18 GMT

[quote user="maria thompson"]

Surely the steroids are making him hungry?

[/quote]

Well yes thats what I assumed and unfortunately I've been proven right - saturday he started vomiting. Not knowing this I tableted him on sunday and that was the last tablet he has had even though he is a vomity cat anyway I spoke to the vet and we decided to stop them just in case it was the PLT causing it.

Anyway, since then his appetite has started to go back to normal. Unfortunately he's also starting to get stiff again when going up steps or moving too quickly.

I don't want to give him Cosequin of anything like that as the last time I started that he developed his intassuseption a few days later and because the results came back as inflammatory I don't want to risk it again!! Has anyone got any ideas of anything else i can try him on??

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 11:48:53 GMT

Surely the steroids are making him hungry?

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

Steph Worsley — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:34:22 GMT

Our normal work up for a polyphagic cat would include t4 testing even if they weren't showing any "normal" signs like I said before they can appear to be perfectly normal but still by hyperthyroid, there is also diabetes to consider especially considering the therapy he's on. (I forgot to say in one of my earlier posts that I had a perfectly normal cat, she was overweight, ate/drank normally nothing suggesting hypert4 at all, the only thing was she seemed a bit senile...as in finding a catnip toy in the middle of the night, sitting on it and yowling at the top of her voice, I spoke to a behaviourist who suggested bloodwork initially.....she turned out to be hypert4, it goes to show you cant always just go off what is "normal presentation" for cases)

I wouldn't give up on the diet either as otherwise if you feed him what he wants you will end up with an extremely obese cat if he is that polyphagic.

If he was mine i'd def bleed first for a full geri profile and then work from there. I'm not saying that it isnt the plt's causing this but i would want to rule out other causes first, especially as he's so hungry

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

Laura James — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 20:42:43 GMT

Thanks a lot for messaginf her! The cat's currently on 1/4 tab once daily and he seems pain free with it - in fact hes still getting better as the treatments continuing so i think we have a bit of lee-way ot play with his dose - obviously ill have a chat with the vet before i do anything with the dose.

I put him on the diet hoping to get his weight down a little to help with his joints but i did think id have a few weeks/months before the polyphagia kicked in!! I think to be honest its going to be kinder to give up on the diet especially for the short term as I fed him this morning (100g of wet food) and within 5 mins he was back by his food bowl begging for more - maybe if/when we reduce the dose ill consider putting him back on it.

No hes not behaving any different to normal except that hes more active and far more interested in his food lol! hes nothing like a hyperthyroid cat, hes not pu/pd and his weight hasn't changed - ill be keeping an eye out for any of these changes though!!

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

Susan Jackson — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 11:08:11 GMT

Vet says she's not used PLT's in cats but approx off the top of her head a quarter twice daily.

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

Susan Jackson — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 11:02:56 GMT

That's great about the lymph nodes and no diarrhoea. I had a cat die from lymphoma it was really awful and not a nice one. I knew a Vet who used PLT quite regular but I don't work with her anymore, I've sent her a message and I'll see what she says.

I think you'll struggle with weight loss on preds so I wouldn't get disheartened if he's not successful. Just thinking though might be worth a blood test as preds can bring on diabetes. Is he starting to act hyperthyroid?

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

Sal the 1st — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 01:09:48 GMT

i can remember one cat on plt (before metacam came out) and i think the dose was a quarter tablet once a day to start and tailing off to a quarter tablet every other day - I recall he did quite well but this was for another condition entirely (spondylosis).Posted this as a dose that had been used in cats in case it was useful

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

Tracy Windler RVN — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 00:55:38 GMT

If its any help - muy Mum's dog is on PLT and on the higher dose, she became insatiable and even ate her own faeces, so I wouldn't be surprised if it had a similar effect on other species (hopefully not the poo-eating!). Hope you solve the problem xx

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

Laura James — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 23:03:21 GMT

Hi all, thanks for your replies! Susan, the lab came back that the lump consisted of only inflammatory tissue but couldn't tell if it was because of the intasusseption of whether it caused it. The vet who did the op did note that all the local mesenteric lymph nodes looked normal and healthy (which he was very surprised at - from your post I think he was suspecting lymphoma) the cat also has never suffered from diarrhoea - he only ever uses a litter tray so I can keep an eye on it. He is a fat cat, his body condition score is 5.5/6 so I think he needs to lose a little weight but not an awful lot so I'm not in a major rush to do it - I've only cut his food down by 5 grams or so in the evening so its not a major change! from his attitude to food the last couple of days I really think I need to have a chat with the vet and play around with his dose as he's almost becoming food aggressive and he's trying to steal meat off the counter, which he's never done before! Has anyone got any experience with the use of plt in cats and what dosages they were on?? Thanks Laura

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

Susan Jackson — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 22:06:55 GMT

Hi I think your instinct of the obesity food is totally right, High in protein to and full of fibre to make them feel full. Think it's the steriods making him hungry.

Interested in this lump. Was it in the gut? Siames's seem to get lymphoma and the most comman is in the gut. Any diarrhoea? Preds are the treatment. Don't know, just food for thought?

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

LauraAl — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 19:34:53 GMT

Hi Laura,

I would get bloods taken first to rule out any underlying condition, including thyroid.

Does your cat actually look overweight? Whats his body score, 5kg may be his ideal weight, so cutting his food down will make him hungry. Is he an active cat? Are you feeding him enough calories for his lifestyle? Wet food is 80% water so therefore not very energy dense, a dry food may be more satisfying. Tuna may not be particularly filling and he won't be getting the nutrients he needs.

Steriods also increase appetite and you said that the two went together. Could you lower the dose further? For example 1/8th a day or even 1/4 every other day? It would be case of findng the right level for him. You may still get the same affect at a lower dose and it may also lower his appetite.

Hope this helps.

Laura.

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

Steph Worsley — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 18:10:17 GMT

Not all hyperthyroid cats present as the angry so and so's we normally see, mum and dad's cats were both diagnosed following a geriatric blood sample as they lost a bit of weight. both were calm, not tachycardic or showing any other "normal" symptoms, and seen loads of other hyperthyroids who have presented with wierd and wonderful symptoms

I would repeat all bloods including glucose (+/- fructosamine) and t4 as I'm sure you are aware blood work can change in 6 months quite dramatically.

Once they come back clear then try the satiety (comes in dry and wet),

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

Laura James — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 11:30:23 GMT

The last lot of bloods I did was in house comprehensive profile back in july when he had the intasusseption and all was normal. The vet practice I had him from run thyroid bloods just before I had him, coming up to 6 years ago as they suspected he was hypothyroid. Those bloods came back normal and I haven't done any since.

He really doesn't strike me as hyperthyroid as he's so laid back, even when he's in the vets having bloods and when he was cannulated (and no, i wasn't in the room as i couldnt bear to watch him - an I sad? lol). he isn't tachycardic, his coat is in very good condition - I know I said earlier I give tuna for skin and coat but thats because he was soooo skinny and scraggly when I had him - and after we got the weight on him he was used to it so we never stopped. Also, the increased appetite has coincided with starting the steroids.

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

Mrs Dot Dot — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:23:01 GMT

What blood tests have you done? Have you tested his thyroid?

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

Laura James — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 23:05:15 GMT

[quote user="StephB"]

also do you feed him a half a tin of tuna daily? only asking as feeding tuna regularly is not very good for kitties its the most common cause of Steatitis or Yellow Fat Disease, a painful inflammatory condition caused by a diet high in unsaturated fatty acids.

[/quote]

Yes he is, to be honest I've never seen it in work so don't really know a lot about the disease so never really thought about it - perhaps I'd better think about changing his diet a bit!!

I'm not fussed on feeding him a raw diet, If it was up to me he would be on biscuits permanently but he refuses to eat it if he has them a few meals in a row and my family can't say no to him (he has got very pitiful eyes lol)!

Thanks a lot for your answers xx

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 22:46:04 GMT

Re: My cat is constantly hungry

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 22:42:50 GMT

Why not try the RC satiety support diets? or feed him on raw or high protein diets like Orijen or Bozita? just be sure you aren't feeding the same amounts with the high protein diets as they can put on weight really fast but in theory it should keep him fuller longer.