Malnourished?

Hi there, I am a new to the forum and have been reading all the posts I can to learn about my baby. One thing that worries me is that I'm worried that my 1-year-old isn't fat enough. I have seen posts where people say their 1-year-old weighs 20lbs. We feed our KittyGato wet and dry food twice a day and actually whenever he wants it but I think he only weighs about 10lbs. Should I be giving him supplements? Steroids? IM KIDDING. just worried he's too skinny!



http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b6...12735117_n.jpgR

http://www.cat-world.com.au/images/body-condition.jpg this explains what their body shape should be, my 2 year old is 10.75 pounds. He's just small. Apparently if you breed 2 reds, they come out small, since he's a rescue kitten, we don't know what his parents were. I don't know if any other combinations make smaller cats, I just know this one example.

at 1 year old Neevie was about that too. Well she's a girl so may be it's different... at 2 and a half she's about 13 pounds I think. I think 10 pounds is respectable for a one year old...
Maine Coons take about 4 years to grow, you know...
Also, since you don't know his background, you never know, he might be mixed with a smaller breed? (I read that Maine Coon breed are a mixed breed anyway! that doesn't make him any less Maine Coon so we'll accept you in the forum anyway :rofl: )

just to be sure he hasn't got worms or something, just in case, may be take him to the vets again? may be he's caught some while he was out?

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Originally Posted by Tacye

Should I be giving him supplements? Steroids?

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I think you have been listening too much to the steroid trouble A-Rod is in. :D

I think Kittygato is absolutely perfect! I think us humans worry too much about weight. Ginger was considered to be underweight by the vet when she was 2 months old. I told her not too worry about that, our animals tend to be very fat :rofl: She is by no means as fat as our Beagles are but she is very long and lean and she eats all she wants. I feed her a can of food and all the dry kibble she wants, cats are better at regulating their intake than say humans or Beagles! I can not wait its almost time for my Ginger's 9 month check up!

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Originally Posted by SpencerTheLion

I think you have been listening too much to the steroid trouble A-Rod is in. :D

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LOL!!!! I love it!

Oh... Trust me. When he became "ours" officially, I took him to the vet, got a full check up, flea dip, shots and a neutering. Then, someone took him from us for a whole week (I posted about this in the kitty chat area if anyone wants to read about it) and when he came back, I took him to the vet the next day for another check up and a microchip. As I look at him now I think that I am worrying too much. He is healthy and actually not small, just sleek. Maybe I'll weigh him lol.

I think it depends on the cat. Darcie-lu is quite light (4.9) at 4yrs yet she looks quite well filled, but Maxwell is 1yr & weighs the same but hes long & thin. Don't think it really matters as long as the cat is healthy & happy:rofl:

They all vary a tremendous amount depending on their breeding lines,I have both the long lean sleek line who doesn't make the 7kg mark even when full grown & he is a male neuter but also have had & still got a 10kg heavy boned giant from completely different lines,fit, healthy & happy is the aim of the game,whatever the size they all have the typical MC traits & that is what we all love in our MC's....
Looking at his picture he seems a bright eyed fella & you might find he is one that doesn't start to even fill out until he is a lot older,one of mine had a big surge when he was nearly five,couldn't believe it never had such a late starter....! x

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Originally Posted by Felix65

I think it depends on the cat. Darcie-lu is quite light (4.9) at 4yrs yet she looks quite well filled, but Maxwell is 1yr & weighs the same but hes long & thin. Don't think it really matters as long as the cat is healthy & happy:rofl:

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Quick update- welly has had a growth spurt in the last two months & now weighs in at 11lbs. He still looks skinny!!