Tiny rescue!

[Sharnsphynx]

Hi everyone! Just looking for some opinions. We have two lovely sphynx cats who are very happy and healthy! We’re now rehoming another sphynx from a cat cafe, as they felt the environment wasn’t suitable for him and too cold during the winter months, which was causing him to lose weight. He’s two years old but he’s the size of a small kitten and very skinny, he also has tummy problems! The vets have ruled out any underlying issues and decided he needed a warm home to relax in so he can gain weight, hence he’s coming to live with us! He’s currently on a gastro diet to help him gain weight, however when checking the packaging I noticed the food was only 45% meat (kattovit & almo nature) , our boys food has around 80% meat (applaws wet food) . I’ll obviously continue feeding his current food until he settles, but I’d like to switch his food to one with a higher protein content in the hopes that will help him gain weight, I just wanted to see what everyone’s thoughts are on this and if you agree it could be a good idea? I know a lot may be trial and error but wondering if anyone has any other tips or experience with something similar! Thanks!

 

[Catzzzmeow]

I am assuming their vet checked them out…not yours? I would quarantine them until you see your vet, get clear test results and clear poop sample results. Such a young cat, something feels a bit off. Your vet can also prescribe a very rich food to help pack on some weight quickly.

Have the people given you the veterinary records so you can share with your vet? Do they have proof of age etc? @Sharnsphynx

I hope you are able to help this baby and keep us updated.

 

[Sharnsphynx]

Hello! Thanks for getting back to me, I have all the vet records, and rather conveniently I use the same vets as the previous owners did, so everything has been confirmed which is one less stress! I know for sure he’s at least two years old (we’ve been visiting the cafe for at least that long- and he’s always been there) and the cats there have always seemed happy and in good condition. Of course I’ll be taking little one to the vets once he’s here, just to get a fresh health check done, I’m more just hoping to a few tips on making him gain weight if the vets advice remains the same, thanks!

 

[Yoda mom]

@Sharnsphynx , awh, hugs to you for opening your heart and home to this sweetie. echoing catzzzmeows reply with quarantine
glad you have less stress that having the same vet and have records.

does he have recent blood work? showing kidney, thyroid T4 check? etc.
I always ask for a "senior panel " bloodwork no matter the age (vet tech told me about years ago, saves money than testing individually). it includes , CBC panel, T4, urine, stool check (rule out any parasites, worms that can keep them from keeping weight on) , etc.
you can ask your vet if this blood work would be helpful for him to get a baseline. Vet can recommend food and let them know what food you feed..

I know from searching foods I have found some are **supplemental only not a balanced diet. Some weruva, I believe some almo nature varieties too when I looked into it years ago.

following closely for updates, hugs n head smooches

do you have pics of him to share?

 

[Sharnsphynx]

Thanks for all the advice, the blood work was two months ago, and kidney and thyroid all clear! Parasites and worms all clear, I can’t seem to find anywhere on my info if it was a senior panel in particular that was done though, so I’m definitely going to double check that when I take him to the vets. I’ve ordered some probiotics aswell to be safe. He’s also safely under quarantine, fully wormed, vaccinated and neutered. He’s so small, only 2.4kg!
The food was what threw me, I noticed it all said low fat, but I’ve always been under the impression sphynx need a high fat diet? Or is this because it’s a sensitive food?
He’s been home a few hours now, he refused to eat his usual food that was given to me, so I gave him a little applaws and he’s wolfed that down. I’m hoping it might just be a case of his previous diet just wasn’t suitable for the breed! He’s not done a poop yet so I’ll keep an eye on him!

 

[Catzzzmeow]

Glad to hear he wolfed down his food! His environment might have been stressful enough to cause him to stress and wear down on his body. Hoping you see positive results going forward. Were they the only Sphynx at the cafe?

 

[Yoda mom]

@Sharnsphynx awh, he is adorable ! happiest gotcha day! he is blessed to be in your heart and home. so happy he ate up the applaws! which flavor? he will thrive with you and all your love and care. what did you name him? all paws are family.

you are doing great with him and his vet followups. glad his blood work was clear. looking forward to updates, pics and tales! hugs n head smooches to all paws. love to see pics of your other babies n names.

 

[Sharnsphynx]

Thank you for replies! There is one other sphynx in the cafe, who is absolutely fine. The vets seemed the think the environment was too stressful and got too cold in the winter months, the weight loss seemed to coincide with the colder weather. It was the tuna fillet. He’s been to the toilet since, one poop was fairly solid but the second very runny, I’d still like to continue the applaws (at least a couple of weeks to see if there’s improvement) however I think I’m gonna introduce it slower than planned and in much smaller amounts (maybe over 2-3 weeks) fingers crossed!

 

[Yoda mom]

What's his name?

 

[nudebea]

Glad to hear that little guy found you ! Sounds like you're doing a great job with him and wishing you good luck for the future . Looking forward to updates and more pics . And what is his name ?

 

[Sharnsphynx]

Sorry for the late reply- his name is Ted! Too early to say yet as it’s only been 2 days but he seems like he’s starting to settle, has abit more energy and curiosity. Took him to the vets and confirmed they ruled everything sinister out, just said to give him a couple of weeks and see if he puts on weight! He’s 1.9kg so so tiny His skin is improving (it was super dry when we got him) and he’s poop is better (was quite frequent and runny when he first arrived)
I’ve been struggling to get him to take water so I’ve popped the cat fountain out and also mixing some water with his food! He’s starting to eat biscuits too so I’m feeling abit happier about the way we’re heading! I knew it was always gonna be a lot to take on, I just had to give him a chance!

 

[Yoda mom]

@Sharnsphynx , awh wonderful update!! Ted struck gold in your heart and home! he is thriving with every new day! great job mum!!
hugs n head smooches. keep us updated often. Love his name!

 

[Toa and Ross]

What a handsome boy Ted is!

 

[Sharnsphynx]

Update! Little ted is doing much better! I must confess when we first got him, he was tiny, scabby, his bones were jutting out, he wouldn’t drink and he also wouldn’t play and would only sleep it’s now been 3 weeks and he now weighs 2.1kg! His eyes are still abit gooey, his tummy is a lot better, although still not perfect and his skin is all sorted! He’s due back at the vets next week to check out a heart murmur (2 of my boys have HCM so I’m well prepared on that) but he’s drinking water and he’s even managed a couple of small play time sessions! I’ll attach some before and now pics! The other 2 boys have taken to him completely now, which is lovely. I must admit I did wonder if he was gonna make it he was so fragile at first, I know we’re not out of the woods but I’m hoping people can see the improvement from the pics!

 

[Sharnsphynx]

Before and after!