Emily - fat or something wrong?

[sirrahbed]

Emily has been getting a bigger and bigger belly over the past months and we have been teasing her...but I have also been starting to worry something is wrong! They may laugh at me but I am taking her to the vet tomorrow. She is my first girl kitty and the plumpness started soon after her spay last August. But now it seems more like a blob than fat like Dylan is fat...and more like a round and loose mass and it feels like jello only I can feel the edges of it:( Here are a few pictures. I am wondering if it could be worms?? Or something wrong with her intestines?? She does cut the cheese alot and it is so bad she can clear out the room!:rolleyes: If something really IS wrong, I am going to feel awful. If she is just *plush*, I guess I will just take the chuckles and come home relieved.:)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid104/pdd5437e933dda1ae230336b9979f3173/f99aa9a5.jpg
This does not look like a regular plush belly does it???:confused:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid104/pde8265a2bd247f7365cc910170b27e01/f99aa9a3.jpg
Geez-I feel like a neurotic mommy worried like this!

edit Feb 17th, 3:15:
We are back from the vet :D It did not cost anything, doctor put her on a diet (Hill's W/D) and even sent us home with a big free bag. She was 5 pounds in August and 10 pounds today. So, her "mass" is pure flub:D I am SO relieved! Nobody laughed at me, either - at least not while I was there.;) Thanks everyone!

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

I think it looks normal. Kitties do get that saggy belly (don't tell anybody, but Tubby has it too), espcially after they are neutered.

However, I'm glad you're taking her to the vet just to be sure. Nothing wrong with a little peace of mind. :)

[RedHedd]

Looks like normal female kitty flub to me, but it's best to be safe. Taking her to the vet is the right thing to do. They may just proclaim her officially "plush" and she'll be in good company here in PT. ;)

[Edwina's Secretary]

Here you see Edwina's "bag." She read once that some domestic cats develop this as a result of their wild genes. If you look at lions and tigers they have this pouch as well. It is where they store food as they may not eat for long periods of time.

Edwina wears hers proudly as a link to her heritage....;) ;)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid33/p5569058063f5c51667d1e8f80daea942/fd3b26d1.jpg

[catcrazylady]

Don't feel like your over reacting. It's better to see the doc and be sure. I think she is ok and you can laugh about it later. Pervy is the same way. You just can't tell it because of all her hair. I can feel her pouch and it worried me too. Maggie Sue is the same way and they have the same mother. Stubby (who also has the same mom) is the only female of my group that doesn't have it. I think she is just the exception to the rule!!
Keep us posted on Ms. Emily.

You're a good cat meowmie to have her checked!http://petoftheday.com/talk/images/our_smilies/biggrin.gif

[sirrahbed]

Thanks PT folks! I feel a little better - especially seeing the picture of Edwina - it looks just the same. Thanks for posting that Sara!! I will still feel better taking her in. My vet is great - have been going him to so many years and he has seen us through cancer with RB Bert and renal failure with RB Ernie, etc. I just did not know girls were so different this way! My boys, except for lean Eliot have been...not *plush* but FAT and it is different than this bag thing :rolleyes: I mean, Dylan waddles when he goes down the hall!! He grunts when he jumps up or down off the bed. THAT I am used to!! (I do it myself :o )Hopefully, the staff can chuckle at me tomorrow - I don't mind.:)

[aki]

Don't feel bad, I took Chuck in for a "well child checkup" and mentioned to his vet a growth on his belly that I was really worried about. It took us a minute or so to find it because he is so furry. When we found the spot, his vet started just cracking up. He said, "That's not a growth, it's his nipple!" I was so embarrased! The vet still teases me about that one.

[catnapper]

Allen has the same thing! It sways back and forth when he walks! Is he the only boy cat with that???

[Edwina's Secretary]

Is he the only boy cat with that???

No, Eddie has it too. But, as he doesn't have short legs like Edwina, it is less noticeable.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by catnapper
Is he the only boy cat with that???

No, as I mentioned, Tubby has it. His has actually gotten a little smaller in the past few years - guess he's finally using up some of those reserves. ;) :rolleyes: :D And it's so funny when he runs, it flops back and forth and looks hilarious....to us anyway, probably looks quite humiliating to Tubby. ;) :D

[aki]

Chuck's belly "bag" fur skims the floor. It's wierd because it's just like extra skin not actually a fat roll. I don't know where it goes when he lays on his back. It's magic!

[Pam]

Both of my boys have "the bag" too. :o It feels like just loose skin and it does sway from side to side when they run or move fast (which they don't do often!) :rolleyes:

[kuhio98]

I hope that Emily passes her checkup with flying colors. Better safe than sorry.

Halo has the same problem. We call it her "booby skirt". The doc said that her very saggy belly was perfectly fine but if we ever noticed her boobies hardening, to bring her in. Here's a photo of her at the cabin. Her boobies hit the floor when she sits. (Gravity is so cruel). :p
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid72/p4dc5ad67439b63691134d406bf1d4432/fb84fa1f.jpg

[boscibo]

All three of my cats have the "fat pouch", even Bo, a male. Hanna's isn't too bad yet since she's not even two, but she has a slight one. Abby has something called a "fat tumor" on her belly - it's harder than the pouch. I had it checked out and it was benign, but better safe than sorry.

[sirrahbed]

Originally posted by catnapper
Is he the only boy cat with that???

Well, Dylan does NOT exert himself and run often, but when he DOES, that belly sways back and forth like crazy!...when he lays down on his back ..like someone said...it miraculously disappears!!

Emily's stays there - compact and blubbery!:rolleyes: We have been laughing at her so long and calling her "flubby-bubby" :o I sure hope it is just belly flub - I thought it was so cute until it started worrying me!!!:eek:

Thanks for the chuckles and well wishes everyone - I will tell you how it goes tomorrow - 2:45 appt.

[ramanth]

It's okay that you were concerned. :) Don't have any other info to give that the other's haven't.

I can say that Converse and Reebok (at my parents house), they both have gotten that 'pouch' as they got older.

Zam, she got it after being spayed but her whole body is big.. LOL! so there is not aparent 'pouch'... just a BIG kitty. ;)

Logan doesn't have one.. yet. ;)

[halliecat]

Hallie has that also--she went to the vet about two weeks ago and was determined to be fairly healthy except for skin allergiex. I think is something that spayed cats have. Not sure since she is my first girl and the boys did not have any saggy bellies...

[CatDad]

The belly pouch is pretty normal Bob has it and RB Flicka did. Joey is the exception. If it is there it does not show at all. Bob's does not exactly disappear when he lays down.

I think that going to the vet is a great idea if you have any quesiton as to what it is. If nothing else you will have peace of mind. That is worth alot.:)

Let us know what the vet says.

[sirrahved]

Pickles is getting one of those bellies now... If only the shelter people could see him now! When we adopted him he was scheduled to go to a pet store but at last minute they decided he was too small. Now he's HUGE! Maybe it's because he got lots of fresh meat that week...

I hope everything is okay with Emily!

[catmandu]

Thank You , Edwina , my love for that explanation of why my tummy is so big. Its because I have a lion in me ,not because I have been stuffing my face with Whiskas Temptations , as my dad suspects!I am big boned , not FAT! GRRRR!Gray And White Lion , on the LOOOSE!

[sirrahbed]

We are back from the vet :D It did not cost anything, doctor put her on a diet (Hill's W/D) and even sent us home with a big free bag. She was 5 pounds in August and 10 pounds today. So, her "mass" is pure flub:D I am SO relieved! Nobody laughed at me, either - at least not while I was there.;) Thanks everyone!

Emily is officially PLUSH :D :D :D He did ask about her exercise routine....ahem...well like her brother Dylan, she does love to bat her paw at things, does THAT count? I think the only exercise she gets is when she plops down to have her belly rubbed, even though we DO play with her often!! I guess WE do all the work! So, I am going to put both Emily and Dylan on the diet. Hard to believe she is only supposed to have 1/2 cup a day of this!! Good grief - I KNOW she eats far more than this! I figure Dylan should have about 3/4 to 1 cup. Now the trick will be feeding them only once daily and in different rooms i guess? I have always kept dry food out at all times, with the understanding that cats will not overeat:rolleyes: The food is expensive, but if i use the quantites it says, I think it will be OK - sure will keep them healthier I am sure. Maybe *I* will diet along with them and make this a family event eh?

[catnapper]

Emily is now officially a roly-poly girl! But with her new diet, she will be sleek and trim in a matter of time! Allen was on the Nutro Weight Control food (before Pouncer) and it really did help him lose the weight. After he lost the weight we noticed that he was far more active. Then we got Pouncer, and since Pouncer was eating Allen's food, and Allen eating Pouncr's food... we stopped with kitten food for one and weight control for the other. Both are on regular food, but Allen REALLY needs the weight control formula again!

Oh, by the way,
Hahahahahahahaha I'm laughing at you - silly woman!:p
Sorry. Couldn't resist!

[sirrahbed]

Originally posted by catnapper
Oh, by the way,
Hahahahahahahaha I'm laughing at you - silly woman!:p
Sorry. Couldn't resist!

:D :D I don't mind at all! I am laughing too!:D :D

[CatDad]

Well at least you have peace of mind, that is worth alot. How nice of the vet not to charge you and give you a 5# bag of food. WOW!! I need my vet to be that nice.

Emily, welcome to the overly furry crowd.:D

Be prepared, the kitties will now try to tell you that they are starving and they don't know how they can go on. Of course this will all be your fault and how you are a mean meowmie. None of this is true, just want you to be prepared.

Cats will not overeat. *much laughing at that statement*:p;):D

Anyway, as soon as they realize that this is the way it will be everything should calm down.

Catnapper, I really like your sense of humor.:D:D

[RedHedd]

Welcome Emily to the Plush Cats Club! I know half a cup of kibble a day doesn't seem like much, but they WILL get used to it. Mine did (two feedings a day instead of free-feeding) and are now galloping throughout the apartment. I'm not too sure how much the plush little Ms. Mitzi has lost - she's still round, but she does seem to have more energy. She gets her exercise running away from Mishi! :rolleyes: :D

[kimlovescats]

Don't feel silly, it's always better to be safe than sorry. But, ummmm, yeah .... that belly flub tends to get alot of "us" who are spayed!!!! NOOOOOOO I will NOT post pictures either!!!:rolleyes: :eek: :D

[Sirrahsim]

i know how all these kitties feel *sigh* I hate belly flub. Think that Hill's stuff works on humans?:rolleyes: :D :D