No need to be worried!! Update #33.

[Taz_Zoee]

For the past few weeks Taz has been an eating machine. He has been eating much more than normal. Is eating a LOT something to be worried about?

Now today Bruce fed him his dinner and he has not touched it. And he ate only his normal amount (before piggie stage) this morning. He is meowing at us to feed him, but he has a dish full of food!!!

Any ideas what could be the problem?

Oh, and I have a couple pictures I will post later too. My little guy doesn't get enough air time around here. Partly because he is not photogenic at all.

[Freedom]

Is h also drinking a lot? More than normal?

Does he feel hot to the touch?

Eating a lot and not gaining weight is one sign of hyperthryoidism. Or of diabetes. Or of a lot of other things. It is not really something you can determine, other than to decide if he needs a vet visit. Then they will do blood work to see what is happening.

My Mr. Amber Cat had over active thyroid, and along with eating like crazy, he was quite warm. I felt like I was next to a boiler when he snuggled up against me. Ruffles had overactive thyroid and hung out by the water bowl. Never noticed her being hot or eating a lot.

[Taz_Zoee]

He is not hot. And I can't tell if he is drinking more than normal, since he shares a water bowl with Zoee. I do not see him at the water bowl anymore than normal. But (and I don't know if I'm being over paranoid) I feel like his urine clumps in the box are super bigger for the past couple months.
I took him to the vet back in January, but I forgot to request the doctor I prefer. I talked to the other doc about some things and got prices for getting blood work and tests ran, since he is getting a bit older. He has his regular annual check up coming up in April, I think. And I plan on getting all the tests ran - thyroid, diabetes, kidneys, liver (even though they he had all these checked about 2 years ago). I will talk to my sister and get a list of what I should get tested (she is a vet tech).

With thyroid, would he pig out and then all of the sudden NOT eat at all? Or is he just being a picky eater? I guess I'll see how he eats in the morning.

I haven't weighed him since his vet visit, because that requires my butt getting on the scale, and I'd rather not see that number right now, lol. Maybe I'll see if Bruce will do it for me.

Thank you for the response Freedom.

[kt_luvs_kitties]

I would not worry too much. Just keep watching him and see if anything else changes...

In the winter, my kitties eat double to triple what they eat in the summer. Melissa(doolittleky) also says hers are complete pigs until the warmer weather. Might just be that.

I will pray either way!

And please do share pictures, I would love to see them

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'd also watch him and hopefully it isn't anything serious. Yes, I've also been told that cats eat more in the cooler months than in the warmer months. The lady that told me this works at an ER Vet Hospital. I've also noticed that my cats always seem hungry. I too would love to see some pictures of Taz.

[CultureJunky]

Jack ate like a pig and also had food that he wouldn't touch, and became very picky, almost like he was still hungry but was fed up of eating all the time.
If Taz starts to appear thinner get him to the vets.
Also feel around his neck and see if you can feel any lumps, as if the thyroid gland is up, then it's hyperthyroidism.

Hope he starts to feel better soon.

[Taz_Zoee]

Well I was happy to see he had eaten some of his dinner during the night. And he ate his breakfast well too. Whew!
I just went through him being sick and losing weight too quickly a couple years back. He is finally at a "good" weight and I want him to stay there. I don't even mind if he gains a couple pounds. He has weighed as high as 21lbs and was a very healthy kitty. When I took him to the vet back in Jan he weighed about 13lbs. Slightly less than his previous visit, but not too much to be worried about.
Ok, I'm going to upload some pics off my camera so I can post them here.
Thank you all for your concern and advice.
Pictures coming...........stay tuned.............

[CultureJunky]

I am looking forward to seeing pictures of Taz, he is so handsome

[Taz_Zoee]

Here are two pictures. They are just about the same. This seems to be the best way to get a picture of him......while he is sleeping. But I loved how he was all tucked in under the covers.


Wow! Sorry they are HUGE!! I don't understand, I sized them to smaller than I usually post. OH well, I don't have time to mess with it right now, lol.

[catmandu]

ALL YOOU CAN DO IS KEEP AN EYE ON THEM, THATS HOW I NOTICED THAT JOSEPH WAS WINCING AT THE DRY FOOD AND HAD HIS TEETH OPERATED ON!!
ITS NOT UNUSUAL FOR THE CATS TO BE HOT AND COLD WHILE EATING THIER FOOD!!!
THE FOUND CATS DO THAT ALL THE TIME!!!

[Laura's Babies]

He looks so comfy tucked in under those covers.

[Taz_Zoee]

That is so weird. I loaded these pictures while I was at work and they were HUGE, but now that I'm home, they are the right size.

Yeah, so apparently he's not eating his dinner again. But I think he's just being a picky boy. Because he eventually ate it at some point in the night and he ate his breakfast this morning. Little Stinker!!
I will definitely be keeping a close eye on his eating, pottying and just in general to make sure all is well.

Thanks again for everyone's responses.

[pitc9]

I think he was just making sure you were paying attention to him!

He's such a cutie!

[kb2yjx]

Not to sound too concerned, but I'd make an appointment at the vet's. If Taz continues NOT to eat, he may develop hepatic lipidosis(a fatty liver). It can be fatal. We lost a cat in December to mild hepatic lipidosis. Nicholas stopped eating. We took him to the vet and his liver enzymes were thru the roof. He was jaundiced. And then he was gone, it all happened so fast. It is far better to err on the side of caution, I'd go to the vet.....

[Taz_Zoee]

Not to sound too concerned, but I'd make an appointment at the vet's. If Taz continues NOT to eat, he may develop hepatic lipidosis(a fatty liver). It can be fatal. We lost a cat in December to mild hepatic lipidosis. Nicholas stopped eating. We took him to the vet and his liver enzymes were thru the roof. He was jaundiced. And then he was gone, it all happened so fast. It is far better to err on the side of caution, I'd go to the vet.....

I was in a similar situation with Taz, as I think I stated before, about a couple years ago. He had stopped eating all together and lost 5 lbs QUICKLY. I really thought he wouldn't make it, but, thank god, he did.
This time I was more concerned and was asking about the fact that he was eating like a horse for a few weeks then one night just didn't want to eat. But he has been eating "enough" these past few days. It goes back and forth - he'll eat ALL his breakfast then only a bit of dinner. Or he'll eat dinner and only some of his breakfast.
So the fact that he is eating, just not as much as "normal", that's okay, right? For sure if he completely stopped, he'd be at the vets right away.
I guess I'll have to break down and weigh him tonight if I can't get Bruce to do it for me. That way I can keep track of his weight.
Thank you for your response though. I'm sorry you lost your Nicholas . I will definitely keep a close eye on him. Maybe I'll even move his appointment sooner if I can.

ETA: I just called and made an appointment for next Tuesday. He can get his shots at that time too.