Eliot - How thin is too thin??

[sirrahbed]

GREAT NEWS DEBBIE!!!! See those babies have been a good exercise workout for Eliot!

Is Eliot one that is maybe a bit more to himself?

YES, Eliot is very much my loner kitty. In fact, while I was trying to get the samples from him - I was very aware of how much he was enjoying the individual attention and I think you may be exactly right about the fur....he gets his petting only if there are no other kitties in the room and IF he is in the mood.

He is by far the most playful and energetic of the cats and is trying so hard to find a playmate in Boomer. Lizzie is annoyed by him because he chases her and he and Robbie race around the house and wrestle ALOT!! So....he surely gets much more exercise since we brought the babies home ( the babies are over a year old and bigger than he is but guess they will always be the "babies")

TopCat3 - You know, I have a jar of conditioning foam in the cabinet!! I will have to get that out and rub it on

KAK and Jen - I am afraid of that bladder needle!! The sample is not that urgent now or guess that is what we would have done...I will try again tonight and did not think of trying NO pellets. When he used those - there was no urine to pour or use the dropper I have to take out because it all was on the pellets and there was nothing to pour. I think what I did wrong was add a bit of used litter in one corner and he tracked the dust around?? It never occured to me that he would go in the clean box of pellets or even no pellets unless it had the litter scent.

Well, I am still just so relieved that he is fine. I was feeling SOOOO nervous about bringing him in!! One moment I thought I was neurotic to bring in a "thin" kitty to perhaps find out he was simply "thin"
....the next moment I was feeling guilty because I have been wondering about his thinness for at least six months....some of you may remember that I brought in his sister Emily at about one year of age to having a "growth" on her belly checked....and sent home with diet food for her!! She is my very first female and I never knew about that fat pouch that some of them get on their bellies after the spay, etc.

Barbara....yes, my Eliot is thin and healthy!! You were right! Someone else suggested that cats these days are often a bit overweight and I have to chuckle because Eliot is really the only kitty I have ever had that looks lean and "catlike"

One other thing....since keeping Eliot in our room by himself and thoroughly enjoying that private attention.....we are planning to do it now and then with each kitty!! Having Eliot alone was such fun!!! We laughed at his antics and Dennis commented that he never really noticed what a funny character Eliot could be. Dylan is another that will only come to us when the other cats are not around - so I am looking forward to the private time with each kitty

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Such wonderful news about Eliot!

As for the dry,coarse fur, Tubby had that too, along with a bit of dandruff. I tried everything when he was much younger to get the dandruff to disappear - oils on his food, different foods, etc. - but it never did, and he always had a rougher coarser fur than other cats I know. CJ's fur is sooooo soft compared to Tubby, and with Peanut it's hard to compare because of her longer hair. Like people's hair, I think cats fur has different textures and it could be that Eliot ended up with the rougher coarser type.

Don't worry about neurotic about him, it's natural for pet meowmies to be a bit neurotic now and then.

The private time for each kitty sounds like a great idea, and I'm sure they will all love it - as will you and Dennis!

[.sarah]

Do you possibly have a syringe or could you go back to the vet to get one? I work at a vet and we use the plastic pellets to get urine samples as well, but we use a syringe to collect it.