kind of a dumb question...my four-year-old kitty is developing a pouch sort of behind her tummy -- the kind of droopiness I've seen referred to as spay sway (awful term!). She has never been overweight and doesn't seem so now -- but does this signal the beginning of a weight problem we should address? Or some other problem we should have checked out?
Background -- she was rescued from a street market at approx six months of age, spayed within a couple of months of that, albeit not before her first heat -- the spay was performed by a vet/butcher whom we immediately replaced, from which she had a difficult recovery.
However, she's now healthy, very playful, gets regular (indoor) playtime sessions, is fed a good-quality dry food (Royal Canin) with small amounts of wet food at night as a treat. Have always free-fed dry as she's never been a big eater....perhaps that should change? Better to eliminate the wet food entirely?
anyway, thanks in advance for your thoughts...
spay sway??
Re: spay sway??
Here is some info that might help better explain your kitty's body.
http://www.cathelp-online.com/health/bscore.php
A few of my kitties have that pouch you're referring to. Even my male. They are not overweight ... okay well maybe one is ... but in the girls I thought it had to do with their stomach muscles after getting spayed. Not necessarily getting fat but losing strength in the muscle. Then someone told me it's the "house cat syndrome" because they are inside and don't get the proper exercise they would outside. Nonsense to that I said. They have a floor to ceiling cat tree, other perches, lots of obstacles (okay, dirty piles of laundry on some days) to jump.
How much does your cat weight? Have you had a recent vet exam to rule out any indication of unnecessary weight gain? Don't do any sort of diet/food change without the advice and guidance of your vet.
http://www.cathelp-online.com/health/bscore.php
A few of my kitties have that pouch you're referring to. Even my male. They are not overweight ... okay well maybe one is ... but in the girls I thought it had to do with their stomach muscles after getting spayed. Not necessarily getting fat but losing strength in the muscle. Then someone told me it's the "house cat syndrome" because they are inside and don't get the proper exercise they would outside. Nonsense to that I said. They have a floor to ceiling cat tree, other perches, lots of obstacles (okay, dirty piles of laundry on some days) to jump.
How much does your cat weight? Have you had a recent vet exam to rule out any indication of unnecessary weight gain? Don't do any sort of diet/food change without the advice and guidance of your vet.
Re: spay sway??
If you are concerned with her gaining weight, the best thing to do is get her to your vet for a proper weight check, and weigh her monthly. Your vet will determine her overall health status and determine if she may be prone to obesity. He will also recommend whether or not the canned food should be omitted, or may suggest a new diet altogether, this will be based on her health history, her present overall health, her body condition score.
Spays and neuters are not the direct causes to weight gain in cats. As Cleo mentions, it is important to make sure your pets get regular playtime and exercise on a daily basis. Spending at least 10 minutes a day with your kitty with interactive playtime is a good way to keep her active.
Spays and neuters are not the direct causes to weight gain in cats. As Cleo mentions, it is important to make sure your pets get regular playtime and exercise on a daily basis. Spending at least 10 minutes a day with your kitty with interactive playtime is a good way to keep her active.
..........Traci
Re: spay sway??
Hi again -- thanks for the advice, the body chart was helpful actually. She's quite fluffy (long-haired ancestor?) so it's hard to tell sometimes, but in looking at her from above she's still pretty well-proportioned, at most at the edge of 'ideal.' (She's very small in general -- less than seven pounds, but also quite short -- and my bathroom scale is not nearly accurate enough to show any gain, it'd be a matter of a few ounces).
Vet was very happy with her health at the last checkup in July but will bump up the next one just to be sure. (She does get lots of playtime, definitely more than 10 min/day, she insists on it! So will continue that as well.)
thanks,
c.
Vet was very happy with her health at the last checkup in July but will bump up the next one just to be sure. (She does get lots of playtime, definitely more than 10 min/day, she insists on it! So will continue that as well.)
thanks,
c.