Hey all! Back for a second post in less than 24 hours--it looks like I've found my new internet haunt!
My girl--Bombay/Domestic Shorthair, 3 years old--weighed in this morning at 21.6lbs.
For the record--I travel fair often (husband in Seattle, I'm in Ontario,) and have to leave her with my father, who freefeeds and generally ignores her health otherwise. Totaling the time I've been gone to around a year when you lump it all together and take out my home-time, she's been going through free-feeding periods and nothing to do but eat and sleep for all that time.
When I got home in February, I decided enough was enough, and got her on a diet. She gets 1/4 cup of dry food a day (totaling to 100-110 calories), and 2 portions of wet food a day (totaling between 102-120 calories.) She has constant access to clean, fresh water, and I play with her often to get her moving.
Her weight slowly crept down from 18.7lbs (299oz) in February, 18.09lbs (288oz) in March, 17.4lbs (278oz) in April. It looked like progress, small as it was (I'm really afraid of HP, and my vet was pretty unhelpful because he's "not worried about weight." I have a different vet now, I see them on Saturday.)
This morning! This little chunk! She weighed in at 21.6lbs.
I weigh her in the morning before she eats, and I know the possibility of her having to poop is a thing--but surely said poop can't weigh enough to bring her weight of 17.4lbs up to freaking 21.6lbs?????
I'm at a loss, and really worried for her health. She doesn't drink or urinate more than usual, so I know she's not currently dealing with the things that point me towards feline diabetes, but damn if I'm not watching for it. She's eating just barely over 200 calories a day--I thought that change from free-feeding would make a difference, but looking at it, it feels like I've barely dented the damage done.
Any advice? Tips? Bad poetry related to the situation?
Thanks!
My girl--Bombay/Domestic Shorthair, 3 years old--weighed in this morning at 21.6lbs.
For the record--I travel fair often (husband in Seattle, I'm in Ontario,) and have to leave her with my father, who freefeeds and generally ignores her health otherwise. Totaling the time I've been gone to around a year when you lump it all together and take out my home-time, she's been going through free-feeding periods and nothing to do but eat and sleep for all that time.
When I got home in February, I decided enough was enough, and got her on a diet. She gets 1/4 cup of dry food a day (totaling to 100-110 calories), and 2 portions of wet food a day (totaling between 102-120 calories.) She has constant access to clean, fresh water, and I play with her often to get her moving.
Her weight slowly crept down from 18.7lbs (299oz) in February, 18.09lbs (288oz) in March, 17.4lbs (278oz) in April. It looked like progress, small as it was (I'm really afraid of HP, and my vet was pretty unhelpful because he's "not worried about weight." I have a different vet now, I see them on Saturday.)
This morning! This little chunk! She weighed in at 21.6lbs.
I weigh her in the morning before she eats, and I know the possibility of her having to poop is a thing--but surely said poop can't weigh enough to bring her weight of 17.4lbs up to freaking 21.6lbs?????
I'm at a loss, and really worried for her health. She doesn't drink or urinate more than usual, so I know she's not currently dealing with the things that point me towards feline diabetes, but damn if I'm not watching for it. She's eating just barely over 200 calories a day--I thought that change from free-feeding would make a difference, but looking at it, it feels like I've barely dented the damage done.
Any advice? Tips? Bad poetry related to the situation?
Thanks!