I asked the tech how many kcals my 22 y/o, inactive, underweight, 5 lb. cat should be eating a day so as not to lose anymore weight. In her youth, her ideal weight would've been between 7.5 to 8.5 lbs. It's been so long I forgot what she used to look like and weigh. Her frame is definitely smaller than the average female cat, she's very petite. Since late 2014 she's lost weight due to IBD. She's been steady at 5 lbs. for a little over a year but now she's not eating well. I'm having to syringe feed her to maintain weight.
I got a call from the tech who said the vet recommends about 210 kcals a day. I can barely get 160 kcals in this cat and I'm supposed to give 210? Is this even right?
I've checked out numerous veterinary sites that provide kcal calculators for cats and I'm not getting that number. I'm getting 130 for an inactive cat, and 156 for an average adult. I don't know if the vet is going by what her ideal weight should be, but at 22 I don't think it should be 8 lbs. I would say that she could stand to gain some weight, but I would think it would be crazy to add on more than 1 lb. So a 6 lb. cat would need 149 - 179 kcals. The 210 the vet recommends would be more appropriate for a 7.5 lb. cat.
Unless she needs more kcals because of IBD, pancreatitis, and kidney disease. I'm really struggling here. I'm only one person. I can't do it all.
Any recommendations on how many kcals she should be getting per day to maintain weight at 5 lbs.?
I got a call from the tech who said the vet recommends about 210 kcals a day. I can barely get 160 kcals in this cat and I'm supposed to give 210? Is this even right?
I've checked out numerous veterinary sites that provide kcal calculators for cats and I'm not getting that number. I'm getting 130 for an inactive cat, and 156 for an average adult. I don't know if the vet is going by what her ideal weight should be, but at 22 I don't think it should be 8 lbs. I would say that she could stand to gain some weight, but I would think it would be crazy to add on more than 1 lb. So a 6 lb. cat would need 149 - 179 kcals. The 210 the vet recommends would be more appropriate for a 7.5 lb. cat.
Unless she needs more kcals because of IBD, pancreatitis, and kidney disease. I'm really struggling here. I'm only one person. I can't do it all.
Any recommendations on how many kcals she should be getting per day to maintain weight at 5 lbs.?