healthy weight for cat neutur?

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Hi

I'm feeding a stray tom cat, who appears intact. He's getting gradually more and more comfortable with us, even coming into the house for food and strokes. Thats such a surprise as our dog keeps trying to chase him off, and our two cats are not impressed either. I really thought that he would be an outdoor cat, but he's way braver then I thought xoxo

Anyway, I want him neutured (spayed?). He appears to be young, and healthy. He has plenty of energy - comes to be fed a couple of times a day, and roams outside for the rest of the day. He is still very very thin - you can see an obvious dip in his belly between his ribs and his hips, and all the bones in his body are easily felt. He is fed a good quality dried cat food plus wet food daily - as much as he can eat, - which is more then I've ever seen any other kitty eat. It doesn't look like his weight will increase to a healthy level fast - he never stays still!

Is it safe to have him neutured if he is a little underweight? I'm hoping to take him in three to four weeks time.

I have a very good vet, who won't operate if he is worried - but I don't want to put myself and new cat through the stress of a vets visit until I'm sure he'll be ok.
 
Well done for helping the stray, at least someone is there for him.

His weight will be fine to neuter him, even if he is on the lighter side. It will be far better for his quality of life too. If you contact your local Cats Protection they should be able to help with the cost too.

If you aren't going to neuter him just yet I suggest you try to worm him. Milbemax is a very small worming tablet that you may be able to pop in his food or there are spot on wormers that your vet can provide. This may explain his slight figure. His hunger may well be due to a heavy infestation.

Good luck with him and well done for caring x
 
That is a good point, will be into the vets in the next few days for the wormer. We've been feeding him for a few weeks now, and had expected him to fill out a little by now, but he still looks like a furry skeleton :( One evening he managed 5 of those wee wet food pouches in about ten minutes - I just kept topping up to see how much it would take to fill him. And he had had science diet dried food earlier (and later) in the day.

We will definately neutur him - to protect our floors and furniture as much as the cats health :red The cost isn't an issue - although am v v v broke at the mo, (just back from holiday, and had some huge bills too 8...

I'm holding off for a few weeks to let his weight go up a little, and also to get him to trust me more. By that time I'll be able to afford it well enough. We're lucky enough to have a very good vet, who is cheap too :))
 
Well done for taking him in.
I was also going to suggest worming and flea treatment. If he is difficult to tablet, try profender it is a spot on wormer which kills round and tapeworms, leave it a week before using the flea spot on, again use something like frontline- don't use Bob martin, I've hear of a few cases on here where animals have been amde very ill with it.

Unless he is skeletal he should be OK for neutering, usually being overweight is more of an issue for animals having a GA. I would also suggest getting him FIV/Felv tested, certainly before vaccination, if he has Felv there is no point vaccinating for it. You may be left with a difficult decision if he provs positive for either of these but at least you know where you stand.

Good luck, I quite like the name Salem, by the way.:)
 
I got him defleaed last week. We always keep a few spare, as the dog is very good at catching them, and sharing with the cat mallethead Last winter we were feeding a hedgehog, dog stuck his nose right into the spines, fleas leapt aboard, and travelled further onto the cat who sleeps with the dog.

This cat has such a good appetite that getting the wormer into him shouldn't be a problem :))

I've heard the stories about the Bob Martin stuff too :( We always get our stuff from the vet.

Hadn't thought as far ahead as vaccinations - but will follow those up when I take him to get neutured. Our other cats were done in Janruary.
To be honest, I know very little about either condition. I could work with medications and regular vets visits - really hope i don't have to cos expensive!

Apart from the low weight he does appear perfectly healthy, so fingers crossed.

Salem is going on the shortlist :))
 
Unneutered male cats are often thin, and young cats in general can be. I'm sure he'll be fine, and will probably gain weight after being neutered. Well done for taking care of him :)
 
its so nice that you are looking after him, lots of people would just shew him away, but you are helping him with lots of things, any pics i would love to see him
 
He is now called Oliver - cos he keeps coming back for more :))

Will keep trying with the camera - black cats are so hard to get good pics of
 
Well done on taking in the cat - that's really nice of you to give him a home.

I would watch how much you feed him after he's been neutered, no matter how much he can eat - as my 2, especially Harvey, have become massive after being neutered. I even weigh out their food and it's really hard, Harvey can not lose weight but he has to he's huge.
 
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