I found a cream colored long hair cat that is nothing but bones and skin. I took him to our local shelter for an exam a Answers at Dogster Answers.

Wed, Dec 21st 2011, 09:18 GMT

Hi... yes your cat needs to eat a HIGH QUALITY (no Iams, Purina or any supermarket food )food ... ie EVO, Wellness, Canidae, Nature's Variety Instinct, Acana, Timberwolf, Holistic Select, byNature, Merrick BG, Blue Wilderness, Grandma Lucy's etc ... AND needs omega fatty acid supplements....flax oil and Salmon or anchovy/herring oil DAILY. Petsmart sells a line of vitamins and supplements for cats and dogs from GNC. They have soft chew vitamins. My cats love them. There are also skin and coat supplements. Try to feed the cat WET food and not dry. You can "supplement" w/some dry food but the main diet should be canned, home cooked w/Missing Link feline and vitamins added, prepared frozen raw or raw. Also give a good Brewers yeast and garlic supplement for skin and coat and add RAW apple cider vinegar (Bragg's) daily to food or water. You should have a healthy, happy cat in no time.

ANSWERED BY

Hurley

Sun, Nov 13th 2011, 09:00 GMT

Hi, Dee. It's best to follow the instructions of the vet at the shelter. Buy the best high pro food you can find at least until he regains the weight. There is also a product called "Cat Sip" that you can find at grocery stores or pet stores. He might like this. You might want to find your own, private vet and ask them what else to feed Bones. They might recommend KMR, Kitten Milk Replacer for him. Feed him small, frequent meals. Don't be surprised if he gobbles them up. You want to avoid feeding him a large meal and then having it "auto-eject" on him. Make sure he's protected against fleas as they can also cause him to become ill. Have his stool tested for worms. Good luck and God bless you for rescuing this poor little soul!

ANSWERED BY

Izadore (Izzie)

Sun, Nov 13th 2011, 05:44 GMT

I got Carly from a shelter and she was sooo skinny too because they hadn't had her long enough to get her back in good shape after being found outside abandoned. And her hair had lost it's shine and she shed like crazy. But in the 2 1/2 months I have had her, she gets all that she can eat (the bowl is always filled so she can eat as much as she wants) of a good quality dry cat food and she is starting to fill out nicely and her fur is thicker and healthy too. She has a sensitive tummy so I have to be careful with her diet. I would just stick with plenty of good food and Bones should put the weight back on gradually as long as he was not ill to begin with. When the shelter you went to for the exam gave him the vaccines, did they test him for FIV/FELV also? A full blood panel from a vet might be in order just to be sure there is nothing wrong with him other than being uncared for and starving. Things like hyperthyroid can cause them to be super skinny too. Good luck!!

ANSWERED BY

Carly

Sun, Nov 13th 2011, 03:15 GMT

Was he seen by a vet? If not, he needs to be evaluated by a licensed veterinarian. A vet can determine if he has any other medical issues, and advise the best course for nursing him back to health. He should also have a fecal sample checked for parasites if that has not been done already. Until he sees a vet, I would offer him as much food and water as he wants, the best quality food you can afford. In his weakened state, he may find canned food more appealing. Lots of love and good food and care can go a long way, but he still needs to be evaluated by a vet. Also, are you sure he doesn't have an owner? Was he scanned for a microchip? I would post some found notices at local vets and pet stores and an ad in the paper. If no one responds, then you can keep him. Sadly, most lost cats are never claimed (unlike dogs). Bless you for taking in and helping this poor kitty!

ANSWERED BY

Linus (Dreamboat #72a)