Hi All,

Dempster, our cat, is having a problem. Not sure what's going on really. Was away for 3 weeks for Easter holidays and when we came back we noticed he's missing hair off his ears.

He fights a lot. He also catches rats daily and eats them. He eats the food we give him (some raw and some cooked - he loves bread too but I don't give that to him - he pilfers the breadbox if it's not turned backward to prevent him from opening it) - and doesn't seem to have a diminished appetite. Although we noticed he seems more fussy than usual.

What I'm concerned about at the moment is he seems to have lost weight, is suffering hair loss off both ears (and behind the ears a bit as well), and is fussy about eating. The fussiness about eating -- I'll explain. Tonight, for e.g., he rushed up to me meowing admantly at me --- so I thought, oh dear, Ben's (our dog) eaten your food again! Rushed to the kitchen where his bowl is tucked under the tea trolley (to deter Ben) and to my surprise it still had his food in it.

We wash his bowl daily and give him fresh food twice a day (or more!) - so that's not it. I noticed when I stood near him -knelt down (while stroking him) and spoke to him (coaxing him to eat) he then ate. This is not the norm for Dempster. He never needs encouragement to eat.

When he was younger (with his previous owner) he fought a lot as well. She had him 'nipped' unfortunately - in the hopes this would calm down his fighting urges. Didn't work. He got into one bad fight and almost died. So, when we got him he had this limp. Sometimes there is no evidence of a limp and other times he looks like he's really in pain (by the way he limps on it).

Anyway, he's verrrrry territorial. Loves Ben - they don't fight at all -- they look after each other - and can been seen laying next to each other napping - or when Dempster comes in from outside - Ben checks him over and they lick each other's faces. There is a stray cat that carouses outside our house all the time - taunting Dempster. The stray has even come in the house a few times and sprayed (I don't like this stray cat at all).

There is all sorts of evidence that he fought while we were away -- because there is a tear on his ear that healed up but is split now (my poor baby ). And there are some (too many ) scabs around his head, under his chin, and on his shoulders and paws where he was bitten/scratched. Inititally I cleaned the scabs and they are beginning to fall off now and healing okay.

Worried about his weight loss and hair loss. No evidence of worms. Having said that, he did have worms before I went on holiday - and we put garlic in his food.... Could it be they are back but not in the part of the cycle that I could see them again yet?

Last night he brought his rat inside to eat (he does this every night).
Still raids the fridge and breadbox if we forget to lock one and turn the around.

Very affectionate cat - on his terms - loves to sit on top of my lap if I'm sitting or lies on my tum if I'm lying down (no change here).

So --- the symptoms?
Difficult to tell really.
-Hair loss on ears. Only a fine down can be felt (it looks awful and sad to see him like this). The coat isn't as thick and healthy looking as it normally is. Having said that - it's getting warmer - and he is shedding but I still think it's a sign of something going on because it didn't look like this last year.
-Thinner - losing weight. Fussy about actually eating his food we set out for him.
-Limping again - old injury aggravated.
More vocal than usual.

Any suggestions?
I'm wondering if he needs something for this old injury since the limp has come back and he seems to be in pain. Today he was not walking on that leg (it's his left front leg/paw - the tendon was severed so it's 'bent' permanently whne this happened a few years ago before we got him). Yesterday he was limping/favouring that leg - and today he's just not using the paw/leg at all.

How would you view all this? Take the old injury into consideration since it seems to be aggravated, along with the hair loss, weight loss and meowing more than usual? Or leave that aside and take only the hair loss, weight loss? It just doesn't seem to enough to find a remedy. I can't tell if he prefers hot or cold - he doesn't seem to be drinking more than usual and his stools seem normal. Completely at a loss since there are so few obvious symptoms.

Any ideas anyone?

Lisa

__________________
"The significance of a fact is measured by the capacity of the observer."
Carroll Dunham

Not a lot of symptoms... given his "fighting" and "territorial" nature, I would suspect parasites, absess and or FIV/FeLV. Not sure how prevalent in your area, but initial infections of both FIV and FeLV will present with non-descriptive, (sometimes flu like symptoms). If not using the "bad" leg, I would examine that very carefully. It may be the perferct place for a rival to bite down on. Sometimes, absesses can take a week to mature. It only takes a very small puncture wound that you may not necessarily see. Check for swelling, colour and hotspots. Sulph might then be indicated?

Kkrista, thanks so much for responding.
I've been watching him carefully. His feeding is normal -- he's not fussy anymore. He is still favouring the bad leg. And, you're right - it got bitten but is healed over now. It was very difficult to see it but when I felt around I could feel it. Luckily it is not abscessed.

One thing about Dempster. We dont'vaccinate. I don't know (can't remember?) if he got them with his previous owner. I suspect possibly once (when he was badly injured in his first fight -- belly was hanging open - leg was badly injured with a severed ligament - hence the permanent kink/limp). The only thing she ever treated him with that I know of was worming tablets. I opted to use garlic with our dog and it's worked well. So, we decided to do the same with Dempster.

I don't see any evidence of worms, but will keep a close eye on that. What do you use for worming?? I've only seen him have worms once - and that was over 6 weeks ago when I gave him garlic regularly in his food again (which he likes).

The hair loss remains the same. As does his coat --- these are the two things that really worry me right now, because I know it's an indication something is going on! If I notice anything else, I'll post --- do you mind checking back?
Many thanks!!
Lisa

__________________
"The significance of a fact is measured by the capacity of the observer."
Carroll Dunham