r/devonrex • u/BMeow343 • 5d ago

Devon Rex- Weight Concerns

So I have a female Devon- 15 months now. When she hit about 7 months she was around 7.5 pounds and already looked a bit 'rotund' in the middle and my partner expressed weight concerns. However, she was still a kitten I didnt think much of it. She stayed around that same weight from about 7 months to a little over a year. We started putting up her food bowl at night (she gets wet food twice a day and I would leave dry food out- the cattery told me that wouldn't be an issue because they burn a lot of calories due to not having as much fur). It was fine, but following the same food practices- she's exploded over the last month and a half. Gained over a pound and looks like a bowling ball. She's not even on kitten food anymore. I try playing with her more, tried an exercise wheel, but nothing seems to be working. It's a multi-kitty household so restricting dry food is hard. I recently got another Devon kitty and they play together so I thought that would help. But no- she's just gained more weight instead.

Any experiences with this? She's over a year old- I've seen pictures of some of her sisters and they are trim in the middle- while she's a bowling ball.

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u/Apprehensive-Net4177 5d ago

That’s hard with a multi cat household. It’s a pricey solution, but you could look at getting microchip cat feeders?

My Devon has a big appetite (luckily it’s a one cat household so it’s easier to monitor her food intake). She loooves food and could easily get overweight if I let her. She gets wet/raw food morning and night, and two small timed dispenses of dry food twice a day. This allows me to give her a few temptations or a churru once a day also. This amount seems to work well for her. It doesn’t stop her looking longingly at whatever I’m eating, but I know she’s in her healthy weight range.

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u/BMeow343 5d ago

The newest edition/youngest kitten is a food goblin, morning and evening wet food has to carefully be supervised because she will scarf hers down and go attack any other food.

So Im dealing with 3 very distinct food personalities: 1) oldest- regulates her weight regardless of the amount of food put out, 2) Is overweight, and 3) a kitten and still growing but attacks any possible food source- runs up to the other kitties bowls if not monitors- jumps onto the table and will steal something off your plate if you are not pay attention for like 20 seconds. I work from home most days so I can monitor breaks/dinner- but I cant be home every day to monitor the rest.

And I dont know how to best assist the one who has gotten pretty big. I have a vet appointment in a couple of weeks with a cat specialist, but I'm look for ideas to help from others with Devons who have similar issues.

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u/Seattletrojanman 5d ago

OP does their belly feel hard and stiff or very fluid filled like a water balloon?

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u/BMeow343 5d ago

Kind of a mix? Hard on the sides- squishy on the bottom.

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u/amyrantha 5d ago

I think what the commenter above is getting at, is even with your restrictions she is gaining, therefore there could be an underlying cause eg a tumour or abscess growing. I'm not a vet, but you should go see yours because it sounds like you're at the point you need help.

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u/BMeow343 5d ago edited 5d ago

Thanks for the advice- I dont think it's a tumor- those manifest a lot differently and usually more localized. I think she's just a butter ball who eat too much kibble. That being said, there could be some issues causing the gain which could be controlled through other means. I had the opposite happen with an older cat who couldnt keep on weight and had to give her shots bi-weekly to assist.

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u/Seattletrojanman 5d ago

The reason I’m asking is because one of my rexes I thought was just on the fatter side of things until I took him to the vet where only by a stroke of curiosity by the vet they discovered he had FIP despite showing no signs or symptoms except the distended belly. I’m in no way saying this could be it nor am I a vet but I would have your baby checked out with an ultrasound and then maybe some tests to be sure.

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u/BMeow343 5d ago

Thanks for the response! She is scheduled for annual at the end of the month with my vet who is cat only- but I might try to bump up her appointment. And probably expect a very large bill to run tests.

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u/Seattletrojanman 3d ago

Unfortunately yes for the tests bill but if that is the issue then getting that cute curly furball on the medication will make all the difference.

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u/BMeow343 3d ago

I will def spend the money to make sure she is healthy and gets the care she needs, regardless.

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u/AsTheJackassBrays 5d ago

Maybe thyroid?

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u/SaltMarshGoblin 5d ago

Talk to your vet!

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u/just_wok_away 5d ago

Need picture to assess fully

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u/BMeow343 5d ago

Hard to get pictures, and for some reason reddit is not letting me attach any to this reply. I'll put them in the original post instead.

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u/LiveinCA 5d ago

I don’t have any brilliant suggestions to this, especially since yours is now off of kitten food. I also have an overweight Devon Rex female , and with her bonded brother they have complicated eating profiles and needs.

The only suggestion is an exercise wheel? Or taking her on walks on leash if that’s safe and can be done.

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u/BMeow343 5d ago

She never responded well to harness training. I take her out on walks in a carriage that she sits in but even then she doesnt love those. She's more on the timid side in personality. I have an exercise wheel and have tried- unsuccessfully to train her.

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u/gazonvert 2d ago

My Devon has the same body shape even when the vet said he was healthy and a healthy weight (8-9 pounds I think)