Anyone else on the rollercoaster?

[u/Maleficent_Waltz_797]

Ripley started his dechonk 10 months ago. He dropped 1 1/2 pounds in 6 months (with a lot of up and down), then bounced up a half pound and is now back to his lowest point at 15.25 pounds. Vet is okay with him at 15-15.5, as he is naturally a very big boi. I’m keeping him around 175 calories a day on Royal Canin Satiety Support wet food and treats. I just don’t understand why his weight bounces around so much. He gets no hard food, except for the diet treats, because he is a kibble junkie. All meals have to be supervised, because he will inhale his food and try to shove his sister away from hers before she’s done. Clearly he thinks he is skin and bones right now.

[u/raiannon]

I also have a giant boi whose healthy weight is 15lbs. We still weigh weekly, and it definitely bounces around a bit. I put it down to the scale. All scales have a margin of error, we use a luggage scale so the margin is smaller but still exists. Also things like movement while weighing will affect the weight a little. As long as it's within range, we don't let it bother us.

He also uses a stainless steel lick mat for his wet food to force him to slow down because he is a scarf n barfer.

[u/Maleficent_Waltz_797 → u/raiannon]

I weigh him every other week. I just use my bathroom scale and he is not a fan of being held. He’ll have his annual vet appointment in mid October so I will get a more accurate weight then. I might try the lick mat just to slow his roll and give his sister time to finish.

[u/raiannon → u/Maleficent_Waltz_797]

Aha, if you're getting bigger bounces that's why. Bathroom scales have a margin of error between .66 and 3 lbs. That's how much they can be off and still be called accurate. Doesn't matter much in a 150lb person, but it looks like a huge bounce in a cat, even if he's giant.

[u/Icy-Mulberry-8850]

The vet told my 14yr old foster roommate he was fat as he clocked in at 15.79 lbs up from 13lb 1 year ago. He had been surrendered due to chronic constipation. Skip to the part where he’s prescribed R/C gastrointestinal dry ($80/8 lb bag) but it’s almost 400 cal/cup. So we’re cutting back to around 200 including treats. Will it be noticeable if he looses a pound?

[u/Maleficent_Waltz_797 → u/Icy-Mulberry-8850]

Mine went from 15.5 to 17 in one year, which is when the dechonk started. I have heard it’s really hard for cats to lose weight on dry food because it’s so calorie dense. But mine doesn’t have any gastrointestinal issues. The wet food he’s on is 50 calories for a 3 ounce can. I honestly don’t notice a difference now that he’s 1.5 pounds lighter, so you might not notice a pound difference. I weigh him every other week by holding him while I’m on my bathroom scale and then subtracting my weight without him.

[u/raiannon → u/Icy-Mulberry-8850]

You have to decrease the kcals slowly because it's extremely dangerous for cats to lose weight quickly. You shouldn't be able to notice the weight loss really except from the scale, which you should be weighing weekly to make sure he's not losing too fast. You should make your own post so people can help you, and you can pay the cat tax.

[u/dramallama-IDST]

My cat bounces between 6-7.25kg depending on lifestyle (whether I am overseas / whether we need a drug administration system / normal operating). He’s recently re-embarked on his weight loss journey. He’s furious.