So I went to the vet yesterday for Merlin´s shots and a check up. He weighed him and didn´t seem to approve of his weight. It´s the second time I get a comment about it there. I´m no cat expert but doesn´t breed count? He is 6.200 kg and a BSH. I have read that they are usually from 6-11kg. I don´t overfeed him, 2 pouches of wet a day and a bit of dry for him to munch while I´m at work . I just thing that every cat has his particular characteristics.

Strange thing though, Merlin had a broken front tooth. I keep wondering how and where that happened. These babies worry us so

I got exactly the same reaction when I took Meeko my Raggie for his booster, 16 months old and 6 kgs ,comment was made to "watch his weight",and he should have a waist ect.I said the same as you, surely breed will make a difference,after all I would expect a Siamese to have a different shape to that of a Ragdoll or BSHI think it fell on deaf ears,but vets dont know everything

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They definitely don't know everything and I suspect the best vets are the ones who know they don't know everything

I've heard that there are "cat only practices" - does anyone actually know of any?

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Harry: Ginger & White b. September 2002
Oscar: Black b. 7th May 2011
Kitty: Grey Tabby b. 7th May 2011

Our lovely cat family

Chewie, they exist. Atleast here in Spain there is one in Madrid. It´s like a cat hospital.

There is one here in Edinburgh,but I dont know how good, or otherwise ,it is.I've yet to find someone who uses it.

The Veterinary Cat Clinic

I have thought about registering with them but although my vet doesnt know "everything" I trust him and I know if I have a differing view to him he will listen.

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Interesting - I do like the idea I must admit. I'm happy with my vets but if I wasn't I'd be tempted to seek out a practice like that.
That's all you need really

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Harry: Ginger & White b. September 2002
Oscar: Black b. 7th May 2011
Kitty: Grey Tabby b. 7th May 2011

Our lovely cat family

Kitten to Cat - Cat only Vet in Richmond, West London
All the way on the opposite side of London to me!

Paddy struggled with his weight all his life, probably because he was on one prescription dry diet after another!, and I remember once I took him to the vet because he was limping badly. The BIG FAT OVERWEIGHT vet lectured me sternly on the weight issue and insisted that paddy had bad arthritis due to landing on that front paw when he jumped down from a height. He ignored my protestations that the paw was hot and I could feel swelling.
Later that evening the abscess on his paw burst, no arthritis after all!
Another better vet in the same practice later advised me that paddy was only slightly overweight based on his extremely large bone structure and chunky shape. Perfect weight was achieved by switching him away from dry food and on to wet.

So, if breed makes such a difference, can I blame Milo and Mitzy's rounded little tums on their Birman mum?

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Nellie Paddy Mitzy Milo Peggy Murphy

Millie and Monty, the White Devils!

you can, you can

Agree completely. One of my best ever vets and the only one I completely trusted ( unfortunately he moved and from then on it was a struggle to find a decent replacement! ) would willingly admit he didn't know what was wrong in the initial stages - fully understandable in the absence of any supporting test results, in my view. In the end though he always found the cause. The ones I'm wary of are those who launch into a full blown diagnosis on the first visit! Obviously there are some exceptions to this ie limb fractures which are easily diagnosed via physical exam alone but internal medicine is an entirely different matter.

Being a cat only practice provides no guarantee of superior care either. I live near one and owing to things I've heard, involving misdiagnoses etc wouldn't recommend it.

Feline Advisory Bureau provide a list of vets who have a special interest in cats as far as I know.

It's the same for people medicine too - I know I kind of enjoy telling people I'm not sure what's wrong with them! It's just a shame some people expect to be given a diagnosis straightaway and push for this - then don't like it if you are wrong

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Harry: Ginger & White b. September 2002
Oscar: Black b. 7th May 2011
Kitty: Grey Tabby b. 7th May 2011

Our lovely cat family