http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ Daily Kitten Chat Forum Topic: Am I feeding too much? en Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:56:39 +0000 http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/am-i-feeding-too-much-1#post-696974 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:59:37 +0000 CheetahBoysmommy 696974@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Having BF go to the vet with you is a great idea. The vet can explain to him that a cat always wants treats but just how bad being overweight is. Many people don't realize that being just one pound overweight to a cat is 10 percent or more of its body weight. Ask a 150 lb person if they would suddenly like to have an extra 15 lbs to drag around. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/am-i-feeding-too-much-1#post-696959 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:51:32 +0000 Chell 696959@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Thanks everyone for all of your advice. I am currently on a dry food, and will look in the direction of a canned food that is cost efficient (I originally went with dry because my parents fed it to their cats and it was cheaper). I am going to make a vet appointment soon, since my cats are due for their shots anyways. Katthays, I do hope we both fix our pudgy problems! I love my cats and Athena (the really fat one) is adorable with her fatness but it's just not healthy. I have one obstacle to overcome, aside from the free feeding housemate: the boyfriend. He thinks anytime the cats look at him, they are hungry. I don't let him feed them, but he has a key and often comes over when I'm not there. Maybe I'll take him along with me, just so he can hear from the vet himself the proper amount to feed them! Again thank you all for your great advice &lt;3 </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/am-i-feeding-too-much-1#post-696750 Sun, 18 Dec 2011 14:06:22 +0000 Messy Jessie <3 696750@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>As long as your cat is comfortable but you might wanna check with a vet. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/am-i-feeding-too-much-1#post-696116 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:37:28 +0000 Rea5 696116@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>I have a very large boy cat. He was very overweight when we first adopted him (he was about 24 pounds)and we struggled with our vet for years to get his weight down. It was 3 or 4 maybe 5 years ago now when the vet started to test Moe for diabetes. During the blood draw for one of the tests the new girl took a little more than needed. So I had the vet do a full blood panel. Moe has a thyroid issue. He is on a strict diet and takes a little yellow pill every morning. And I can report to you today that he is about 17 pounds and about the right weight. He still looks fat because he has very long thick fur and extra skin around the tummy but he can lick himself to his hearts content now. It doesnt hurt if and when you get extra money to ask the vet to do some tests. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/am-i-feeding-too-much-1#post-696020 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:41:54 +0000 jeankit 696020@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Good info Kiplings, thanks. Kat...Crockey is a big boned boy too! Used to steal food when Dot was around but now Lucky steals food from Crockey! </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/am-i-feeding-too-much-1#post-695997 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:12:14 +0000 katthays 695997@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Thanks for that info, KC! I have a quarter measuring cup, which I use and divide that between 2 bowls, twice a day! I know if I asked our vet, he would prescribe Science Diet weight control dry and canned.....I'd like to continue using the food I have been. Jasper is a larger cat that Rambo....but to keep him from stealing food isn't easy, I do watch him if I am around to do so. I have heard about not cutting them back too quickly...so much to worry about, whether I am doing things right, lol. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/am-i-feeding-too-much-1#post-695995 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:03:42 +0000 sosoandu 695995@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>a little LOL BUT DON'T WORRY </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/am-i-feeding-too-much-1#post-695991 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 07:53:28 +0000 Kiplings_cat 695991@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>If the cat is fat, it is eating too much! Energy in minus energy out; if greater than zero cat (or human) gains weight. Just like people, cats are different. Polly weighs about 6-7 pounds, and eats 1 can daily; Willow-tater on the same diet was a pudge at 10 pounds. She now gets only 1/2 can a day (plus what she can steal from the other cats), and weighs 8 pounds; the vet is happy with her weight but is surprised that she is eating so little. We feed Polly the omega cat and the fosters in a separate room, and watch while they eat to make sure Willow isn't eating anyone else's food (although Catkin usuallly stands up for himself). </p> <p>One has to cut back gradually though, since a starving cat can get fatty liver and liver failure. We have an obese foster cat, and the vet told us to cut back by about a teaspoon at a time (he eats dry, Blue Buffalo 1/2 cup daily). So I would show the vet the measuring cup, maybe get a new one with 1/8, 1/4 and 1/2 cup markings, and ask the vet how much each cat should get. It may vary by size/build; Catkin is 15-16lbs, not overweight, but large-framed; we had to buy him a small dog harness rather than a cat harness as his "shoulders' are so wide. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/am-i-feeding-too-much-1#post-695979 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:42:42 +0000 katthays 695979@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>Good info, thanks...I, too, am in the same "boat" as you, Chell! I have been trying to figure out how my 2 cats got so fat. They get no people food, whatsoever, no one else is in the house to cheat on that....I cut way down on their dry food, Blue Buffalo Indoor formula....now they only get a quarter cup each, but the biggest cat does tend to steal the food....they get one half can of no-grain food a day, split between 2 meals, and sometimes at night, they split a pack of Weruva. That seems like so little food to me, and I do worry about them not getting enough, but obviously, they get plenty!!! However, they are indoor only cats, so I know they don't get the exercise they need. I hope we can win this "battle of the bulge", Chell! :) </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/am-i-feeding-too-much-1#post-695953 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 23:24:12 +0000 Mo 695953@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>See if you can convince your room mate to scheduale feed her cat, cats are not cows, they are not designed to graze constantly. Actually, being allowed to have food available at all times is hard on their systems. <a href="http://feline-nutrition.org/nutrition/free-feeding-food-cats-are-not-cows" rel="nofollow">http://feline-nutrition.org/nutrition/free-feeding-food-cats-are-not-cows</a> is an article on why cats should not be allowed to graze on food.</p> <p><a href="http://catinfo.org/?link=felineobesity" rel="nofollow">http://catinfo.org/?link=felineobesity</a><br /> <a href="http://feline-nutrition.org/health/feline-obesity-a-cat-as-big-as-omaha" rel="nofollow">http://feline-nutrition.org/health/feline-obesity-a-cat-as-big-as-omaha</a></p> <p>A few quotes from the above articles, however I would highly urge you to read the whole article yourself! They are very well written and explain the best choices to help a cat lose wieght :)</p> <p>"Obligate carnivores are designed to meet their energy needs with calories supplied by protein and fat - not by carbohydrates. The average prey (birds, mice, rabbits, etc.) of a wild cat is made up of only 3 - 5% of calories from carbohydrates. Now consider that dry kibble diets generally range from 35% - 50% carbohydrate calories and you will see a serious disconnect between what the cat is designed to eat and what Man insists on feeding to them. Dry foods flood the cat's system with 5-10 times (500% - 1,000%) more calories from carbohydrates than what would be found in a wild cat's prey."</p> <p>"Why are dry foods so high in carbohydrates? Think 'profit margin'. Grains are cheap. Meat is expensive.</p> <p>Why are dry foods so popular? Because they are cheap and convenient. </p> <p>Our cats are a 'captive audience'. They depend on us, with our opposable thumbs and the common sense part of our brains engaged, to feed them a diet that promotes health - one that they would be eating if left to their own devices in a natural setting - not one that is just cheap and convenient.</p> <p>****Important note: Feeding the least expensive canned food is far better than feeding the most expensive dry food.****"</p> <p>Summary of what the articles are saying:</p> <p>It is much healthier both short and long term to feed your cat like the carnivore that s/he is - that means no dry food. Feed either a canned food (preferably grain free and low carb) or a balanced homeprepared raw diet - food meant for carnivores :) Feeding a food meant for a carnivore will also help with wieght loss, if you feed the amount for the cats ideal body wieght. </p> <p>"I was sure that mine were doing just fine on dry food. They looked and acted like normal cats were supposed to look – or so I thought. Every cat was<br /> fine until they developed diabetes, IBD, cystitis, blockages, etc which could have been so easily prevented by feeding a species appropriate diet.<br /> Preventative nutrition is the best way to avoid these now considered common health problems. Why would you lock the door after the horse is already<br /> out of the barn? Likewise, why only treat diseases after they have wrecked havoc on a cats body? Helping to possibly prevent these problems is as<br /> simple as feeding a species appropriate food. </p> <p>If my cats were really fine when they were eating dry food, what would I consider them now? Fabulous, extraordinary, marvelous, remarkable,<br /> stupendous, and outstanding can not even adequately describe the difference that feeding a species appropriate diet has made in their health."</p> <p>Taken from <a href="http://ibdkitties.net/rawthriving.html" rel="nofollow">http://ibdkitties.net/rawthriving.html</a> </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/am-i-feeding-too-much-1#post-695949 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 23:00:48 +0000 Momma to 2 MaineCoons 695949@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>1 free feed or designated chow times up to you. If your concerned about portions check your food bag and or speak to your vet. If you speak to the vet take your measure tool in to show. As for stealing no nothign agaisnt yours except it does prevent them from eaitng the two portions you provide. If you are worried about obseity in your babies 1 vet visit, 2 the vet can help you to decide upon a food quota/increase or decrease or perhaps jsut a better diet. Most vets will tell you to make sur eyou buy a food with more crude protein in it then starch/carbs and to make sure the main ingredent should be fish, beef, or chicken, meat basically.</p> <p>As we here are not licensed vets we can only give adive and suggestions base don our own situtations but the number one advice we give it talk to a vet! Hope this helps. </p> http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/am-i-feeding-too-much-1#post-695940 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:06:54 +0000 Chell 695940@http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/ <p>So I have 2 cats, both a little over a year, and live with a housemate who has a cat who is a little over 2 years old. She free feeds her cat, who is very skinny, and I feed my cats twice a day with the total amount coming out to around the contents of a "red cup" (what I use as my measuring cup for the day). I am not sure if my cats eat my housemates cats food (I have never seen them eat it, since they tend to stay out of her room), but I know her cat eats theirs, which is in a common room area. However, despite him eating some of their food, my cats are still very large, one being VERY overweight (she's having a hard time cleaning herself :[ ). </p> <p>So my question is, how much should I be feeding my cats daily and does the other cat stealing food from them do anything for or against them? </p>