What should I do about my hungry cats?

Question

I feed my 3 cats EACH 1 cup of food a day. The vey reccomended that I do so, 1/2 cup for each in the morning and 1/2 cup in the evening. The vet has told us TWICE to keep them on this feeding schedule, esp because one cat is overweight. Recently, it seems their appetite has increased and they finish off their portions very quickly. After that they follow me around and beg for food. I don't know what to do because I feel sorry for them, but I want to do what the vet told me to. What should I do?!

They eat Science Diet Light Hairball Control.
I don't feed my cats low quality food, but maybe the light part of it is what makes them get hungry faster.

I live in the US. Give me some suggestions for good cat food. Please...

Answer 1

ok what kind of food? because this makes a HUGE difference to how much a cat needs to eat.. if it is one of the crappy foods - loaded with filler, and low on nutrition the cats will need to eat more to feel full - this would be any food from Grocery store or Wal Mart (eg. Purina, Whiskas, Iams etc) most have fillers like CORN or by -Products (beaks, feet, feathers) stuff which isnt really all that digestable...
vets actually dont get much education on foods so they really cannot recommend a brand and if they do its usually one they sell... and often those brands (Science Diet or Walthams) are not that good either....

so go to a pet food supply store and look for a food with CHICKEN or LAMB MEAL as first ingredient - RICE second.. (if I knew what Country you were in I would recommend a certain brand)
this food will leave cats feeling fuller (you get less poop too), infact they might not even eat that much food - select a SENIOR or LITE diet


*** ADDITIONAL INFO***
Science Diet is indeed LOWER QUALITY FOOD --- Marketed by vets who recommend it BECAUSE THEY MAKE MONEY FOR SELLING IT - vets actually receive very little or NO education on food brands or ingredients so when a REP for Science Diet approchs them to sell the food - they usually do. Science Diet has an inflated price for its quality - they PAID vets to endorse it!!!! read the label yourself and you will see.. this is NOT a Premium Quality food

if you are in the USA I reccommend NUTRO NATURAL CHOICE or better (Felidae, Wellness are better)
in Canada I absolutely recommend ACANA or NUTRO - both will be better price than Science Diet (because made in Canada) and both are WAY BETTER quality

Answer 2

It's very common for animal to eat past the point when their full. A beagle, for example, once ate a whole bag of food at one time. The problem with this is that the intestines will twist, letting air into the stomach. This is extremely life threatening and the surgery can cost around $7,000. One if the problems might be the cat food. Try gradually switching to one with more protien. That should help make then full longer.
Whatever you do, do NOT give into their begging. They may just need a better food as I said before. Good Luck!

Answer 3

This is not stupid advice from your vet. If the cats are having hard time adjusting to the switch try making it 3 serving a day 1/4 in the morning, 1/4 in the afternoon, and 1/2 in the evening of before you go to bed. THat way its a little more spaced out in the day and they don't feel so deprived. My cats are on a diet like this as well and this seems to work better. Also I switched my cats to Purina One Adult Indoor Fomula. It has a higher meat content and seems to fill them up faster.

Answer 4

Honestly, I would try leaving 3 cups of food out all day for all 3 cats(1 cup for each cat). Try free feeding them. I find my cats are more about the begging and getting excited over putting the food in the bowl then they actually are about eating it. The excitement of "getting fed" is gone.

Answer 5

Wow, I think that is stupid advice from your vet. I have an automatic feeder for my cats, and they all eat whenever they want and however much they want. None of them are fat. I feed them Science Diet, a nutritionally dense food so they would eat less anyway because they are getting the nutrients they need. Get your cats a high end brand of food and let them eat what they want. they probably really are hungry--a lot of those brands you buy at the supermarket are very poor in nutrients and it's like junk food that humans eat--that's why so many people that eat junk are fat--they are trying to get those missing nutrients and their bodies are telling them to eat more to get the nutrients.

Answer 6

its best to feed the cat but maybe split the food insted of giving them 1/2 in the morning and half in the night give them some in te morning afternoon and evening that way there getting the same amount of food just split up that way they dont have to go a long period with out food also maybe try giving them different types of cat food every once in a while to so which fills them up better maybe even a small snack couple of times wont hurt them and about the weight thing make them run around give them yarn balls to chase that way they keep up there energy to burn off weight.

Answer 7

They make a low calorie food for overweight/low active cats now, then you could give them a little more.

Also u could try crazy snacks like corn or peas or something they may think you are crazy at first but if they are hungry they will munch.

Also are they all the same size? I have 4 cats and they are all different sizes and they do not eat the same amount.

Answer 8

Feed them good high-quality food ... not the cheap grocery stores brands. Less food leaves them more satisfied and in better health. Check the websites of Iams, Science Diet, etc for exlanations.

Answer 9

I would feed them more just a little if they are begging for food they must be hungry slowly try to lower them to 1 cup a day not all at once they are not used to that. good Luck

Answer 10

Look at it this way the kitty only has one life while in your presence and if the kitties wants to eat more why shouldn't they. I have only one cat and I have a food dispenser for him and a water dispenser. When Spike is ready to eat , he eats and when he's ready to drink he drinks, he is never deprived of any food at any time. I love my cat and I wouldn't want anything to happen to him, so the cat and I make sure we compensate for the food he has access to by playing ball,( Sounds Weird...) Spike is 3yrs old and Ive had him ever since he was born. At 9 months i was throw ping balls around the apartment and he would chase them and put them in his mouth and bring them to me one by one. Spikey has learned to play alone during all times of day and night.I feel if I'm out all day at work and i eat about 6 small portions of food according to my diet regime, why should my cat be deprived of this luxury. Spikey eats: Meow Mix ( indoor formula) and he loves it .........