According to her vet, our female calico is 10 lbs. I was surprised she weighed that much and asked the vet if it was OK. The vet said she should be 8 lbs or so; those extra 2 lbs don't sound like much but they're a lot on her little frame!
The real question is: how much should a cat her size really be eating? We were just refilling her bowl whenever it turned up empty (yeah...bad idea). Over the past few days I have been giving her 1/4 cup of dry Iams cat food in the morning and one in the evening (plus 2 treats in the morning). She seems fine with it and doesn't cry for more food.
Should I cut this down even more or does this sound right for a female cat? Thanks in advance guys!
2006-09-26 09:00:43 · 10 answers · asked by Lady Macbeth 5 in Pets ➔ Cats
Sounds like your doing the right thing and I don't feel you should deprive her if she is not begging for more.
2006-09-26 09:03:28 · answer #1 · answered by stacy g 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think if you would just cut out the Iam's you be way ahead. I was reading bag labels when I was shopping today and of the first three ingredients in the Iam's two of them were corn. Corn is used to fatten animals for slaughter and these animals have only less than a two-year life span. So that's about 60% of her food if she eats only the dry.
If you would use products like CA Natural, Natural Balance, Nature's Variety (Prairie) for instance the first two ingredients would be high quality protein and the third would be a filler of rice, pea, oats, tapioca (fillers are necessary for the manufacturing process). Those fillers are not as fattening if at all.
Your cat will eventually be more satisfied with less of the premium foods too. To switch foods successfully click on my name at the icon and follow the "recipe". I switch too among three of the above mentioned foods though I use very little dry food with my cats.
The interesting point I learned from Anitra Frazier's book on cats is that when food is available all day long the blood in the cat's body is drawn to the digestive tract (even by the smell of a bowl that is not picked up) and reduces the healthy blood flow needed for the rest of the body's organs.
I have two "petite" cats who are slightly pudgy at 8 pounds and should ideally be around 7. One is 22 yrs old and the other is 10.
2006-09-26 09:18:27 · answer #2 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats like to see their bowl with some food in it. They get quite insecure when it's totally empty. (Notice that they always leave some--and spend the day visiting their bowl- `just checkin'?) Iams is a good low cal food. If she's not complaining just go with that--but remember to provide a little variety now and again.
2006-09-26 09:11:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Poor kitty, I love fat cats though! It will say on the bag how much to feed her and if it's not on the bag go to:
iams.com
Iams also offers a weight control formula.
She can also burn calories by playing, supply her with balls to chase, they make a toy that is a mouse that hangs from a door frame at that gets my kitty going for hours.
It's going to be hard to keep her at her exact recommended size, so long as she is healthy and happy I wouldn't worry so much.
Good luck.
2006-09-26 09:14:41 · answer #4 · answered by Michelle Lynn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well actually there are food for cats that need to lose some weight and on the package itself (on all cat foods) it gives serving suggestions with age and weight i do believe. just fallow that. i mean i wouldnt worry about the few extra pounds unless she seems like she is hurting or anything like that. jus tkinda cut back. just fallow the directions on the package and you should be fine. and if you still arent sure just ask the vet.
2006-09-26 09:05:04 · answer #5 · answered by anioheveteric 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well i odnt own a cat but my friends has cats and they told me that you should pour some dry cat foods in the dish doesnt matter how much you put in to gave your cat to eat . just put half the cat food that it . if she cried then you should put a 1 half cup of cat food just in case she feel hungery again later on i will just buy dry food instead so she will have left over food for lunch and dinner time .
2006-09-26 09:11:00 · answer #6 · answered by sk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you're feeding her just right. I have a self-feeder out for my cats, and only one out of my 5 is overweight. If she starts to lose weight, don't be afraid to up her diet a little. It can be kn for cats to be a little overweight, and is sometimes expected if the cat is an indoor cat. And if the cat is an indoor cat, you may want to think about giving her more toys instead of feeding her less food. Exercise increase is better than food decrease.....good luck!
2006-09-26 09:07:39 · answer #7 · answered by jess l 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
For my cat (who is 10lbs) the vet said about a half a cup. It might seem like not much, but you'll get used to it.
2006-09-26 09:55:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that the feeding in structions are on the bag.
Here is a link to the IAMs site with all the info...
http://www.iams.com/en_AU/jhtmls/nutrition/sw_NutritionalFactBook_page.jhtml?li=en_AU&bc=I&pti=NF&sc=C&lsc=&bsc=
2006-09-26 09:06:06 · answer #9 · answered by donyafs 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
fill up its food bowl half way and if it eats all that give it a quarter and just repeat that
2006-09-26 09:06:19 · answer #10 · answered by Donna P 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋