I'm serious! I think my cat has a problem. She is only a year old and she's HUGE. If we leave cat food out she eats it until it is all gone and then cries for more. We have two cats and she will eat both bowls of food at a time! It seems like all she does is eat. I don't know what to do. Our other cat is two years and has a normal build so I don't think it is the cat food. What can we do to fix this problem? We are really worried about her health.
2006-09-30 10:04:57 · 10 answers · asked by .vato. 6 in Pets ➔ Cats
We don't have a vet--we just moved and haven't gotten to one yet.
2006-09-30 10:08:52 · update #1
I'm sorry but a vet isn't something I'm going to be getting soon. Are there any other suggestions.
2006-09-30 10:16:38 · update #2
food addiction... I f I were you, I would first try some home remedies before going to the vet right away becuase the vet will ask you what you have tried. Whatever you do, PLEASE do not force-starve your cat to get his weight down - that will damage his kidneys and liver.
1) You need to feed the two cats separately and in different rooms. Its a bummer but that may be the only way to prevent the food addict from strealing the other cat's food as well as seeing to it that the other cat gets enough to eat.
2) Do not leave dry food out in bowls for the cat to nibble on at will throughout the day or night.
3) Reduce fat-cat's portion just a tad and if he protests too much or bugs you too much during the day (or night) for food, you can do 3 things: (a) ignore him; (b) distract him; (c) divide his portion of food into several small portions and feed that to him when he whines and cries.
4) you might consider switching to wet canned food if you are feeding only dry kibble. I have heard kibble can be addictive to certain cats... maybe that's the problem?
2006-09-30 10:23:01 · answer #1 · answered by Phoebhart 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Phoebhart is right. The food itself is the problem, not the amount that the one cat is eating. Most inexpensive cat foods are made with corn as two of the three ingredients. Corn is used to fatten slaughter animals who have a life span of under two years.
So the first step is to find a food that does not use corn as a filler and has good quality protein as the first two ingredients and usually rice as "filler" (filler is necessary to manufacture the food).
Some choices are Eagle Pack, Natural Balance, Nature's Variety (Prairie) CA Natural (the most expensive) at $2.40 per lb. Natural Balance is around $1.66 per pound. These foods are good for both your cats - the slender one will be better nourished and the "huge" one will stop GAINING weight, losing gradually over six months to a year.
You must not leave dry food down in a bowl all day long for cats to eat as they please. Cats tend to have their only exercise in frequent trips to the food bowl. The presence of food all day long keeps the digestive process going on all day long. Blood that is needed for the health of the other organs in the cats' bodies is constantly being diverted to the stomach! Humans that eat constantly all day long are never successful at loosing weight
To switch the cats successfully to a new food click on the icon at my name for the "recipe".
The cats will be unhappy on the two meals a day regimen for a while and they will adjust. The new food will be more satisfying for them in the long run and they will be happy with the new routine.
2006-09-30 11:02:49 · answer #2 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to limit the amount of food the cat eats. And call your vet to make sure there's not a more serious problem going on.
2006-09-30 10:07:21 · answer #3 · answered by Equichick 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well u definately have to curb her eating . or this will definately b a problem. u need to find away to keep everyone elses food away from her and only give her a certain amount of food each day, in other words a diet and dont give in no matter how much she cries, obesity is obesity and it is as bad for animals as it is for humans. good luck by the way, what does ur vet say?
2006-09-30 10:10:49 · answer #4 · answered by Nora G 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You really just need to limit the food that she gets. I mean the last thing you want to do is over feed her if she is already overweight. Feed her just what she needs and DONT give her change her foods around alot and make sure you are getting her food for weight managment. Also you really need to get a vet.
2006-09-30 11:15:16 · answer #5 · answered by Lyndsey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are foods for overweight cats, and for homes with a variety of cat types. This might be a solution for your problem. Also, I would suggest feeding dry food to your cats. It could also be a hormone problem. Has she been spayed? Sometimes that causes them to gain weight because their hormones get stuck. We had a cat do that.
2006-09-30 10:47:19 · answer #6 · answered by toomeymimi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's what my kitten that is finniky does. She is bigger then he sister and she is picky of what food she eats. When she is happy with the foods she eats she gobbles it down.
2006-09-30 10:16:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah you should get a vet.
2006-09-30 10:12:24 · answer #8 · answered by Naked 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try purina one for weight control and you may need to feed the other cats separately from piggy
2006-09-30 10:20:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
my friend said yes
2006-09-30 10:06:44 · answer #10 · answered by Danielle B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋