I recently got a former stray cat from the local shelter. He's a good kitty overall, but he inhales his food. He's thin, though not overly so, but it's obvious he was bigger at one time, as he's got loose skin along his spine and under his chin. I give him half a cup of dry food in the morning and the evening, and a small can of wet food every other day or so. And he gets treats almost every day. The vet says he's young; 2 or under. I'm just wondering if he's really that hungary and I should feed him more, or if his quick eating is just a function of having been a stray and that will settle down as he settles in and realizes that he will be getting more food later.
2006-10-17 02:40:20 · 10 answers · asked by aldera22 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
Hopefully you have had him checked for worms and parasites. I give my cats unlimted food and thay are quite happy. I had a stray once, he would scarf his food down, and I would find it hidden all over the house when I went to clean. I imagine it comes from being hungry so often, that when they get a chance to eat they do it fast.
2006-10-17 02:49:23 · answer #1 · answered by Flower Girl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That seems a bit too little in the way of food (purely going on my experience of 'adopting' strays over the years).
If you look at the labels on the food containers they will give you a reasonable guide to the amount your cat requires. Use the manufacturer's recommendations and experiment with quantities until you reach a level at which your cat is satisfied. Cats are quite good at _not_ over eating, by the way.
Often a stray that has not been fed on a regular basis will wolf down its food since it probably feels that it had better eat it quickly in case no more comes along for some time. A cat that is regularly fed will be more relaxed and eat less hurriedly.
I hope your cat thrives. Giving a home to a stray is a really nice gesture.
2006-10-17 09:59:33 · answer #2 · answered by avian 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It may be that it will settle down but maybe not. I adopted a stray that did that. Try putting (just for a while) only a little bit of food at a time. Mix the wet and the dry together for a while as it wont hurt him to gain some weight. If you cannot do that(because of work or whatever) then give him small amount of wet food first and then wait a few minutes before putting down the dry. That should dampen his hunger and allow him to slow down some when he gets to the part he's supposed to chew. Good luck to you and thank you for adopting a stray!!!!
2006-10-17 09:51:26 · answer #3 · answered by Amberlyn4 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are feeding guidelines on the food. Use those guidelines, and feed according to kitty's weight. Use a premium cat food, the cheap grocery brands are full of by-products (chicken feet, feathers, etc.) and a lot of cheap grain fillers which cats don't need.
The high quality food will make him feel more full, it can be found at pet stores. (Nutro Natural Choice is a good brand, has not by-products, but contains corn which is a filler, Innova EVO is better.)
Give him a bit of wet food mixed with some water, warm in microwave for a few seconds (the extra water is good for cats, and wet food has mostly water in it.), and give him some dry food after he eats/drinks the wet food.
My cat is about 7 pounds, so she gets about 1/4 cup of dry in the morning and 1/4 dry for supper. We give her maybe a teaspoon of canned food once or twice a day. She pretty much drinks the juice from the water/food and leaves the wet food there. But that is fine, at least she is getting lots of water in her.
She goes through 1 can of catfood a week. She isn't a gorby guts though, she pretty much just eats when she's hungry, she doesn't run to her bowl when we put food in it.
2006-10-17 10:11:05 · answer #4 · answered by hello 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hey - it's very hard to over feed a cat. if they don't want it, they won't eat it (wish i had that will power!) so i'd give him more wet food for a while, maybe two pouches in the evening and leave him with his dry food in the morning. when he starts to put on weight and venture outside he'll start eating less then.
2006-10-17 10:16:56 · answer #5 · answered by Trixie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would give that kitty a Quarter of a can of moist mixed with the dry twice a day.Ya might check for worms as well
2006-10-17 09:56:44 · answer #6 · answered by Larry m 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess if he is so thin you could feed him more, some pets are normally thin, I had a poodle like that and one just the opposite, he was always chubby and ate everything in sight...it is soooo nice of you to adopt him..God Bless you, and good luck with him....give him alot of love and attention... :0) Betty
2006-10-17 09:50:59 · answer #7 · answered by gaucha 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am sure it is because he was starving before, cats only eat as much as they need in stages ,so let him do what he has to, he will settle down soon !
2006-10-17 09:54:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say that you're probably feeding him enough, he should be gaining weight with you feeding him that much actually, unless he's really active.
2006-10-17 10:19:43 · answer #9 · answered by Julie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
there are appetizers that has Vit E and other essential nutrients, try them and see the results
2006-10-17 09:48:08 · answer #10 · answered by Mango_lover 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋