I have two kittens who are 4 months old. And they seem to be hungry all the time. I feel like I'm already feeding them too much. I give them a can of wet food for breakfast, and then another one for supper. and they eat it all up. And then i just leave out dry food for them all day long incase they get hungry. but they seem to eat all that up too. Am i feeding them too much. How many times a day should i feed them? Is it bad for there health if i feed them too much or will i just have chubby cats?
2006-10-17 09:28:08 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
90% of the time, cats don't over eat. Especially since they are growing, give them food so they have it all day to snack at.
As they grow, if you notice that their girth is getting round, ask your vet what your cat needs. Dry food has higher carbs and will put the weight on your cats faster, they need a combination of the two.
I suggest leaving dry food out for the day then at night mix 1 can of wet with 1/4 cup of dry... they'll think of it as a treat rather than just food.
Best of luck!
2006-10-17 09:36:15 · answer #1 · answered by Lola 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It sounds to me like you have it all right. A can a piece of wet food is great for the kittens and then they can snack on the dry food during the day. Kittens need meat in their diet and dry food does not make for "clean" teeth. Nor does the wet. A lot of how the kittens do with teeth in their later life will depend on their genetic inheritance. If you really want to keep their teeth in tip-top shape you can feed them some chopped up RAW chicken wings or a RAW chicken neck. That's nature's toothbrush for feline teeth - chomping regularly on bone. Cooked bones are the ones that can cause problems with splintering, RAW bones are more pliable and don't cause problems. When did you ever see a cat in the woods barbequing his mouse over an open fire?
The other element in having healthy adult cats is the quality of the protein in their food. If you are giving your kittens grocery store food or Science Diet from a vet you are using crappy by-product meat in their food (heads, feet, entrails, feathers, ect). Use foods like Natural Balance, Solid Gold, Eagle Pack, Nature's Variety, Innova Evo etc. Cats actually eat less of these foods eventually because they are much more nutritious and satisfying than the stuff from the grocery store. And it does not cost much more either.
2006-10-17 18:38:59 · answer #2 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All the kittens that I've had would eat a good amount of food. They are like children - they are growing and at a much faster rate. So of course they will always be hungry.
But it will be your choice whether or not to feed them dry or wet. If you want to keep the dry available all day, just make sure you monitor the amounts. You are in charge of their food. And it depends on how much wet food you're feeding them. 1/4 can? 1/2 can? I always fed my kittens 1/2 a can because they are growing..and kept the dry available. It's a good thing to keep their stomachs full so they grow to their full size and are healthy.
Hope this helps.
2006-10-17 16:36:24 · answer #3 · answered by Me 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
its best to always have water and dry food down.
if you feed them wet food once per day same time.
habit and so wont scoff at other or develop begging or finicky eating habits.
most chubby cats (that don't have medical conditions )had periods of not getting access to food so they hoard.
just like when people diet then binge..
or not enough exercise.
just like people..
get a feeder that auto releases the dry food into a bowl. or just put out more.
and kitten food dry and wet is what they still need.
2006-10-17 16:42:34 · answer #4 · answered by homelessinorangecounty 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Drop the wet food, but put out a dish of dry food for each kitten and re-fill it throughout the day to keep it full. Take them by the vets for a weight check - as long as their weight is normal then you shouldn't panic. There's no real reason to feed the kittens wet food and it's better for their teeth to eat dry food. Good luck.
2006-10-17 16:42:38 · answer #5 · answered by Pam 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Kittens are growing and they usually require a lot of food. I would not be overly concerned. I had a kitten since he was 8 weeks old and he ate constantly or so it seemed and he ate weird things that he does not like now like potato chips lol. If unsure then you can ask a vet. Or as far as I know there must be website that can recommend good ideas on feeding kittens.
2006-10-17 16:37:49 · answer #6 · answered by J. A. M. 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you are not feeding your kittens too much,kitens have very small tummys,their tummy is only the size of your thumb nailso you have to feed them often,they eat a little but eat many times in a day.I always have dry food out for my 2 little ones and they get can food all so
2006-10-17 16:36:33 · answer #7 · answered by CatLover 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have 2 cats, but we had them when they were kittens too. I don't set out food at any particular time of the day like a meal, I just get a big bowl and fill it up, and they eat it whenever they get hungry. They both eat like pigs, but one is healthy and the other one is fat, but a lot of cats get fat, its either let them eat, or deprive them.
2006-10-17 16:30:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would talk to a vet...i left food out for my cat to eat whenever she wants..when she got older she became overweight, had diabetes, liver problems, and a host of other things from overeating.
2006-10-17 16:36:52 · answer #9 · answered by little fairy lady 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
thats fine, leave it be... cats are scavengers so will always look for food if they get out and have exercise they wont be chubby my cat will feed all day given the chance
2006-10-17 16:31:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋