I'm trying to get my cats on a feeding schedule twice a day. They're all supposed to eat about a cup of food a day, but none of them is emptying their bowls at meal time. I just started this so I understand that they may just not be used to it, but is a half a cup of food too much for one meal for a cat (the smallest is about nine pounds, the largest fourteen)
2006-12-07 15:11:59 · 18 answers · asked by WolfieChick 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
I understand the people who say to leave food all the time, but I've done that with my cats for over twenty years, the more cats you have, the more that system breaks down, you can't portion control well. I have four cats, one is grossly overweight, two a little overweight and one barely holds his own. I need to control how much my pudgy girl gets without making the others starve, and I can't do that leaving food out.
2006-12-07 18:03:28 · update #1
just feed them small amounts. they will let you know when they get hungry.
2006-12-07 15:13:19 · answer #1 · answered by DARKGREYMOOSE 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Cats should not have dry food available to them all day and I agree with the two meal a day schedule. If a half cup is too much do 1/3 and 1/3. They should finish their meal and the bowls taken up after about 20 minutes. If they are hungry at their next meal they will eat a little more. I think they will let you know. My cats look up at me when they feel "short-changed" on the amount of their food and I give them more.
2006-12-07 17:07:02 · answer #2 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I am with the other posters who opt on the side of leaving dry food down all the time. The twice a day that you do should be canned food. Cats really need both to maintain their health. The dry food is there to eat as they feel the need. The wet food provides moisture and meat. No cat can drink enough water to compensate for the demands that eating a dry food diet, only, places on their bodies, especially their urinary tracts.
Cats don't eat like dogs either. Even in the wild, when they make a kill, they will eat a little, hide it, and come back later for more. Cats aren't meant to eat the way people have tried to make them.
I'm not asking you to take my word for it. You should ask your vet about it. Cats who are fed only twice a day, get too hungry in between feedings, which can lead to bolting down their food. That can result in vomiting, because they ate too much at once and ate it too fast.
It is said that a cat has nine lives, but they are very delicate lives. Hope this helped.
2006-12-07 15:51:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
All it means, is that thats all they want right now. They know there will be more there later and it's just not to big of a deal because they can just snack all of the time. I just fill my cats bowl when its empty - he ends up eating about 3/4 a cup a day or less and he's 7lbs. It's a little more than they recommend, but he's a long cat for 7 mo He's 1/2 siamese. I wouldn't worry too much, atleats they won't be over weight cats. But hey - this didn't just start recemtly did it? That'd be a little weird like maybe they caught a bug or something. I wouldn't worry too much sweetie
2006-12-07 15:43:20 · answer #4 · answered by Lisa Marie 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Cats don't need a feeding schedule just leave the food out so they can eat thru the day, mine like to nibble here and there and one full meal like that is too much for a small belly
2006-12-07 15:15:47 · answer #5 · answered by cutiepie81289 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
A half cup is fine. Just give them time to adjust.
Put the other half cup in their bowl on schedule whether or not the bowl is empty, placing it with any food that is left there.
2006-12-07 15:15:03 · answer #6 · answered by marklemoore 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Just leave it out for them during the day, if they get hungry they can come eat it, that's what I do for my cats, that way they always have food down just in case. Just remember to clean the bowls evne cats hate dirty bowls. Blech.
2006-12-07 15:14:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
i would start out with 1/4 of a cup for a week then the next week 1/3 then finally 1/2 it should work if you just wean them on to that much.
2006-12-07 15:15:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
My cats do not each that much at a time; it seems they prefer to nibble. What I suggest that you do, is put out the allotment of food for the day, and leave it out. At the end of the day, you will be able to see what they actually ingested.
2006-12-07 15:55:41 · answer #9 · answered by rosey 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Are you talking about dry food, I assume.
I have always let my cats free feed dry food. They have never gotten fat and stop eating when they are full.
I feed one of them 1Tbsp of wet, she only eats that much twice a day.
The other gets about 1/4 cup of wet food twice a day.
They both are 7 and 9 months old.
2006-12-07 15:20:38 · answer #10 · answered by Hedicat 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You can't make them eat if they dont want to. Feed them once in the morning then again in the afternoon. However you should leave some food out for them incase they get hungry...
2006-12-07 15:13:32 · answer #11 · answered by angie 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋