stray cats?

Question

hi . there something i wish two ask.well we have a stray cat .the problem i'm having with it its eating habits i've notice the way he eats in the mornings we feed him a half a can of wet food an leave him dry food during the day an he wont hardly eat it an . he'll beg or fallow me an my girl friend all day long .like this morning i hapen to br watching him eating his food.he aet it in 1.5 min .that cant be right can it .he wont save it during the day ..he eats it like it a last day on earth im wondering if some one being mean to it or mabe hes a pig please tell what to do in order to get him to eat his dry food during the day .

Answer 1

Imagine that you had to scrounge for food and were never sure that there would be enough for your whole life. Now imagine that you have this sweet deal where they feed you all that you could ever want. And the real kicker is they have good stuff to eat and you don't have to do anything more than eat it! He eats like that because he is was raised that way, cats on their own have to eat fast because some other animal is going to come along and try to take it away from him.

Your kitty is getting spoiled by the wet food and totally deserves it. Wet food tastes soooo much better than dry food, ask any cat and they will tell you. Also, he is probably full from eating the good stuff that he really isn't hungry during the day.

So you have two choices, you can continue to feed kitty the wet stuff and know that he will probably never eat the dry stuff again so quit buying it, or you could wean him off of the wet stuff by mixing them together, gradually adding more and more of the dry stuff until it there is no more wet food.

Thank you for saving the kitty, he totally deserved it!

Answer 2

Smart kitty!

He has good instincts and knows that dry food isn't good for him!

He eats all his food at once because he's gorging like a wild carnivore that doesn't know when it will get its next meal, and knows that if he doesn't eat it immediately some other critter will come along and eat it. That's perfectly normal for a stray or feral cat.

He'll stop gorging after you adopt him and bring him inside and he's had a while to realize that there will always be enough food for him.

You're feeding him regularly and he's become attached to you, and you've become attached to him (otherwise you wouldn't be feeding him or worrying about him.) So make the committment, bring him inside and adopt him. You'll both be glad!

By the way, here's where you can learn why I said dry food isn't good for him:

http://www.catinfo.org

Answer 3

He probably just prefers can food?
Give him his can in the morning but save alittle and then put some of the can food on top of his dry food or mixed into the dry. See if he eats it then.
If your thinking of calling the animal shelter don't because their overloaded with cats/dogs and a lot of them get put to sleep. Either adopt him if you can or see if you can find him a home. Maybe a friend or someone in your family would like a kitty? If you can, take him to a vet to have him looked at.
My sister found a stray cat and brought her in and now she's part of the family. Good luck!

Answer 4

This cat has probably worms and other parasites, like most strays. If the worms are bad, you can feed and feed the cat and he will remain hungry. Try to deworm him (tablet in the food, talk to a vet).

As far as feeding dry food is concerned. Many stray cats have severe dental problems (often broken-off teeths) and eating dry food can be painful. Soak dry food in water for several hours before you give it to him. It usually does the trick.

Answer 5

If he is a stray, he is not used to the guarantee that he will have a next meal--that is why he gulps his food. Despite its smell, most cats prefer the canned to the dry. Since he gets the good stuff, he snubs the other. Feed him the dry food primarily, with the canned as a treat or supplement. But don't change it all at once.

Most pet experts will tell you that too much canned food is not good for pets. Many advocate giving none at all unless the pet has trouble chewing the hard stuff.

Cats are smart--mine can be full from eating dry food and will walk to the cabinet where the canned food is and stare at me, trying to tell me she knows it is there. I give my cat canned food as a treat (or to entice her inside). Even then, she gulps it like you said.

Answer 6

you firstly must call your local SPCA or shelter and report finding the cat - if somebody reported it lost they will want it back and if you dont report finding it you can be charged with theft....
has he been dewormed?
a can and a half of wet food is WAY TOO MUCH - the cans tell you to feed too much so they get more sales...
maybe the cat has bad teeth so it hurts to eat the dry - he needs to be checked by a vet..
maybe the dry food you have he doesnt like

they need dry food all day

really first thing -call to see if anyone reported loosing this cat then visit a vet for a check up and deworming and vacccination

Answer 7

All animals like humans have there own eating habits. Try a little dry food and a little milk. It's probably following you for attention not food. Your like me can't pass up a stray just make sure you get it rabies shots good luck

Answer 8

some cats just don't like dry food. If this is a stray cat then it may not be getting food like a housepet would. Just feed it the food from the can twice a day and it should be alright

Answer 9

as long as it is there and he is a stray he is going to eat it...he may be afraid he doesnt know when the next time he will get to eat he doesnt trust that you will be consistent with the feedings that is just how stray cats are and you really cant blame them until you feed them consistently each and every day they will begin to trust you and depend on you so dont let him down keep the feedings approx the same time each and every day

Answer 10

stray animals tend to inhale their food because they don't get food very often, and probably don't want to share it with other strays. as for the dry food, it may not like dry food, or maybe just doesn't like the smell of it, cats are notorious for being finicky. why not adopt him? get him neutered, bring him inside, and only give him dry food, which is better for his teeth than wet food.