My cat's a little piggie...why?

Question

I have 2 cats, a 5 year old female cat and a 9-month old female kitten. I feed them each about 1/4 cup dry food in the morning and 1/4 cup dry at dinner time (each 1/2 cup/day). First, is this too little food? My older cat used to be overweight and is still a pretty good size (11 lbs.) so I decreased the amount I used to feed her to keep her weight down; I feed the kitten about the same.

Second, my kitten is a bully when it comes to food. She'll push the other cat out of the way, eat her food, and try to eat the dog's food as well (we feed him at the same time). Sometimes we'll find the kitten inside the food bin eating (we keep it in the pantry, sometimes she sneaks in). Any time we go in the kitchen, she meows for food. She's ALWAYS hungry. Is this normal or am I not feeding her enough?
The vet says they're fine in weight, but the both look bigger than normal cats.

Can't get a feeder because I have a dog who eats whatever the cats don't eat.

Answer 1

Thats funny! It sounds like your doing everything you should be, my cat on the other hand is bulemic, she eats until she pukes, but thats probably my fault for letting her have free reign over her food and bowl.

Answer 2

For your older cat, that is the right amount of food. The kitten, because it's still growing, may require more food.

You didn't say what you were feeding. Cats need large amounts of high quality protein in their food. Perhaps what you're feeding doesn't fulfill the requirements - thus they eat more to compensate. The kitten may also have worms of some kind. Often times, in cats that have worms, they eat much more than normal, but don't gain weight. This is because the worms will steal all nutrients from the food. The cat will then be hungry and continue to eat.

As far as the dog, try feeding it in a different room. Cats should not eat dog food, and vice versa.

Answer 3

Kittens should never be limited on the amount of food they eat, they should be free fed since they are still growing. After 1 year you should start feeding the kitten a measured amount of food, she probably is hungry. Is there a place you can leave her food she can only have access to?? Kittens should be free fed or maybe you can bring her into a room by herself and feed her without the other cat and dog around.

Answer 4

Talk to your vet. I know human babies need to be fed quite often, not three times a day. OTOH, your "baby" is almost an adult cat. Some cats just don't turn off the hungry button. They may have been deprived as kittens (did you find your kitten at the pound, or was she abandoned?). (-: Or it may have been a hungry past life.

If the vet says they are fine in weight, then they are probably getting the right amount of food. The vet would tell you if they were underweight or overweight.

Answer 5

Your younger kitten may need more food. Have you discussed with the vet how much you are feeding it? My kittens always ate more than my older cats. They are still growing. If I am hungry, I eat. I would never leave one of my kids, (4 legs or 2 legs) hungry.

Answer 6

My second kitty was about 9 months old when she came to live with me. She was a little piggie for about the first 6 months here and was forever eating all my other cat's food as well. I put it down to the fact that she was a stray when I got her and had never known where her next meal was coming from. As she came to realise that there would always be food available for her whenever she wanted, her eating slowed down and she is great now.

Good luck.

Answer 7

my fatty/greedy cat was a 20 pounder. he was the same way. 1 boy and 2 girl cats. I would split one small can 3 ways for breakfast. this fatso would scarf his down so fast you could hear him swallow. then he would slowly push the 1st girl out of the way to finish hers and if the 2nd girl was not done he would push her out of the way.

I used to feed 2 cans between the 3 of them daily.

I think you are feeding them to little. I would split the food one can between the both of them or......

leave some dry cat food down with their water and let them graze at their own desire.

this will help the kitten from stealing everyone elses meals.

Answer 8

what you should do is get a feeder and fill it with food, cats like to nibble throughout the day and the food should be readily available to them...you may think this will cause overeating but it doesnt cats are proven to be "snackers" and if you are still worried about them overeating and being overweight you can get a weight management food such as purina one or nutro they both have the weight control formulas

Answer 9

as quickly as we've been given our 2nd cat we had had to get one nearer to her age. regardless of the undeniable fact that it ended up in basic terms being a pair months distinction. The older cat hissed on the greater youthful one for about 2 -3 weeks. After that as quickly as they could play she'd be somewhat tough on him, make him squeal and now they are good friends. It takes time. exceedingly whilst your older cat has been the only one around for a together as. enable her understand she's nevertheless quantity one. Feed her first that form of element, yet be stern concerning to the hissing. provide her a rapid swat on the backside or a faucet on the nostril whilst she does it and a company "no". For destiny reference, the nearer in age they are the greater efficient. And cats do greater efficient whilst accompanied in pairs.

Answer 10

They should be fine. If you would like, you can put her on a special weight loss diet like Iams.