i have a cat who is about 20 lbs and he used to be 12. i want to get him down it size because it is so not heathly for him, and man dose it hurt if he jumps on you!! i also have 6 other normal weight cats (one of them is a kitten) so i dont want to put them all on low cal food especially the kitten! i let them feed them selfs when ever they want. i have tried scheduled feedings but he finshes his and runs the other cats off, even if i stop him they dont come back. some were abused before we got them so if anything scares them they dont come back and it is the hardest when feeding. (and one cat dosnt get along with the other cats so she just feeds when the rest dont) (scheduled feedings dont work at all in this house). he eats, eats and eats some more then he barfs then he gose back to eating! he dosnt know when to stop! i have an idea on how to let the others feed them selfs but only feed on at surtain times.....but it isnt quite working. so if you have any ideas please let me know!
2007-08-02 08:30:35 · 16 answers · asked by Dory the Fish 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
we have so many cats because we rescue them
2007-08-02 08:31:30 · update #1
he already runs all over the house!!! he plays like he is 12lbs. and if we do the feeding we have abused cats that we are working on and will run off even if i stop him before he gets to there food. and again KITTEN!!! i cant put her on a low cal diet!
2007-08-02 08:39:26 · update #2
I agree with Demon. We have 9 cats and one was a feral for ~3 years. She has the mind-set of "There is food, so I will eat all I can now" since she was starved as a stray.
There is free range dry food, and once-a-day wet feeding. She runs like her 4 mo. old kittens. Our vet said that she is 'overwieght' but it is not affecting her joints/heart. I would talk to your vet, since a diet program is not effective in a multiple cat household.
2007-08-02 08:48:55 · answer #1 · answered by SaraM 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Liek twistedblackvines said, you will need to separate them. The overweight cat at the very least cannot be allowed to free feed anymore. If you absolutely must free feed the rest of your cats (though keep in mind that it could lead to weight problems in them too), you may have to keep him in an enclosed space, like a closed off room in your house, so he can't get at the other cats' food. This may seem extreme and possibly mean, but eight pounds overweight (assuming he started at a healthy weight) is a big deal for a cat and could seriously affect his health.
Additionally, try to do things to get him moving. Consider getting him a ball that will dispense his dry food so he has to work to get it. Play with him with toys that encourage him to move around. Even putting his food on a raised platform so he has to jump up to get it can help.
I'd also consult your vet. If he's eating so much that he vomits, this could be a medical issue. See what your vet says about whether he needs medical treatment and what kind of solutions might help get his weight down.
2007-08-02 15:42:28 · answer #2 · answered by Demon 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well I think the weight and problems depend on the cat. I have 3 very big boys, 21, 16 and and 16 lbs. each. They not only weigh a lot but they are extremely long (can reach the tops of the counters when they stand up). The doctor said she has never seen 3 healthier male cats (ages 9, 5 and 4) and have never ever been sick. They all jump and run and play like babies. Even the biggest one can jump from a kitchen counter to the top of the kitchen cabinets. I feed them (and always have) Meow Mix and sometimes split one of the tiny cans of wet food between all 3 in the evenings.
Unless his weight is making him ill I would just make sure he gets plenty of exercise - sometimes they are just "big".
P.S. to the previous answerer - cats do not get hypothyroid disease like humans/dogs do.
2007-08-02 15:57:52 · answer #3 · answered by justme 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
suggestion ( which really only work if you allow kitties outdoors )
1. feed tubby outside, whilst the others eat inside, when the others are done pick up there bowls and or leave them a small amount of kibble in one bowl that they can graze on and if at work leave loads of water about but no cat food, my guy eats for a couple of minutes then lazes about and really not much is gone from his bowl when i come home from work.
at 20 pounds he should be on a high protein diet and be given no more than 1 cup of food per day and have regular weigh ins with the vet or at home and reported to the vet at the next check up. If you find he does not finish whats in his bowl then you can reduce the amount of food you are feeding him, cause it means that he is not super hungry that he needs to eat it it just means he is eating it cause its there.
Cats should not be given the freedom to graze at will, they should be given a set amount a day and it should be split up, for breakfast and dinner.
I hope you find some sort of solution, my kitty is slowly slimming down which is good, as we do not need 2 diabetics in the family and we love kitty and want him here for lots more years.
2007-08-03 00:21:00 · answer #4 · answered by J-Mi 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you can find a vet that sells hill's prescription diet, there are a few foods for weight loss, my cat used to eat hill's w/d, it's high in fiber and I think it has fewer calories, it worked great on her and she loved it. You can order this on line, but the w/d might not be the best food, there may be another better, so if you could ask a vet that would be best. And excersise, play with your kitty everday.
2007-08-02 15:44:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try putting your overweight cat in a cage while feeding him. I recommend having breakfast, lunch, and dinner, having 1/3 of a cup of food per meal. For your other cats, feed them "meals" as well. If this does not help, your cat could be diabetic, or could have a thyroid problem. Another way to help him is exercise. Have a daily routine. Best of luck.
2007-08-02 15:39:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
My standard advice will work in this situation as well: Feed everyone, including the kittens, a good quality canned food. It's not low-cal, it's low-carb.
Kittens don't need to eat special food, they simply need to eat better food and more of it.
2007-08-02 16:07:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The cat that is 20 pounds is not fat my tabby cat is 21 pounds and yes it hurts when he jumps on you but you cant make him loos weight because of that!!! Your only supposed to have 5 cats. I have 11 and all of mine are registered!! Because if some neighbor turns you in you could end up loosing your pets... Stop keeping the pets turn them over to a animal shelter... Best of Luck
2007-08-02 15:45:50 · answer #8 · answered by Tina the cat lover 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
make sure he moves a lot. put obstacles around your house, like a table in front of a window
play games with him, let him chase a toy fish or something
you have to get him to move and exercise a lot. i know cats don't like to do that(especially indoor cats) but you really have to try to get him to move.
2007-08-02 15:36:03 · answer #9 · answered by tuffsheep 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can start controlling your behavior along with the cats. You shouldn't be keeping so many if they are interfering with each others eating. You should be providing separate rooms or places for cats that are very young and other cats with distinct problems. You should be able to isolate any new cats you have 'rescued' so they do not spread mange, fleas, and distemper to the other cats.. After rescuing them, you should be finding them homes. And how can you afford to have them spayed and neutered (WHAT!! YOU ARE NOT?!?!?) plus all the flea treatments and other medicine.
2007-08-02 15:56:49 · answer #10 · answered by Mike1942f 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋