I was told that I need to feed my cat?

Question

wet food to keep it from getting crystals. So I read one of the food cans and it said I need to disperse the food throughout the day offering only 3/4 of an once of wet food per pound of the animal. The trouble is, I have five cats that eat out of the same bowl and aare at varying weights. How do I make sure the food is dispersed evenly and how do I measure for such a large pack?

Answer 1

There are pluses and minuses for feeding wet food. The advice you were given seems overly complicated. Generally, it is whole male cats that get crystals, but some neutered males also get them. I've never had a female cat with this problem, and I've probably raised over 100 cats. My cats have always been fed dry food. I feed IAMS because it is advertised as being better at preventing feline urinary problems. Foods high in ash content are suspect so I wouldn't feed them. However, some cats will get this problem, no matter what you feed them -- doesn't matter if its wet or dry.

I don't know of any way you could follow the feeding instructions you read about unless you kept each cat in a separate room and fed them their portions only in the morning and at night. Whoever gave those instructions probably only had one cat and nothing else to do.

Answer 2

Mostly they mean that small meals several times a day is better than two big lump meals during the day. Diabetic cats especially have to have food every 4 hours to keep their blood sugar stable.

Wet food is good for cats with potential to get crystals. Feed that cat in a separate room, say the bathroom, two or more times a day apart from the others. The others can get wet food too if you want to feed them a large can of something else -- NutroMax or Maxicat is a good food -- but the special food you get for the crystal cat should only go to that cat.

I've found that a regular 10 pound cat will eat 2 tablespoons of wet food and feel pretty satisfied. Three if they want to stuff themselves. So only spoon out part of a cat and set the can up on a shelf somewhere where the others won't get to it.

And see if you can get the cat to drink more water too. That helps.

Answer 3

I have a cat that has the same problem. He eats prescription dry food. I invested in a Brita water pitcher and that's where he gets his water. Wet/canned cat food is to promote drinking more water yet it contains more protein which can lead to bladder/kidney problems.
I eliminated any type of snacks because I never knew what could set him off with one of his episodes. I tried feeding him the cat foods that are all natural--designed for this particular problem and only made it re-occur.
I found that by doing this with the food and water, kept him from going to the Vet too often or staying for a week.
My other cat eats the same food so there wasn't any problems as to who had what in their dish. They're fed twice a day--my big guy (15 lbs) get's a fourth of a cup at each feeding and the little girl (5 lbs) gets a eighth of a cup maybe a tad bit more. Both are healthy and fed enough and the Vet is always happy with their health and weight.

Answer 4

Ihave cats now and have had cats that have lived from 15-20 years and tehy were mainly on dry food and maybe once a month would share a small can of cat food. I've never had any problems.
Other than shots and wormings and regular vet checks my cats have always been healthy and I feed Purina ct chow ( kitten chow when kittens)

Answer 5

Hi

I have never ever looked at feeding instructions or how much to feed. I free feed and leave canned down all day. Also, I have never had fat cats! If your cats are new to canned then they may eat more initally if they really like it and then setle down. Let them tell you how much they need and then you can adjust accordingly. Best to you

To the poster Hudson grey
What you said about diabetic cats is simply not true. If you have a diabetic cat, please contact me

Answer 6

Try giving each of your cats a different bowl.. That way you can give them each the amount they need.. As for the measuring.. a calculator, pencil and paper..?

I'd think you'd multiply each of your cats' lbs by 3/4 or .75 and that'll give you how many ounces of food you need to give him/her.

Answer 7

Not important - just let your cats eat what the amount they want. I have two cats. I feed them seperately but i give them enough so they leave some and the stray cats come and finish it off.