Cat diet?

I have 2 seven year old shorthairs - a black male, Westley, and a female calico, Buttercup. They are littermates...but you wouldn't guess it looking at them. Westley is SOOO huge, and Buttercup is very lean. I know he has a bigger build, but lately we've been worrying about how fat he is so we put them on a breakfast-dinner diet, where we only feed them twice a day.

I think our boy is making some progress, but what astounds me is that he consistently eats FAR less than Buttercup. Is this normal? And is the diet a good idea - 2 feedings per day? When I get up in the morning they are very hungry and ready for breakfast, and by dinnertime they're meowing for food again.

Thanks,

ME

 

How much they should be served would be based upon size, age, sex, weight, and activity. Fat animals tend to look that way. Ask your vet at the next visit how much the large cat should weigh. If they have been freely feeding in the past and now are being fed at certain time, I can see why they are meowing.

We had cats for over 30 years, and they would always meow with vigor when the prospect of food for the empty bowl arose. If they are getting enough food by volume and weight of the food for the individual, I would not fret about the loud display at mealtime. Animals don't like restricted food intake any more than people like, and they don't understand why.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks.
I guess what I'm mostly wondering is, are the 2-times per day feedings enough? Or should I feed them a midday meal too? I guaged this off what I did when taking care of neighbors' cats...as I've never restricted my cats' eating before. They don't seem to be wasting away, so I think they'll be all right. Oh, I forgot to mention that I feed them dry food only - wet food actually makes my cats throw up.

Thanks!
ME

 

We always fed out cats dry food. Animals need to be lean. If they look a bit skinny, it may be just right. Anyway, check with the vet about the correct weight and how to tell when they reach it.