cat weight control
#1
08-10-09, 05:42 AM
cat weight control
my 7 year old indoor cat was getting a little heavy, and the vet said we were overfeeding him (we had been of the belief that a cat would not overeat). really what prompted it to come up at the vet was that he often throws up in the house. the vet suggested measuring his food---he only eats dry food, usually Iams original hairball control----and feeding in two intervals, 1/4 cup at each. (BTW, switching brands of food did nothing to slow the vomiting, but the two smaller feedings has helped somewhat....he still vomits sometimes, which I guess is because he maybe eats too fast..?)
we recently returned from vacation so he's been boarded for a week (at the same facility where the vet is). I assume they also measure there, as his weight barely changed over the week, maybe 0.2 lbs up). He seems to have come home with a voracious appetite....I'm guessing they give the 1/2 cup all at once. around the same time as we started the twice daily measured feedings, we switched to Iams weight control/hairball control, and I think it's less "satisfying", like diet food would be to me. at each feeding time, when we wake up and when we eat dinner, his bowl is empty. he certainly hasn't lost any weight (though he also hasn't gained any); should we even decrease his food amounts? that seems harsh, as it's already seemingly not enough for him. any thoughts?
we recently returned from vacation so he's been boarded for a week (at the same facility where the vet is). I assume they also measure there, as his weight barely changed over the week, maybe 0.2 lbs up). He seems to have come home with a voracious appetite....I'm guessing they give the 1/2 cup all at once. around the same time as we started the twice daily measured feedings, we switched to Iams weight control/hairball control, and I think it's less "satisfying", like diet food would be to me. at each feeding time, when we wake up and when we eat dinner, his bowl is empty. he certainly hasn't lost any weight (though he also hasn't gained any); should we even decrease his food amounts? that seems harsh, as it's already seemingly not enough for him. any thoughts?
#2
08-11-09, 08:08 AM
Forum Topic Moderator
Eddieo45,
Sounds like they did feed him once a day, rather than splitting the feedings.
The vomiting is most likely from him eating much too fast, I also have a cat that does that. It is something we have learned to live with as nothing has helped with slowing him down, except actually hand feeding small bits over the course of the day.
What I would suggest is more exercise, and keeping the feedings as you have them. I am not particularly fond of Iams myself, and I would not feed a weight control personally. Instead I would make sure that he was getting a quality food at normal amounts, split into two or more (if possible) feedings per day. It sounds like your kitty is more of a couch potato and the exercise would be most helpful. We use a toy that is kind of like a fishing pole, with a feathery *hook* and we play with our cats while sitting around watching tv.
Hope this helps, do keep us posted.
Sounds like they did feed him once a day, rather than splitting the feedings.
The vomiting is most likely from him eating much too fast, I also have a cat that does that. It is something we have learned to live with as nothing has helped with slowing him down, except actually hand feeding small bits over the course of the day.
What I would suggest is more exercise, and keeping the feedings as you have them. I am not particularly fond of Iams myself, and I would not feed a weight control personally. Instead I would make sure that he was getting a quality food at normal amounts, split into two or more (if possible) feedings per day. It sounds like your kitty is more of a couch potato and the exercise would be most helpful. We use a toy that is kind of like a fishing pole, with a feathery *hook* and we play with our cats while sitting around watching tv.
Hope this helps, do keep us posted.
