Am I Spoiling Her?

[buddybellamom]

Hi all!  Lately, I find that I have to trim my budget quite a bit, so Kit has been getting more and more canned Sheba, Wellness, and PRIDE can instead of the stuff that costs a lot more (freeze dried raw, Instinct frozen raw bites, etc.).  I am finding though that she will only nibble at some of the flavors then walk away.  However, if I put a few (crumbled) Instinct raw boost mixers and mix it into the food, she will do better. 

I also picked up something similar made by Honest Kitchen (free samples) and she likes those mixed in her canned food as well.  And last, a few times this week I've mixed in a few crunchy kibble pieces (maybe 10-15 pcs in a 3 ozs can) and she like those; I believe they were some Instinct kind -- I want to say Instinct Raw kibble, but that sounds ridiculous.

Am I creating a spoiled cat by doing this?  My budget will be getting tighter in the future, and I probably will be feeding her more and more of the Sheba; I can make a bag of those Raw Boost Mixers last about 4 mos (I am still on the first bag I bought when she was only 4 weeks old, she's now almost 5 mos).

No matter how tight the budget gets, I know I won't start feeding full time dry though.

Am I teaching her bad to want the raw stuff mixed in?

 

[hellomisskitty]

I don't think so but then I do the same thing so I might not be the best source for an opinion [emoji]128522[/emoji] My Kitty has a history of crystals so a canned diet is essential for her however, she prefers kibble and like your cat there are times where she just walks away from her canned. If I crumble a NV Raw Boost Mixer on top she will eat. I don't do it every meal or even every day. The way I look at it is if it's something that will help entice her to eat the canned food that is essential for her urinary system, then I'm fine with it.

 

[LTS3]

There is a NV Instinct Raw Boost dry food

Honestly, it's just the original Instinct dry food with some freeze dried raw pieces mixed in.

If budget is tight, maybe just add one or two pieces of freeze dried raw into the canned food to stretch out the bag. You can crumbled up the freeze dried raw pieces and sprinkle a bit on top of the food. 100% freeze dried meat or fish treats such as PureBites would also work well and they're single ingredient whereas freeze dried raw often has other ingredients.

If you haven't already done so, sign up on the NV web site to get free coupons via email. Sometimes there are coupons for Raw Mixers and other NV raw products, even the Raw Boost dry food.

 

[oldgloryrags88]

No, I don't think that will spoil her/make her finicky.

If the budget is tight, have you considered lightly cooking plain chicken/rabbit/salmon and cutting up little pieces to put on her canned food? Will she eat the canned food without the freeze dried topper?

 

[buddybellamom]

 
There is a NV Instinct Raw Boost dry food

Honestly, it's just the original Instinct dry food with some freeze dried raw pieces mixed in.

If budget is tight, maybe just add one or two pieces of freeze dried raw into the canned food to stretch out the bag. You can crumbled up the freeze dried raw pieces and sprinkle a bit on top of the food. 100% freeze dried meat or fish treats such as PureBites would also work well and they're single ingredient whereas freeze dried raw often has other ingredients.

If you haven't already done so, sign up on the NV web site to get free coupons via email. Sometimes there are coupons for Raw Mixers and other NV raw products, even the Raw Boost dry food.

Yep, that's the stuff!  I have a small sample bag, and might consider getting a larger one.  I never thought to sign up on the website to get deals and coupons, thanks for that!  I used to crumble some freeze dried raw on top of canned when I had my other 2 (RIP) when I switched them from dry to canned; I can do that again.

No, I don't think that will spoil her/make her finicky.

If the budget is tight, have you considered lightly cooking plain chicken/rabbit/salmon and cutting up little pieces to put on her canned food? Will she eat the canned food without the freeze dried topper?

Hmmmm....I could look into the lightly cooking idea, I am not opposed to that.  I suspect I wouldn't have to worry about supplements/mixes right? As long as it's not more than 10% of her food, right?  Certain flavors she definitely will eat without any kind of toppers; mostly the PRIDE by Instinct -- I buy her rabbit, duck, chicken, turkey (she's not crazy about anyone's turkey).  She apparently has stopped liking salmon flavored food; won't even touch the Stella & Chewy's salmon/chicken mix anymore.  

I do have some frozen thighs that I had bought just for her; when I tried to give her little pcs of it, she didn't really know what to do with it, never really ate it.  Maybe if it's mixed in, she'll just kind of eat it without knowing?  I can try that too.  For the lightly cooked idea, what's the best method?  And...can I use some grocery bought ground meats if I lightly cook them?  I know that subject is a bit controversial...but I thought I remembered reading that if you COOK it, it would be OK.  I could get ground turkey, ground chicken, and ground beef for her.

Sorry for the long post...thanks for listening.

theresa

 

[oldgloryrags88]

Yep, that's the stuff!  I have a small sample bag, and might consider getting a larger one.  I never thought to sign up on the website to get deals and coupons, thanks for that!  I used to crumble some freeze dried raw on top of canned when I had my other 2 (RIP) when I switched them from dry to canned; I can do that again.


Hmmmm....I could look into the lightly cooking idea, I am not opposed to that.  I suspect I wouldn't have to worry about supplements/mixes right? As long as it's not more than 10% of her food, right?  Certain flavors she definitely will eat without any kind of toppers; mostly the PRIDE by Instinct -- I buy her rabbit, duck, chicken, turkey (she's not crazy about anyone's turkey).  She apparently has stopped liking salmon flavored food; won't even touch the Stella & Chewy's salmon/chicken mix anymore.  

I do have some frozen thighs that I had bought just for her; when I tried to give her little pcs of it, she didn't really know what to do with it, never really ate it.  Maybe if it's mixed in, she'll just kind of eat it without knowing?  I can try that too.  For the lightly cooked idea, what's the best method?  And...can I use some grocery bought ground meats if I lightly cook them?  I know that subject is a bit controversial...but I thought I remembered reading that if you COOK it, it would be OK.  I could get ground turkey, ground chicken, and ground beef for her.

Sorry for the long post...thanks for listening.

theresa

Yes, grocery store meat if fine (if humans can't ear it it wouldn't be safe). I just lightly bake chicken. Or have you tried canned human food chicken? My cats all love it. No need for supplements as this is a treat (but ask your vet first).

 

[oldgloryrags88]

Whoops...forgot one. Yeah she'll probably eat it mixed in. Mine do.

 

[luna12345]

I have a similar problem with my 10 mo old kitten.  From the very beginning we've given her a mostly wet food diet, and always switched up the food when she didn't eat what she was given.  We tried to give her some real cooked chicken about a 4 months ago, and she absolutely inhaled it.  Right now, as she's going through her change into adulthood, she's become EXTRA fussy.  She eats small portions of the food we give her but never cleans her plate, and then sits down and asks for more food.  I tried bringing her her fave chicken in a different spot of the house, and she's eaten more than she has eaten in a few days.  When I try mixing her canned food with real chicken she considers it contaminated and turns up her nose.  Any tips on feeding this extra fussy cat?  Is it possible that she just wants to eat in a different spot of the house?  Any help is appreciated!

 

[oldgloryrags88]

I have a similar problem with my 10 mo old kitten.  From the very beginning we've given her a mostly wet food diet, and always switched up the food when she didn't eat what she was given.  We tried to give her some real cooked chicken about a 4 months ago, and she absolutely inhaled it.  Right now, as she's going through her change into adulthood, she's become EXTRA fussy.  She eats small portions of the food we give her but never cleans her plate, and then sits down and asks for more food.  I tried bringing her her fave chicken in a different spot of the house, and she's eaten more than she has eaten in a few days.  When I try mixing her canned food with real chicken she considers it contaminated and turns up her nose.  Any tips on feeding this extra fussy cat?  Is it possible that she just wants to eat in a different spot of the house?  Any help is appreciated!

Hi there!

Many cats do not like chunky food. Some do though, like my boy Baloo. What style is the canned food (pate, cuts, shreds, etc?) Will she eat the chicken out of the canned food? (like on a plate) Why put the chicken in the canned food? How big are the pieces?

You may try putting 5-10 pieces of kibble on her food if she likes kibble; that's how I got my finicky cat to eat canned food initially).

 

[luna12345]

Thanks for the reply!  She never was much of a kibble eater, which is supposedly a good thing.  We have a variety of canned foods for her, different brands, flavours, and textures.  For a while she was eating only chicken pate, then only chicken chunks, etc.  She seems to go through phases, and her current phase is that everything isn't good enough!  Throughout her entire life she's favoured chicken, and is now being EXTRA fussy.  She eats a little bit of food many times a day, and I've read that this is natural for cats?  I think she may be losing weight because of her fussiness (therefore lack of eating).  Could this have anything to do with her age change?  Any help is welcome, we just don't know what to do anymore.

 

[oldgloryrags88]

You're welcome.


Does she have her adult teeth in yet? If not, she maybe teething and not want to eat. Suddenly not eating like normal is not normal in kittens...has she been to a vet? Maybe try a different food flavor?

 

[luna12345]

Yep, she has all of her teeth.  She's actually already 10 months old, so I'm wondering if her transition to adulthood is affecting her.  She's also constipated right now, so this definitely comes in to play.  She has a history of fussy eating, and her constipation is probably just adding to the problem.  (I should have mentioned the constipation earlier)  She hasn't had a BM in about 3 days now, so she still has time to get back on track.  We've tried giving her pumpkin and olive oil, but because of her fussiness that didn't really work out haha.  Any suggestions on how we can get her back on track, eating and pooping?  Thank you.

 

[oldgloryrags88]

Yeah...I highly recommend taking her to the vet. She maybe ill. (Cats instinctively hide their pain, so you may not see it).

I would get a syringe from a feed store (3 or 6 ML should work) and dilute the pumpkin in water and then force feed her it.

 

[oldgloryrags88]

Is she eating right now? How much a day does she actually eat? How long has this problem been going on for?

 

[luna12345]

Yes, she eats.  She ate about a tablespoon of cooked chicken earlier tonight, and about of teaspoon of Weruva pouch food.  Throughout the day she ate as well, just small amounts many times.  I know that she's not eating as much as she should be, but the amounts she eats would not starve her.  The fussy eating and light decrease in appetite has been going on for almost a week now.  She didn't have a BM for three days and then she did, but now it's been another 3 days.  At this point, I'm convinced that she has a textbook case of constipation.  

 

[luna12345]

Also, she's a very small cat to begin with.  Her last weight measurement was around a month ago, and she was at 4.6 pounds I believe.  So she would really eat too much anyways because of her size.  

 

[oldgloryrags88]

I'd take her to the vet. They can give you medication for the constipation. I don't know what more to suggest. :dk:

Can you take her to the vet?

 

[luna12345]

I suppose we'll have to.  If she doesn't poop tomorrow, we'll make a call to the vet.  We don't want to add to her stress level by taking her to the vet prematurely.  Thank you for all of your advice, as she is the first cat I've ever had and I'm not sure what to expect.

 

[oldgloryrags88]

It's always best to take them to the vet sooner rather than later. It will stress them out, but if they're ill already then they're already stressed out and don't want to be ill anymore. Just call the vet and explain to him or her what's going on. I'm sure they'll find a solution.

Let me know how it goes. Best of luck!