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- Nov 30, 2012
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So my cat is very overweight, and very inactive at this point. I have been trying to implement several of the standard strategies with little success: 1) active play; 2) active/hunting food dispenser (one of those plastic balls); 3) a vet-recommended restricted calorie intake.
She was always kind of easily distracted re: play, but it's very hard for me to get her to move around at this point. If I throw a toy she will maybe run toward it and then just sit there and wait for me to throw another, or just not follow it at all. Cat dancers and such with effort I can get her to bat at things, but generally from wherever she is sitting/laying only.
I showed her several times how the food dispenser worked, rolling it around and she saw the food came out. I also picked up her regular food bowl. For the duration of the time I was trying to switch, she would sit where her bowl is supposed to be for hours after dinner time trying to get me to feed her or meowing or chewing on anything plastic she can find, as she does when she wants me to feed her, as far as I can tell. After a long time, she would eventually eat whatever food came out of the dispenser when I demonstrated, but not even once did she touch it herself.
Same problem with the wet food. I tried mixing them, slow transition, even with just a bit of the wet food she ignores the whole bowl. My biggest concern/question is how to manage the wet food when trying again. How long can I leave it out while I'm waiting for her to try it? How long can I wait if she's not eating at all to try to get her to even try it? I don't want to starve my cat while I'm trying to get her healthy.
She's on hills science diet - the vet told me at the last check up to feed her 1/2 cup a day. She's about 18 lbs right now, 4 years old. All recommendations would be appreciated - thanks!
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She was always kind of easily distracted re: play, but it's very hard for me to get her to move around at this point. If I throw a toy she will maybe run toward it and then just sit there and wait for me to throw another, or just not follow it at all. Cat dancers and such with effort I can get her to bat at things, but generally from wherever she is sitting/laying only.
I showed her several times how the food dispenser worked, rolling it around and she saw the food came out. I also picked up her regular food bowl. For the duration of the time I was trying to switch, she would sit where her bowl is supposed to be for hours after dinner time trying to get me to feed her or meowing or chewing on anything plastic she can find, as she does when she wants me to feed her, as far as I can tell. After a long time, she would eventually eat whatever food came out of the dispenser when I demonstrated, but not even once did she touch it herself.
Same problem with the wet food. I tried mixing them, slow transition, even with just a bit of the wet food she ignores the whole bowl. My biggest concern/question is how to manage the wet food when trying again. How long can I leave it out while I'm waiting for her to try it? How long can I wait if she's not eating at all to try to get her to even try it? I don't want to starve my cat while I'm trying to get her healthy.
She's on hills science diet - the vet told me at the last check up to feed her 1/2 cup a day. She's about 18 lbs right now, 4 years old. All recommendations would be appreciated - thanks!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk