Putting Cat on Diet Lead to Urinary Problem?

This is the second time I have tried to put Simon on a diet. He's about 17 lbs, way to big for where he should be. I put him on a diet, giving him only 3 oz. can of wet per day with only 1/2 of dry to eat during the day for two cats. Sofie is very small, maybe 7 or 8 lbs and I have put out extra dry for her in a place that Simon can't get to because he's to big. Well, it seemed to be working fine. He was having trouble getting throught the night. He would try and wake me to put more food in his bowl. But I wouldn't and when I got up in the morning I would give them both their wet food and 1/2 of dry would go in the bowl. Can the stress of the diet create a urinary problem? I read that stress can produce the opposite of acidic (alkaline) urine. If this is the problem what do I do now?

Because he peed in my bedroom on Saturday morning. And I had to take him to his cat pan this morning and then he went. He has had problems in the past, but he has been doing great so I thought it was time to try the diet again. I feed him very good food and had recently changed because of his problems.

Thanks, Laurie

Stress is a factor w/bladder problems. A food change can bring on a urinary problem too. Have you talked to your vet about the trouble you're having?

Does he eat most of the day's food at once? If he's real hungry he might, and that could be a factor too. Smaller meals spread throughout the day are thought to be better for these problems. Some of the experts disagree on that, but from what I see I agree w/ smaller meals. It has an effect on pH, and supposedly they drink more often when they are fed more often too.

Unusual and increased numbers of water containers throughout the house are helpful too.

One idea might be to replace some of his dry allowance with more wet...that would at least be beneficial for his urinary system (more moisture)...and more helpful for his weight loss plan too.

I would talk to the vet first, though.

Time to have a chat with your vet ... for many reasons...

One no wt mgmt program should be done without them involved and two making sure you are feeding what is needed for wt mgmt and overall health

He eat small amounts throughout the day. The 1.5 oz. of wet morning and night are the largest amount. But he does like to go and have a dry during the day and night. But I was trying to keep him from eating during the night, even though he was not happy about it.

I have not talk to the vet yet. Wanted to watch him for a couple more days and make sure I wasn't jumping the gun.

Thanks for your help.

My vet wants him on a diet. He wants me to put food (dry) out twice a day for 15 minutes. And if he doesn't eat then he misses out. He said the only way cat will lose weight is to eat less. No kidding I didn't know that. I hate being talk to like I'm an idiot. Thanks for your comments.

Sharky's right about the vet...you should really go over the plan with them.

FWIW, my chubbiest cat is losing weight eating apx 9oz wet/day (no dry)...but he's only 13lbs. The amounts you're feeding seem small.

he is 17lbs .. but what should he be???

Your vet s give dry twice a day worries me ... as does his attitude toward you

A good weight for him would be 13 pounds. He isn't small like my other cat so he will never be 8 pounds. And he actually carries around his weight pretty well. Compared to my little girl, his activity level is much less. I play with them both as much as they want me to.

Wilma a cat I had for 17 years was just about his size and she was perfect at 11 to 13 pounds.

I have a big one who was 18lbs at 2 1/2 years when I adopted him. For the past several years he has maintained 16lbs. Dusty will be 13 in April. I realized early on that to get him down to the reccommended 14lbs I would have to starve him. I also realized he was a stress eater and that he would gorge himself if he felt deprived. For him the solution was to build his confidence to reduce stress eating and free feed. The two meals a day were a disaster for him. The main thing to remember about free feeding is to measure each days serving and never give more if he gobbles it up. If necessary divide it between two servings until he regulates better. Another thing you might try is the Kitty Kitchen Treat Machine. Only 2 of my 6 were interested in learning how to make it work. Still, it's been worth it and they find it amusing.

i adopted my  4 year old cat about 9 months ago from a previous owner who free fed dry and was gone all day.The cat was over 18 pounds .She lost a little weight just by having a house with three floors to run around in. When i got to the vet she was 17 pounds. but i had still been giving er measured DRY( expensive) food . My vet told me to give her only  one. 5.5 ounce can of food a day and no dry. twice a day. My husband is retired so we measure it out and give her three  meals a day. My last visit to the vet for a weight check she was 15 pounds..I would love her to be a 12 pound cat but it is challenging because she is quite a beggar....! I wish i could be that successful with my own diet. !!!Anyway i guess i am saying it takes time , and patience and strength to not give in.if they beg.  I  will admit.. i was lucky , no accidents What i see now is a young cat who is much more agile than she was when i first got her. I know a lot of cats are " addicted"to kibble but dry food of any kind isn't that great.. not enough moisture and too many carbs which of course we know turn to fat.

I felt so sorry for her when i first got her .the previous owner wantesd her to have a better home with more activity .so i commend him. She is also declawed,, not by me.so icant let her run around outside. Anyway after not having a cat since iwas young.. i am so happy to have this cat in my home.Dec 27th we will have ha hwer for a  year!

Thanks for listening

Holly

when our cat was on a diet, he ate twice what you're feeding your cat, and since he was used to grazing, i broke it into several small meals as he'd cry with two or even three feedings per day.  keep in mind that if the cat is really hungry, he's really stressed and thinks something's wrong - he may be peeing in protest or from stress.  human doctors often put heavy humans on severely restricted calories that is low enough to be unhealthy - maybe your vet got a bit carried away?

btw, no matter how "good" a food is, your cat is adjusted to his regular food, and a significant lifestyle change may not be the best time to change. 

Thanks for adding your input @basschick  and @Jeanne38. It's a great topic and I'm sure your tips will help others reading it. Just wanted to remind everyone that the original post was made a decade ago and that member hasn't visited us since.