For the last couple months there has been a stray kitten hanging around my house. He got into some dehydrated food in our garage one day and had been hanging around since then. A couple weeks after that we decided to put some food and water out for him. We have been cat sitting for my cousin so we had 9Lives Plus care, which is what she feeds her cat. That's the food we were putting out for the stray kitten. Last week I finally caught him and took him to the vet for a checkup and vaccinations and everything.
The kitten has been limited to a bathroom at least until my cousin takes her cat sometimes this or next week. When we were feeding him as a stray he pretty much got unlimited food during the day but we brought it in at night because raccoons and possums were getting into it. The first couple days he was living in our house he had food pretty much around the clock, while I was doing a lot of researching online as to what food is best and everything. I finally decided on the Authority brand sole at Petsmart because although the ingredients aren't as good as something like Wellness, they are better than all the "supermarket brands". So I bought a bag of Authority brand for kittens. The bag said that for his age (the vet said about 4 months) and his weight (~4.5 lbs) he should be getting 1/2 cup of food a day. So the first day I fed him 3/4 of the 9Lives and 1/4 Authority. Next day I fed him 1/2 each, next day I fed him 3/4 Authority and 1/4 9Lives, and finally today I fed him 1/2 cup Authority.
The first day the 1/2 cup lasted him until the evening, the next day only about half the day, the third day he had eaten it all within a couple hours of putting it out and today he had finished it all within an hour of me giving it to him.
I was under the impression that they will eat less of the foods with better ingredients. Also, everything I've read said to leave the food out for them because they like to eat a little bit at a time all day, but he has been eating it all in one or two sittings...
My question is, if he finishes it all that quickly, should I give him more? If so, how much more, and when?
I am a student and paying for college on my own so money is pretty tight. I would rather not have to buy wet food because it is so much more expensive. Some websites I've read said that feeding wet food is essential, where others say that both wet and dry provide equal nutrition but that wet food simply tastes better and will turn the cat into a more finicky eater.
What should I do? Thank you for your time, my kitten and I both appreciate it!
The kitten has been limited to a bathroom at least until my cousin takes her cat sometimes this or next week. When we were feeding him as a stray he pretty much got unlimited food during the day but we brought it in at night because raccoons and possums were getting into it. The first couple days he was living in our house he had food pretty much around the clock, while I was doing a lot of researching online as to what food is best and everything. I finally decided on the Authority brand sole at Petsmart because although the ingredients aren't as good as something like Wellness, they are better than all the "supermarket brands". So I bought a bag of Authority brand for kittens. The bag said that for his age (the vet said about 4 months) and his weight (~4.5 lbs) he should be getting 1/2 cup of food a day. So the first day I fed him 3/4 of the 9Lives and 1/4 Authority. Next day I fed him 1/2 each, next day I fed him 3/4 Authority and 1/4 9Lives, and finally today I fed him 1/2 cup Authority.
The first day the 1/2 cup lasted him until the evening, the next day only about half the day, the third day he had eaten it all within a couple hours of putting it out and today he had finished it all within an hour of me giving it to him.
I was under the impression that they will eat less of the foods with better ingredients. Also, everything I've read said to leave the food out for them because they like to eat a little bit at a time all day, but he has been eating it all in one or two sittings...
My question is, if he finishes it all that quickly, should I give him more? If so, how much more, and when?
I am a student and paying for college on my own so money is pretty tight. I would rather not have to buy wet food because it is so much more expensive. Some websites I've read said that feeding wet food is essential, where others say that both wet and dry provide equal nutrition but that wet food simply tastes better and will turn the cat into a more finicky eater.
What should I do? Thank you for your time, my kitten and I both appreciate it!
