Cat NooB - Thoughts on Food Intake

I've had Sheba since January. She is my first cat. She is 13½ y/o. In January she weighed 9.2 lbs. Her coat and her whiskers were awry; lots of shedding.

She started out free choice with dry cat food, as that was all she would eat - Purina Cat Chow. I was happy that she was just eating; so was the vet.

Around July, I finally found a wet food she would eat that I could supplement with her dry food diet - the Fancy Feast Classic varieties. Notwithstanding the bad rap that I've heard about FF, within a month her coat began to improve, her whiskers grew in stronger, and she began to get a better bounce in her step.

She visited the vet yesterday for a checkup. She now weighs 9.05 lbs. Her coat and whiskers have quite improved. Her health checked out okay.

She is still free choice, and consumes about 1 can of the FF per day. Her dry intake is about ?half? of what it was before wet food supplementing.

Her shelter records say she was 10lbs during an examination on Nov 5, 2009.

I'd like to see her a little heavier, maybe a pound more... The vet didn't have much of an opinion if she maintains or gains a little... As this is the first time I've had a cat, does anyone have any thoughts about her food intake? Alternative equally appetizing wet food? Also, does cat pellet sizes make a difference to a cat who had prior dental issues (the vet says she lost some of her back teeth when she was younger)?

Thanks,

CheetahCats

No size of kibble does not usually matter, from a few cats I know actually the bigger it is the better for cats with fewer teeth...
Most vet have an opinion and when they do not you probabley should let her be at current weight.

If she eat it and you can afford it give her more wet and less dry .... FF is actually fine , my motto is a wet is better than dry... Meow mix is a good one if she likes shredded... DO you have access to a pet store and if so which one?

Ask the vet point blank about her weight at her next vet visit. I have one that I know is overweight, and since I've not really pressed the vet about it he hasn't spoken up.

But unless she's a larger female cat, she may be at a good weight. My females range from 7.6lbs to a little over 9lbs - with the heaviest one being an outdoor cat that is starting to put on her winter weight (in summer she's around 8.5-8.8lbs).

Many vets do not want to offend the owner by saying their cat is overweight or underweight but I would ask your vet his/her opiniion. If you run your hands along her sides, is there a thin layer of fat over her ribs? If so and you can feel her ribs, then she's probably fine. If you don't feel any fat and her ribs stick out then she is underweight. If you can't feel her ribs, then she is overweight. If you look at her from above, there should bea noticeable waistline but if there is a stark difference between her ribs and waist then she is underweight. If there is no waistline or her waist is rounded then she is overweight.

How is her attitude? Is she lively, active or lethargic? I agree with Sharky and would suggest increasing her wet food intake and decreasing the dry. It sounds like she is doing better already with the FF so I think you are on the right track.

Originally Posted by sharky

Size of kibble does not usually matter, from a few cats I know actually the bigger it is the better for cats with fewer teeth...
Most vet have an opinion and when they do not you probabley should let her be at current weight.

If she eat it and you can afford it give her more wet and less dry .... FF is actually fine , my motto is a wet is better than dry... Meow mix is a good one if she likes shredded... DO you have access to a pet store and if so which one?

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Thanks, I haven't tried the Meow Mix shredded, and I'll give it a try. I wasn't sure if kibble size mattered... I was thinking that the larger kibbles might irritate the mouth, or difficult to chew without all teeth. Not sure if related, but I've tried giving her the FF grilled and the FF sliced, but all she does is lick up the gravy and leaves the chunks behind.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

unless she's a larger female cat, she may be at a good weight. My females range from 7.6lbs to a little over 9lbs - with the heaviest one being an outdoor cat that is starting to put on her winter weight (in summer she's around 8.5-8.8lbs).

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Thanks, I wasn't sure if her weight was commonly encountered. Perhaps she was slightly overweight when she entered the shelter.

Originally Posted by SweetPea24

If you run your hands along her sides, is there a thin layer of fat over her ribs? If so and you can feel her ribs, then she's probably fine. If you don't feel any fat and her ribs stick out then she is underweight. If you can't feel her ribs, then she is overweight. If you look at her from above, there should be a noticeable waistline but if there is a stark difference between her ribs and waist then she is underweight. If there is no waistline or her waist is rounded then she is overweight.

How is her attitude? Is she lively, active or lethargic? I agree with Sharky and would suggest increasing her wet food intake and decreasing the dry. It sounds like she is doing better already with the FF so I think you are on the right track.

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Thanks for the diagnostics. I think based on this guidance, she is at a good weight. She isn't lethargic.

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Also - how can I encourage her to take bites out of her wet food? All she does is lick it like ice cream and spread it in her bowl, so it takes the entire day of apportioning it out for her to consume one can.

Thanks, again.