wants more food than bag says she should have

jingles_my_cat

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My cat Jingles is about 1 yr old. I feed her adult Blue Buffalo dry food. The bag says to give her 1/2 cup. My kiddo feeds her this much in the morning. By the time we get home, her bowl is empty and she wants more food. Sometimes later at night I will give her a small amount (not even a 1/4 cup) because I feel bad that she's hungry. I don't want an overweight cat. Both of my previous cats were fat and I dont' want that w/ her. Am I not feeding her enough? Should I only give her 1/4 cup in the morning and 1/4 cup when we get home in the early evening?

Thanks!
 

ducman69

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Yes, two 1/4 cup feedings would help, morning and night. You might also consider throwing in a 3oz wet meal at some point in between, and its mostly water so not high calorie. If you call Blue or Wellness, they will recommend combination feeding with their dry.
 

bastetservant

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Some say one should look at the weight of the cat, or the desired weight, and feed 15 calories per day per pound of cat. But, the caloric needs can vary a lot based on a cat's age, activity level, and metabolism.

I feed my cats a scant (slightly below level) 1/4 cup of dry, low caloric food, twice a day, at 6 a.m. (later on weekends) and 9-10 p.m. They range in size from under 8 lbs. to 17 lbs., so some eat more and some eat less of this food as they all have access to all 5 bowls.

I also feed a small, 1 oz. meal of canned food once a day, about 6 p.m. Two of them eat this all up in half an hour (the amount of time they have to eat it) every day and the other 3 eat almost all of it some days, and less of it other days. I weigh my cats monthly (on a baby scale) to check on how they are doing. I make adjustments as needed.

So, I suggest spacing out your kitty's meals more, and adding a little canned food. The canned food is good for cats' kidneys. I add warm water to the canned food and mix it in well (only about 2-3 teaspoons to the 1 oz.) so that my cats get more water.

When I was a child my mother fed our cats when we went to bed because they then went to sleep after wards. I have followed that practice all my life since. It works, for the most part.

Robin
 

mnjulz

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How does she look? Is she thin? Maybe add a little more and space it out 3 times a day.
 

naps with cats

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I still free-feed my 10 cats. They usually will adjust and learn how much to eat (that won't make them sick from eating too much). I have one that's a little overweight, but only because he has Radial Hypoplasia, so he needs to lose a little weight because it's all going on one forearm (and back legs) that he walks with. Sometimes he just walks on his hiney legs! Cool dude, my Tiny Dancer!

Warmly,

Julie O'
 

goldenkitty45

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We feed 1/4 cup in the morning (dry) and then canned at night. I find that most adult cats will overeat if food is left out all the time. I only free feed kittens up to 4 months old - then they get 2 meals a day.

Never had a fat cat feeding this way. I only had ONE adult cat that would not overeat when food was left out all the time, but at that time he was the only cat in the house.

I go more of how they look and feel rather then what the package says to feed
 

kittica

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Our cat is supposedly turning one this month and has been with us for four months. Prior to that, she lived outside as a stray (no idea where she came from) for a while with two other cats. We fed them some dog dried food and the like. She walked through our open window one snowy night.

We've been having trouble feeding her, or, well, figuring out HOW to feed her - when, what, how often, etc. - ever since we got her. When she first came, she came with a tapeworm so she acted like a botomless bag. Once the worms were gotten rid off, we were supposed to put her on a steady, more sensical diet.

It's been months and we're still struggling. :/

She is about 8 pounds 3 oz, doesn't look fat at all. She wakes me up at night (or more like 4-5 am), only to scream for food. Then she wants another meal when I get up for work (between 6:30 and 7:30). Then she wants more food when I come home for lunch, between 12 and 1pm. Then she wants dinner at 6:30pm.

Meanwhile, I would say all she thinks about is - food. If she had access to anything edible, she'd eat it. She wants all our meals, snacks... what have you. She'd kill for bread, but she really doesn't care for fruit.

We feed her Welness Core dry food, combined with (usually) Welness 3 oz cans, all high protein. She eats one 3 oz can a day (that's her meal at 6:30pm) and between 1/4 and 1/2 of a cup of dry food.

What are we doing wrong? :/

(Or, if there's anything we're doing right, what could we do better? I am really struggling with these night meals and other ideas she gets in the middle of the night.)
 

mnjulz

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Kittica - I am by far no expert on food or nutrition but that doesn't sound like enough food for your cat. My Wellness can says to feed 6 oz per 8lbs and your cat is slightly over 8lbs. If your cat isn't over weight, why not throw another 1/4 cup of hard food down. I guess I always thought the amounts on the bags or cans were meant to be only a GUIDE as every cat is different so the amounts may very.
 

kittica

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She's by no means overweight, it's just that we're trying hard to keep her there. I'd really prefer if we didn't have to deal with some special diets sometime down the road.

I did some research online a while ago, mostly on different forums (it seems like all the food manufacturers advise you to feed your cat as if she were, in fact, the size of an elephant) and it kind of sounded about right to give her one 3oz can of moist food a day and then something between 1/4 and 1/2 cup of dry kibbles.

I can try adding some more to her diet, though, and see if it'll make her any happier... without turning her into a chubby little ball.
 

addiebee

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I agree with breaking up the feedings into two.. and giving a little wet food... And I believe rule of thumb is about 25 cals per lb you want kitty to weigh. Now if he/she is young and energetic, your fur baby may NEED more cals.

Given my schedule, I semi free-feed... and give two small wet meals a day. I have one chunk-o, who likely eats more than his fair share of the apportioned dry, one "couch potato" pudgy but my vet was fine w/his weight and the rest are normal to slim. A couple of them are ALWAYS begging for more food.. and if they are really insistent, they get wet food... b/c of calories and hydration.
 

kittica

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She already gets three meals a day:

A tiny amount at some weird early hour in the morning (now getting rid of this because I refuse to get up).

Then 1/4 cup of dry before I go to work (between 6:30 and 7:30, depending on my schedule).

A bit under 1/4 of dry for lunch (around noon or so).

3oz can of Welness high protein food at 6:30pm.

I guess we'll start a smaller meal before (our) bedtime, too, just in hopes of getting her to sleep and/or not beg during the night.
 

cherryblast

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I went from feeding 2x a day (1/4 cup x 2) and found that my meezers gained alot of weight, so now its 1 per day in the evening. They complained about for a bit then quickly adjusted to being fed in the evening.
 

otto

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Originally Posted by Kittica

She's by no means overweight, it's just that we're trying hard to keep her there. I'd really prefer if we didn't have to deal with some special diets sometime down the road.

I did some research online a while ago, mostly on different forums (it seems like all the food manufacturers advise you to feed your cat as if she were, in fact, the size of an elephant) and it kind of sounded about right to give her one 3oz can of moist food a day and then something between 1/4 and 1/2 cup of dry kibbles.

I can try adding some more to her diet, though, and see if it'll make her any happier... without turning her into a chubby little ball.
Your girl may have a food anxiety, many rescued strays do. Feed her small meals frequently instead of one serving all at once.

I'd put her on an all canned diet, too. The carbs in dry food make cats feel hungry, even when they aren't
 

kittica

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Originally Posted by otto

Your girl may have a food anxiety, many rescued strays do. Feed her small meals frequently instead of one serving all at once.

I'd put her on an all canned diet, too. The carbs in dry food make cats feel hungry, even when they aren't
I thought Wellness Core was supposed to be a high-protein kind of food?

I just googled the ingredients again:

Deboned Turkey, Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whitefish Meal, Potatoes, Salmon Meal, Natural Chicken Flavor. Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a natural source of Vitamin E), Tomato Pomace, Cranberries, Chicory Root Extract, Salmon Oil, Flaxseed, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B-12 Supplement), Choline Chloride, Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), Yucca Schidigera Extract, Dried Kelp, Taurine, Lactobacillus Plantarum, Enterococcus Faecium, Lactobacillus Casei, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Rosemary Extract.
From what I've read, feeding only canned leads to more teeth problem, too. But I don't know for sure, I'm still learning.
 

otto

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Originally Posted by Kittica

I thought Wellness Core was supposed to be a high-protein kind of food?

I just googled the ingredients again:



From what I've read, feeding only canned leads to more teeth problem, too. But I don't know for sure, I'm still learning.
Wellness core is probably lower in carbs than most kibble. But cats do better on a canned food diet because they need the moisture. Cats don't drink enough to be properly hydrated, ever.

Canned food is not any worse for teeth than dry and may be less worse. Dry food has crumbs that stick to teeth and get under the gumline.

A home dental care routine, proper diet, and regular vet check ups will help keep her teeth healthy, dental health is largely genetic anyway.


I think I read where you already brush her teeth. That's good but you need to be using an enzymatic toothpaste or it won't really help much. Most pet store toothpastes are useless, you need a paste such as c.e.t. enzymatic tooth paste, enzymatic means "breaks down bacteria".

Never use human tooth paste, it's toxic to cats.

<sorry for the thread drift, OP
>
 

kittica

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Yup, we're using C.E.T. toothpaste (poultry flavoured is her preference) and regular kids toothbrush. She just freaks out when she sees any of those animal ones (especially the one that just goes on your finger). I did a lot of homework researching all this before I picked this particular brand out.

Same happened with Wellness CORE. We started out with Meow Mix and whatever else was at pet/grocery stores, but that just didn't work at all. She kept meowing for food literally 24/7.

How many 3oz cans should I give her if we switched to mostly canned, then? I'd like to keep feeding her dry food for at least one meal a day - she loves eating lunch from her Eggcersizer. (And it buys me time to eat my lunch without her all over my plate, too.
)
 
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