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Getting my Lucas to try raw, a new journey... - Page 3

post #61 of 186
1/8/12 at 1:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Momto4kitties View Post

Ok:)  I think that is the right thing to do.  Right now he woke up and he is waiting for me to give him his kibble, what do you think I should do?  Do I give him  the pea size meat as a treat now? 

You can!! Hunger always works for your advantage!!
Always have kibbles available for him..... on his plate..... But you will not personally feed him - he will go on his own.
Then for the kibbles, establish meal times: 1 meal before you go to work. 1 meal right when you come home to work, and 1 late night meal.
Mine are: 9am, 6pm, and 11pm

So to recap:
Always have a plate of kibbles for him in the beginning.
at 9am, 6pm, and 11pm you will personally sit down with him alone and feed him fresh kibbles. You can do this in a different room - for example, you bedroom. Just you and him.
This will be the time you will serve the others their raw meat as well.
Or if you are putting them all in a schedule, all will go to a room.

This is the only time they will have your attention (at feeding) at feeding kibbles.
Sit for 20-30 minutes and remove that plate (the other one in the kitchen is still available).

Aside from that, he will only get attention from you when getting raw treats.......

Here is what this will do:

Attention from momma = meals on schedule and raw meals...... = a good thing.

This attention that I am talking about is for feeding, of course.... you will still play and love him,..... but not feed him on demand.... You will only feed him personally either on schedule or raw.... For what you say, he calls for you when he is hungry... so this might be easier than not.....
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post #62 of 186
1/8/12 at 1:59pm
Thread Starter 

Got it:)  I will report back soon:) Thank you:)

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post #63 of 186
1/8/12 at 2:43pm
Thread Starter 

ok, tried and failed, Lucas won't even try the treat i made, he tried again to cover it.  I made it very small and with kibble dust covering it completely. Nena ate it though.... He even looks at me angry when I give them to him.  I tried talking to him and I pet him softly and  nothing.

 

I'll keep doing it everyday though...

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post #64 of 186
1/8/12 at 3:18pm
Thread Starter 

oh wow, I had to make another raw treat for Nena, she loves them too much, I will give her treats everyday, maybe Lucas will learn with her;)

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post #65 of 186
1/8/12 at 3:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Momto4kitties View Post

ok, tried and failed, Lucas won't even try the treat i made, he tried again to cover it.  I made it very small and with kibble dust covering it completely. Nena ate it though.... He even looks at me angry when I give them to him.  I tried talking to him and I pet him softly and  nothing.

I'll keep doing it everyday though...

Have you tried dipping them in yogurt?
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post #66 of 186
1/8/12 at 3:49pm

Well, I am learning a whole lot from your thread - I'm having some feeding issues of my own - the tips & ideas being given here are great!

I loved the video you made - my cat is making exactly the same faces, it's pitiful to see - now I don't feel so alone - lol.

 I hope the fact that Lucas ate the food next to the kibble-covered treat is the start of something wonderful - you could tell that initially the smell of the meat turned him off - but then when he ate the food around it I was so encouraged for him! It seemed that it didn't bother him as much...like you, I keep thinking this transition should happen faster for the kitty's sake. Reading some of the stories on how long it can take puts it all in perspective. It's hard to remember to stay calm & not create stress that the cats will associate with the food.

 

I can't leave without mentioning the legs in the background of the video...I was totally freaked out by what looked like the legs of people hiding, sticking out under a curtain or something. Then I finally realized they were dolls! LOL 

 I saw Psycho as a kid, and I haven't been the same since...dizzy.gif

 

Sending vibes for you & the kitties!  vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif

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post #67 of 186
1/8/12 at 3:50pm

Tammy, I have to disagree with Carolina here.

 

Every cat is different, and your Lucas has already begun to eat his kibbles with the raw food right there on his plate, in the room where he normally eats, right alongside Nena.

 

This is a GREAT first step, a PERFECT first step... and there is no reason to do anything but keep moving forward from this point. I recommend against changing anything right now (in other words - *don't* feed him in a special room, etc.). Carolina's kitty was already accustomed to eating separately, so bringing her cats together would be a change ----- your baby is accustomed to eating with Nena, so separating them will be yet another change he'll have to deal with.

 

You have every reason to be hopeful here, honey!

 

My suggestion is to keep putting the raw bits, either beef or chicken, coated in kibble, on Lucas' plate at mealtimes (he's not free-fed anymore, is he?). Once he starts eating them (and he will), then slowly increase the number of raw bits on the plate and decrease the amount of kibble.

 

Because you're going directly to frankenprey, the raw meat is going to require chewing at some point. For now, keep them pea-sized. Once he's eating them regularly, you can slowly reduce the amount of kibble covering them, and then slowly increase the size of the pieces.

 

This could take weeks - and that's totally ok! It's not how fast you do this that matters, it's that you and Lucas are successful.

 

So, again, for now, just keep offering him a bite or two on his plate with his kibbles. As he begins to associate those bits with "food", he will begin to first accept them as belonging there, then begin to eat them.

 

Have faith!!! heartpump.gif hugs.gif

 

AC

 

And in the meantime - there's no reason at all you can't switch Nena right over to a completely raw diet. Seeing her eating the meat will have a positive affect on Lucas.

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post #68 of 186
1/8/12 at 4:23pm
Thread Starter 

Thank you all:)  Every suggestion helps me a lot.  Hi AC, I really  wanted  you to see the video, so you could tell me your opinion, I feel so happy about Lucas eating  kibbles with the piece of raw there, I have big hopes for him, I know he just need time. I will keep him with Nena then, he is very used to eating with her, but I was willing to change that if that could help Lucas.  I was also thinking that Nena will be eating a complete raw diet soon and he needs to see her eating so he can learn. I know they tend to do whatever the other is doing. 

 

Hi coatfetish, sorry about the dolls freaking you out! haha!  I should have explained that.  I make clother for dolls, and those dolls under the plastic bags are Vanessa and Sydney, my two Masterpiece dolls.  I have them covered with bags because they are naked at the moment, I'm in the process of making new clother for them, just so you can see them looking beautiful and not scary, take a look at them on my website:
http://ramat26.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=11158501

 

http://ramat26.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=11158220

 

Tammy

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post #69 of 186
1/8/12 at 5:33pm
Hi Tammy - just catching up here tonight hugs.gif and YAY for Lucas eating the kibble with the raw on the same plate!!!! That is excellent progress. One little step at a time. I really think it is great that Nena likes the raw and that just might help show Lucas the way to go cross.gif I send many hopeful prayers and vibes to Lucas and many hugs to you each day. I really, really want this for Lucas and for you. It WILL happen. hugs.gifhugs.gifhugs.gifhugs.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif
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post #70 of 186
1/8/12 at 5:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy View Post

Tammy, I have to disagree with Carolina here.

Every cat is different, and your Lucas has already begun to eat his kibbles with the raw food right there on his plate, in the room where he normally eats, right alongside Nena.

This is a GREAT first step, a PERFECT first step... and there is no reason to do anything but keep moving forward from this point. I recommend against changing anything right now (in other words - *don't* feed him in a special room, etc.). Carolina's kitty was already accustomed to eating separately, so bringing her cats together would be a change
your baby is accustomed to eating with Nena, so separating them will be yet another change he'll have to deal with.

You have every reason to be hopeful here, honey!

My suggestion is to keep putting the raw bits, either beef or chicken, coated in kibble, on Lucas' plate at mealtimes (he's not free-fed anymore, is he?). Once he starts eating them (and he will), then slowly increase the number of raw bits on the plate and decrease the amount of kibble.

Because you're going directly to frankenprey, the raw meat is going to require chewing at some point. For now, keep them pea-sized. Once he's eating them regularly, you can slowly reduce the amount of kibble covering them, and then slowly increase the size of the pieces.

This could take weeks - and that's totally ok! It's not how fast you do this that matters, it's that you and Lucas are successful.

So, again, for now, just keep offering him a bite or two on his plate with his kibbles. As he begins to associate those bits with "food", he will begin to first accept them as belonging there, then begin to eat them.

Have faith!!! heartpump.gifhugs.gif

AC

And in the meantime - there's no reason at all you can't switch Nena right over to a completely raw diet. Seeing her eating the meat will have a positive affect on Lucas.

So you also say she should keep free-feeding him kibbles and not put him into a schedule? Because this is what I was trying to do here AC... Naturally, without stressing out Lucas.
Can you clarify that? Because he is free-fed.... He is underweight, and he is sick..... So the whole idea is to not stress him out and to not cut his caloric intake while moving him into a schedule feeding... you see? Changing rooms IMHO is not that much of a change. Changing a cat to a scheduled meal - that one IS a big change. All I am trying to do here, is to give an idea that will make that process easier on Lucas. I can not compare him to Lucky - but somewhat, they are similar, and I do have first hand experience on it. Lucky has not been well either... so I could not cut her caloric intake.... Just like Lucas... and like him is a die hard free fed kitty. And no.... Lucky never ate alone - she always ate with Hope heartpump.gif
I said to take all the kitties to a different room.... after words - did you miss that?
My point was - Away from where she originally fed the kibbles - which is in the kitchen.... This would make it different for the kitties.... They would have meal times.... and something to look forward to it.
I said in a post - which was missed I guess dontknow.gif - if she is working on moving them all to a schedule - take them all to that room.
I am confused now if free-feeding or schedule doesn't matter anymore - as I thought scheduled meals were the very first step here dontknow.gif
Anyways.... Just trying to help..... This process, this idea, suggested by Laurie, helped me tremendously to put Lucky on a schedule - and I think it would help him too. I think it is quite brilliant actually agree.gif

Tammy, hang in there -
I think it is fantastic that he is not repulsed by meat either - you will get there hun hugs.gif
Edited by Carolina - 1/8/12 at 6:20pm
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post #71 of 186
1/8/12 at 6:13pm
Thread Starter 

Hi Lauren, thank you!   I will keep working with my boy, I have to do whatever it takes:)

 

Hi Carolina, no, of course I can't free feed, I was just discussing that with AC and I told her that I will not free feed my boy anymore, in fact, I didn't today, I think it was just a misunderstanding, everything is fine:)  I'm taking all your ideas and ACs and Laurie's and all the great advice I'm getting here and using everything to help Lucas,

 

Lucas in fact has always been fed in my room with Nena, never in the kitchen, sorry if I gave that idea.  They eat in my room. 

 

I'm very scared because it looks like Lucas has a fever tonight, I will see how he does tonight and I will  decide if he needs a vet tomorrow, Maybe it will pass, is the lupus that causes the fevers.

 

Hugs to all for helping my baby! I love you all!

 

 

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post #72 of 186
1/8/12 at 6:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Momto4kitties View Post

Hi Lauren, thank you!   I will keep working with my boy, I have to do whatever it takes:)

Hi Carolina, no, of course I can't free feed, I was just discussing that with AC and I told her that I will not free feed my boy anymore, in fact, I didn't today, I think it was just a misunderstanding, everything is fine:)  I'm taking all your ideas and ACs and Laurie's and all the great advice I'm getting here and using everything to help Lucas,

Lucas in fact has always been fed in my room with Nena, never in the kitchen, sorry if I gave that idea.  They eat in my room. 

I'm very scared because it looks like Lucas has a fever tonight, I will see how he does tonight and I will  decide if he needs a vet tomorrow, Maybe it will pass, is the lupus that causes the fevers.

Hugs to all for helping my baby! I love you all!


Oh no hun!
I am sorry he has a fever vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif
It's great that they eat there already..... then stick with giving attention during the meals times and the 20-30 minutes rule agree.gif is he eating a proper amount on schedule? How many meals are you doing?
What I do with Lucky, is I separate her daily meals into a ziplock bag in the morning so I can measure the amount left after the last meal at night and know exactly how much she ate - if she didn't eat enough, I complement with treats other than kibbles - on her case, raw treats agree.gif
In Lucas case, you need to find something that he likes.... Can't wait for the fortiflora to get there - maybe that will do it with the treats agree.gif
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post #73 of 186
1/8/12 at 7:19pm
Thread Starter 

I will of course give him the attention when he eats, he loves that and I love doing it.  Today I gave him food 4 times, I was justo going to give him 3, but he was crying like two hours ago because he was hungry, so I gave him more. He didn't eat much in morning, but he ate lunch, dinner and two hours ago.  I serve him what the bag says according to his weight, which is supposed to be almost a cup 5/8 cup a day.  I can't tell you exactly how much he ate because honestly I don't know the exact amount, and Nena also ate from his plate.  I've been considering also that I will need to find some kind of food he can wat while I continue to work with the transition  to raw, I don't know , I will have to see how he continues to do with the RC because he is looking pretty itchy. 

 

That is another problem I gotta solve.  And also, keep watching that fever that comes and goes.

 

The most important thing is that I love Lucas and I have to help him.  I"m not perfect, but I'm doing the best I can and I can't thank you all enough for helping us. 

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post #74 of 186
1/8/12 at 8:22pm
Tammy - I forgot to ask.... Have you tried coating the treats with Parmesan cheese yet? A lot of people are successful with it....
hugs.gif
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post #75 of 186
1/8/12 at 8:40pm
Tammy, I haven't had a chance to watch the video(s), but will tomorrow! I'm SURE it just grabs at the heart! laughing02.gif They are SO good at that!

Don't be - well - try not to be - worried about his not eating the raw. I think his eating the kibble WITH the raw "treat" there was a GREAT first step. agree.gif You have to go at his pace. But given he was walking away from the food altogether, that's an IMPORTANT step!

And it's all about those "baby steps." agree.gifbiggrin.gifhugs.gifhugs.gifhugs.gif
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post #76 of 186
1/9/12 at 4:26am
Thread Starter 

I haven't tried that Carolina, and in fact, I bought that cheese the other day,so I have it :)  Thanks for the tip:)

 

Laurie, I'm feeling very positive and confident now and I'm prayting he will try it soon.  Thank God he looks better today, no fever, yay! 

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post #77 of 186
1/9/12 at 6:47am
woohoo.gif On no fever! THAT is good news! hugs.gifbiggrin.gif

I'm so glad you're feeling more confident. It's a lot easier when you think of this process as just that - a process, and celebrate the little baby steps that WILL come when they happen. agree.gifhugs.gifhugs.gifhugs.gifrub.gifclap.gif
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post #78 of 186
1/9/12 at 9:07am
Thread Starter 

Here is a video of Nena eating her raw  at lunch today, I gave her a bigger piece and she loved it, in fact she didn't eat her kibble, just the raw, my boy didn't, but still ate from the plate, lets see what happens at dinner. 
 

Here is Nena, making mommy proud:
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcnO7vIM16o&feature=youtu.be

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post #79 of 186
1/9/12 at 9:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Momto4kitties View Post

Here is a video of Nena eating her raw  at lunch today, I gave her a bigger piece and she loved it, in fact she didn't eat her kibble, just the raw, my boy didn't, but still ate from the plate, lets see what happens at dinner. 

 
Here is Nena, making mommy proud:

 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcnO7vIM16o&feature=youtu.be

Yey Go Nena! clap.gifclap.gifclap.gifclap.gif
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post #80 of 186
1/9/12 at 10:29am
PHEW- glad Lucas has NO FEVER woohoo.gif.... LOVE LOVE the video - AWWWWW Nena - what beauty and she loves that raw !! Thank you for sharing that video.

I am waiting for my Fortiflora to arrive - hopefully today. I am SO curious to see if that will help draw Lucas to at least sniffing and licking the raw cross.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif For Lucas - just keep on doing what your doing !!! Your doing just great, Tammy hugs.gifhugs.gifwavey.gif
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post #81 of 186
1/9/12 at 12:21pm

 Tammy - the clothes you make are gorgeous! Funny enough, I work in the fabric department of Walmart, and I recognize those materials - lol. It's so nice to see how beautiful they can be in a finished project!

 

Things are sounding so hopeful - Nena is taking to the raw, and Lucas is still eating with the raw next to him - I'm so happy for you! I'm eager to know how coating the food in parmesan cheese and/or Fortiflora will work for you...I'll be trying it too.

 

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post #82 of 186
1/9/12 at 12:56pm

 

Originally Posted by Momto4kitties

Here is a video of Nena eating her raw  at lunch today, I gave her a bigger piece and she loved it, in fact she didn't eat her kibble, just the raw, my boy didn't, but still ate from the plate, lets see what happens at dinner. 
 

Here is Nena, making mommy proud:
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcnO7vIM16o&feature=youtu.be


Look at her just munching away!!! She's a total natural, Tammy! biggthumpup.gif

 

The way she ignored the kibble and has little problem chewing down the chunks, I'd say she's ready to switch right over. You'll need to start assembling your list of protein, organ and bone-in sources.

 

Let's hope her enthusiasm rubs off on Lucas ASAP!!!!

 

AC

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post #83 of 186
1/9/12 at 2:20pm
Thread Starter 

Thank you all:)  Hi Lauren, I haven't received the Fortiflora yet.   I hope it arrives soon and I hope it helps. 

 

Yes, haha I buy most of my fabrics at walmart;)  I"m glad you liked my dresses coatfetish:)  I try to be as creative as possible, I need the money to help my Lucas;)
 

Yes AC isn't she adorable eating her meat?  Nena knows that is what she is supposed to eat and she loves it. Yes, I have to make plans for her meals soon, she is ready to start.  Lucas didn't eat any of the raw treats I  made today, but I will try once more later tonight to see what happens.  I need him to learn from Nena now!   

 

HUgs!

 

Tammy

 

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post #84 of 186
1/9/12 at 2:32pm
She IS a natural! clap.gifclap.gifclap.gif

And at least Lucas has decided to continue eating despite that smelly raw bit of food being on his plate. biggthumpup.gif
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post #85 of 186
1/9/12 at 3:36pm
Thread Starter 

Flaqui has decided to eat raw too, she ate it all just minutes ago, raw beef, but now only a small piece, three big pieces!  Now, Fuzzy and Lucas are still reluctant, only the girls are cooperating....

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post #86 of 186
1/9/12 at 5:08pm
Hi Tammy - YAY for Flaqui too smile.gif.. I DID receive the Fortiflora woohoo.gifjumping.gif AND it worked. Perla actually had the best meal tonight since she has been sick.clap.gifclap.gif PIPSQUEAK ate a teeny tiny bit of raw mixed in with his wet and a little bit of Fortiflora sprinkled on top. thud.gif I really, really, really hope it get's Lucas a little interested too cross.gifwavey.gif
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post #87 of 186
1/9/12 at 7:28pm
Tammy, just mega vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif Fortiflora will be the trick Lucas responds to! (And Fuzzy too!) It would make it SO MUCH easier for you! cross.gif
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post #88 of 186
1/10/12 at 4:28am
Thread Starter 

Oh I'm so glad it wored with Perla Lauren!  I haven't received mine yet, hope fully in the next couple of days.  For now my boys are being difficult, but at least Fuzzy is not sick and with Fuzzy the thing is he likes cooked meat, , I will just cook it a little bit and give it to them today.  WEll, not really cook just sear. 

 

I had a little scare with Nena yesterday because she vomited, and that girl never vomits, she is ok now, maybe is just the change.  My brother was here are immediately blamed me for giving her raw, he means well, he just loves Nena and was worried.  But everything is fine now.

 

Let's see what the day brings, I have to go out today. some errands to run with my friends.   Talk to you all later:)

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post #89 of 186
1/10/12 at 6:45am
vibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gifvibes.gif for you and the kitties today! hugs.gif
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post #90 of 186
1/10/12 at 10:23am

I wondered about the other 2, and why we weren't hearing about their adventures into the raw territory!  Glad they are starting to venture there too.  As to the Forti-flora, or as I call it around "do I need to Flor-ti-fy" you food to get you to eat?" laughing02.gif  Anyway, the first time I put it on Sven's food, he looked at me like I was crazy.  BUT, I think he just was having a bad day, because another day I tried it again, and he loved it.  So, if it doesn't work at first, don't give up.  And with the Halo treats (can't recall if you've ordered those or not), he loves them as treats, but doesn't seem to like it when I crush them and add them to his food to entice him to eat.  Go figure! 

 

I still think it's GREAT that Lucas will eat his food with some raw on the plate!  That's a good sign of things to come, IMO.
 

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