My bengal is 1.5 yrs old.. I was feeding 2 small cans of before grain food, one in am one in pm.. Cat would start to bother me in middle of night to eat.. I added 2/3 cup of science diet t/d for teeth and it has done a great job of cleaning his teeth. Now, with 2 cans and 2/3 cup kibble, ( which I know isnt recommended) my cat is too overweight. I'm now feeding one small can of before grain in the am and the 2/3 cup kibble nite time .. 9pm. any comments suggestions?
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overweight cat
- Thread starter luke4275
- Start Date
I'd say ditch the T/D. It's really such a poor quality food and is likely contributing to the weight gain because of the high carbohydrate content. For dental health, what about feeding some chicken necks or gizzards instead?
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #3
What did you try, and how did you introduce it? Cats develop preferences for particular smells and textures of food at a young age and anything that deviates from that is often regarded with suspicion. The key is repeat exposure to get the cat familiar with the new food, and also increasing its appeal by coating or mixing it with something irresistible, like a favourite treat pulverized and sprinkled on top. Some tips for encouraging a cat to eat new food:
http://healthypets.mercola.com/site...nsition-your-cat-to-raw-food-diet-part-1.aspx
http://healthypets.mercola.com/site...nsition-your-cat-to-raw-food-diet-part-2.aspx
http://feline-nutrition.org/nutrition/how-to-transition-your-cat-to-a-raw-diet
http://www.rawfedcats.org/practicalguide.htm
Hello and welcome to TCS!
If your cat is overweight, you should really consult your vet about is. Your vet should weigh the cat and suggest the appropriate food and how much to feed. Feline obesity can be a serious medical problem (if indeed the cat is obese, which the vet can determine).
More about feline obesity
Behaviorally speaking, it's very important not to give in to his night time begging. He can wait until the morning for his feeding. If he's used to night time feeding, it might take a while to break the habit, but for your own sake, you should. If he tries to wake you up at night - ignore him. Don't even show him you're waking up and pretend to be asleep. He'll stop waking you after a few nights of no reaction on your part.
If you're interested in raw feeding, we have a forum dedicated to raw feeding where you can learn more about that option. As with any dietary change, please take the time to research first.
Basically, if your cat is overweight, you need to cut down on his food, and increase his exercise, just like with humans. BUT, like Anne says, you should check with your Vet first, to determine if he is actually overweight, and how much he should lose, and how quickly. Cats should not lose weight too quickly or it can cause other serious problems.
My Darko is currently on a "diet", and our Vet suggested very high protein, low carb food, "catkins diet", if you will!
My Darko is currently on a "diet", and our Vet suggested very high protein, low carb food, "catkins diet", if you will!
Slowly cut out the kibble and then slowly slowly cut down to 5-6oz of wet food per day. Ask your vet what his ideal weight is and aim for only 2% weight loss each week.
