Getting new baby to eat canned food

lonelykitten

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My niece got her ragdoll kitten Thursday and since he is staying at our house until next weekend I went with.

Anyways while we were there I found out my niece's kitten's brother was still available needless to say I now own him...my husband is not happy at all but what are ya gonna do lol and he is adjusting to the new boy(seeing as he wants the baby to sleep on his pillow at night now lol).

When we got him we were told he was on royal canin babycat 34, which the breeder gave us a bag, and she also gave us a couple cans of FF morning medley. Anyway our kitten seems happy and healthy but he doesn't eat much canned food. Eats about 2 spoonfuls a day. I know babies don't have a big appetite but my other kitties plowed down canned food when they were his age.

I always leave out dry food so don't want to pick that up and he is kinda on the skinny side too. Is there any way to get him to increase his canned food consumption.
 

ritz

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You  know I'd be kind of worried about a kitten not eating a lot; they have enormous appetites/hunger.  Maybe he's just so excited / scared / nervous / busy exploring he doesn't have much of an appetite, but if you notice any additional weight loss, I'd take him to the vets to get checked out.

Meanwhile, you might try putting toppers on the food, like Bonito fish flakes or Forti Flora (a low grade probiotic, but very tasty to cats).  Or maybe he's just bored with the food; try a different brand.
 
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lonelykitten

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Thanks we have tried different canned food he hates the royal canin kitten canned food he likes the FF kitten food and this morning he tried and seemed to like the Nature's Variety canned chicken food. He does eat but mainly his dry Royal Canin food and he nibbles on the girl's Costco food as well, which he will be switching to eventually when his royal canin food starts running low.

He does get excited about canned food when I feed it but can't hold much at a time and I try feeding him canned in the afternoon but he won't eat it just morning and night. I don't want to pick up his dry food I want him to have dry food available.
 

otto

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I would eliminate the dry food all together and just feed a variety of canned foods on a schedule. As suggested use toppers to stimulate interest, it is the smell that attracts cats to food. Congratulations on your new little one.
 
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lonelykitten

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I would eliminate the dry food all together and just feed a variety of canned foods on a schedule. As suggested use toppers to stimulate interest, it is the smell that attracts cats to food. Congratulations on your new little one.
I'm just kinda worried if I take away dry food he'll lose weight. And my girls eat dry food anyways so he'll probably just get into their's. my girls are on a 50/50 dry and canned mix and I wanna put him on the same mix of canned and dried food.
 

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Have you tried paté-type canned foods? You said the breeder gave you Morning Medleys, those flavors are chunky, and all the kitten I've raised had trouble with chunky canned foods when they were young (even if he was eating it at the breeder's. . .maybe the babies licked the gravy off and Momcat ate the chunks). Maybe even add some extra water to make kitty soup.
 
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lonelykitten

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Have you tried paté-type canned foods? You said the breeder gave you Morning Medleys, those flavors are chunky, and all the kitten I've raised had trouble with chunky canned foods when they were young (even if he was eating it at the breeder's. . .maybe the babies licked the gravy off and Momcat ate the chunks). Maybe even add some extra water to make kitty soup.
Yes the royal canin canned is a pate and made specifically for baby kittens and he has no interest. I smashed the canned food up and he will pick at it a little more. I'm just going to go and pick up different stuff and let him give them all a try.
 

vball91

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My cat is weird and doesn't like pate unless I mix it up well with some water and make a gravy of it. Worth a shot with your little one.
 

gussamor

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You can always try Gerbers2 baby food. About 80 calories per container. I think cats need about 30 calories per pound a day (a 7 pound cat would need 210 calories) so if he will eat Gerbers in addition to other food, you could bulk him up. Though my "problem cat" no longer likes baby food, it really made a difference in getting her weight up. I was feeding her it to her 3 times a day. Heating it really increased her interest (test temp just like you do for human babies - if too hot - stir with spoon end - it acts as a heat sink).
 
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lonelykitten

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How-old-is-the-kitten-and-how-long-have-you-had-him?:wavey:
He is 11 weeks old and we've had him for about a week. My niece's kitten eats so much more than our baby and our baby weighs about 3 lbs and the other boy was pushing 4 and their brothers. Our boy is currently on meds for a URI though.
 

flintmccullough

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What-medication-is-he-on-and-when-was-he-diagnosed,with-URI,did-he-come-sick-from-the-breeder,or-he-got-sick,after,you-got-him,and,what-does-your-contract-say,regarding-sickness/illness?
 
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lonelykitten

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Well I know he came sick he had nose/eye gunk when I got him breeder gave us 48 hours to get him checked unfortunetely we just took him in today because our vet had to cancel the day after he came home. I contacted breeder with what was going on she said probably just stress from moving homes and I said no he was gunky when we got him and than she just kinda went into lala land with the whole "well glad you got him the medicine I'm sure he'll be better in no time."

I spoke to the breeder a lot when I was setting up picking up my niece's kitten and she seemed like a great woman it's just that now there is an issue where she is like this. I wasn't even asking for any money I was just letting her know that he was sick when we recieved him.
 

flintmccullough

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Read-your-contract.If-he-came-sick-from-the-breeder,it-is-her-responsibility,to-get-him-well,before,you-take-him,or-pay-for-his-vet-bill-for-this-issue.A-responsible-breeder,would-not-let-a-sick-kitten-go.

I-already-been-this-route,very,long-story,but-in-the-end,they-all-paid,so-if-you-need-help,let-me-know.I-got-way-to-many-contacts-in-CFA,and-I-know-how-the-game-is-played.

He-is-not-eating,because-he-is-not-feeling-well,and-with-a-URI,you-have-to-be-careful,they-don't-get-dehydrated,which-would-also-make-them-not-feel-well,and-not-want-to-eat.

Kittens-have-very-sensative-little-systems,and-can-go-downhill-quickly.He-needs-to-be-on-antibiotics-and-sub-q-fluids.And,she-should-be-paying-for-this.I-took-down-a-championship-cattery,they-messed-with-the-wrong-kitten-buyer.

Kittens-need-to-be-on-kitten-food,and-just-one-kind/brand,their-systems-are-very-very-sensative,constant-changing-of-brands-and-types-dry/wet-can-give-them-diarea.He-is-already-sick,he-doesn't-need-the-added-stress-of-different-foods.

Get-him-off-Royal-Canin,its-full-of-grains,glutens-and-by-products,as-is-Fancy-Feast.I-feed-Blue-Wilderness.

http://bluebuffalo.com/cat-food/wilderness-kitten?pf=1&lifestage=kitten&animal=cat

Here-is-a-good-site-to-read-about-cat-nutrition.

http://catinfo.org/

If-you-want-to-paw-mail-me,who-the-breeder-is,I-will-give-you-the-contact-info-for-the-Regional-Director,of-her-Region.Breeders-don't-want-to-mess-with-those-people,or-CFA,if-a-breeder-is-selling-a-sick-kitten,then-blowing-you-off,you-will-get-your-vet-bill-paid.Don't-let-her-do-this-to-another-kitten-buyer.

 
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