Planning to commit...

So after spending most of Christmas day and the day after researching, we're going to make the switch to all canned food, eventually hoping to switch to raw/homemade. Of course, I have a couple questions first. :-)

1) we just got to the point where our kids (9 & 13) sleep in on the weekends and we're worried that having the kitties on a strict feeding schedule will have them yoweling at our bedroom door at 6:30 on a Saturday morning. During the work week they'd most likely have a breakfast time of about 6:45/7 am. It's this likely to happen? Well they become that rigid? I really just need to reassure the hubby on that one!

2) we just brought in a (very tame, very sweet) feral who I'm terrified will go on an eating strike. How can a feral be so fussy?! But even outside she'd eat one kind of dry food and maybe a couple gravy based canned varieties. I've heard they actually can starve themselves to death.... We've come so far with her, I don't want to torture her with food issues. Is this safe to force on her? She's been inside happily for a month now.

3).also... I followed a link somewhere on here (I'm sorry, I can't remember the site) that said to soak tuna fish in 3 cups of water, strain and freeze for storage, to get cats to drink more. I did that tonight and let me tell you, all three love it. But of course then I read how horrid tuna is for cats...!? Should I toss it?

Ugh. You'd think I wasn't raised in an 8 cat household lol.... But back then it was just a wing and a prayer I guess.

Thanks!

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/266053/...-a-new-type-of-food-article-for-group-editing

http://www.catinfo.org/docs/TipsForTransitioning1-14-11.pdf

I posted a couple of links to help you with transitioning to meals and wet food.  It will be more difficult to do when there are long periods of time when people are gone for work and/or school.  You may end up compromising like I did, my kitties are on about half kibble and half wet but they were pure kibble addicts.

Yes cats will literally starve themselves to death.  They can develop a serious possibly fatal liver problem from not eating.  The rule of thumb is eating at least 15 calories per pound of their ideal weight per day as a safe amount to avoid liver issues.

Ok... Starting yesterday morning I took away the dry food during the day, I'm planning to still put a small amount out at night (I need my beauty rest). The day went pretty well, Rubie & Emma (18 months & 8 years respectively) ate their fill, esp Rubie, who you'd think spend years on the streets of NYC fending for herself, rather than the day she probably actually did (seeing how she was picked up at 4 weeks). I'm worried about Katniss, my feral I brought in right before Thanksgiving. She eats VERY small amounts if I add hot water, and it's most likely to go down better for her if it's fish based (this is how she was outside). I don't want to traumatize her by trying to change her tastes at the same time as her eating habits, should I worry about getting rid of the fish at a later date? My concern with the fish is that Rubie swoops in and steals it if I step out of the kitchen.

So I have the fish concern with the wet, and also she's only really into eating Friskees as far as the dry. I mix it in with Wellness, but the other cats gets to the Friskees too. I tried mixing in the Blue Buffalo duck, but two of them threw up during the night ;either they gorged or the duck is too rich. I might start picking that out (wishing I hadnt mixed them!).

I'm guessing Katniss is a small eater do to the fact that's how she'd eat outside? Small tidbits when she could catch them. Even the dry /wet food if put out for her she'd nibble at.

I'm buying scales and starting the weighing process today. I know Katniss has lost weight since we brought her in, but I really think some of it is shedding her winter coat too.

Thanks so much for taking the time to