Should I feed them less?

Hi everyone! As some of you may know, I have two male, neutered cats: Fletcher, who is a little over one year old, and Barnaby, 10 months old. Recently they stopped eating as much as they used to.

They eat wet food three times a day, and usually they devour everything in a matter of minutes, but lately they are both leaving almost half of their food in the bowl, especially Barnaby.

Otherwise they are perfectly healthy, they sleep and play and use the litter regularly.

I am told that the hot weather is the reason why they're eating less. We don't have AC, and the house is pretty hot during the day. What would you do? Should I give them a little less food, or try different feeding solutions? As long as they are fine I'm ok, but it's starting to annoy me having to throw away good cat food.

Thank you all! Obligatory pic of the beasts:

Cut portions in half while hot

What are you feeding them? I understand wet food, but what brands/flavors? How much are you feeding them? How do you rotate?

I would not recommend cutting portions until I know what and how much they eat (maybe they got bored with the food, maybe the company changed formula, there could be so many reasons).

Well, I would say that it might be a combination of things.  Certainly the heat might have something to do with it.  I'm guessing they're not as active as usual with it being hotter than normal.  Also, Barnaby is reaching adulthood, and as such, may not need as much food anymore if he's finished growing. 

I would not cut their food in half, by any stretch, but would think it's ok to cut it down a small bit...maybe 1/4 and see what happens.  If they seem to be hungry after a few days, then you can always add it back in.  If they continue to leave food uneaten, THEN maybe you could cut back a little more.   But I would NOT cut back too much all at once. 

Handsome little beasties, BTW

IrinaSaK said:

 
What are you feeding them? I understand wet food, but what brands/flavors? How much are you feeding them? How do you rotate?

I would not recommend cutting portions until I know what and how much they eat (maybe they got bored with the food, maybe the company changed formula, there could be so many reasons).

Click to expand...

I'm feeding them Bozita, a rotation of all flavours. It's a chicken-based, grain free european food, made in Sweden. The kittens loved it... until they stopped loving it, all of a sudden, during the first heat wave of the summer. The company did not change formula in between, because we order it online in bulk. That's also my problem with them not liking it anymore... I have 100€ worth of food in my cabinets 

They both used to eat around 300g a day, divided in tree meals. Now that they don't eat it as much, and because of the heat, we divide it in 6 small portions that we try to give them during the day. Barnaby is the most finicky, and for him we add a little bit of another brand of food on top, that way he eats a little more of the main food. 

I'd like to point out that, regardless of their taste, they *are* being fed. I stay with them as long as it takes to make them eat most of their bowl. 

mrsgreenjeens said:

 
Well, I would say that it might be a combination of things.  Certainly the heat might have something to do with it.  I'm guessing they're not as active as usual with it being hotter than normal.  Also, Barnaby is reaching adulthood, and as such, may not need as much food anymore if he's finished growing. 

I would not cut their food in half, by any stretch, but would think it's ok to cut it down a small bit...maybe 1/4 and see what happens.  If they seem to be hungry after a few days, then you can always add it back in.  If they continue to leave food uneaten, THEN maybe you could cut back a little more.   But I would NOT cut back too much all at once. 

Handsome little beasties, BTW

Click to expand...

Activity level did not change, as I notice all too well every morning at 5   Fletcher is the usual couch potato, and Barnaby is a beast from hell. A lovely one, of course. 

Usually they both love food, especially Fletcher, but now they always seem to leave something in their bowls. I'll try to reduce a bit thank you!

I know Bozita, I have it in our rotation 2 days/ week.

I don't know what to say, other than try to feed them earlier and later, when it is not so hot outside and see if that makes any difference.