Feeding Problem

Our 5 year old neutered male is a problem eater. If we feed him twice a day, he gorges on his food and is sick. If we spread the meals across the day into 3 or 4 or 5 meals, he goes looking for extras and will eat ANYTHING he can get his teeth into. If we let him out into our enclosed yard, he eats leaves etc and is sick again! He has had worms in the past that we just couldn't get rid of and the vet put him on Profender, which was dosed every 4-6 weeks instead of 8-12 weeks. So far, this seems to have worked and there is no sign of them. The vet advised us to switch him to wet food instead of Dry for Neutered + wet food, which we have done. I am really pulling my hair out and feel out of options. Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Andrew.  Welcome to TCS . 

So, since you have switched your little guy over to an all wet diet, have you tried feeding him 3 times a day?  WHAT are you feeding him, and how much?  It could be that you aren't feeding him enough, and that's why he's looking for more food.  It could be that you're feeding him something that is not nutritionally complete (something like Fancy Feast Appetizers vs Fancy Feast meals...that sort of thing) if you're new to the wet food concept.  I'm thinking, though, that he's probably just not getting enough calories to sustain him on the new wet food.   Canned food ranges greatly in calories.  For instance, a small can can range from 45 calories to 120 calories (or more), depending on the can

How large and active is your furbaby?  We'll need this information to help you out. 

Hi and thanks for your reply. 

Dexter has had a bad time with worms, weight loss etc but hopefully things are getting better there.

I have been feeding him a can (400g) of Wet Food to see how he gets on with gaining some lost weight, however, as it's bought in a multi pack, there are no nutritional values I can find regarding calories etc.

I have tried 1/2 a can at 8am and the other 1/2 at 6pm. Also tried splitting it into 1/3rds (8am-1pm-6pm).

If I feed in halves, he wolfs it down and ends up vomiting within the hour. If I feed in thirds, he spends his waking hours trying to steal any of his brother's food, or if he's outside, leaves and various other inedible items, which in turn make him vomit. 

It has become a vicious circle, whereby he ends up hungry all over again due to vomiting his food up!

Both our cats are housecats, with access to a rear yard area, that has a few 'cat friendly' plants. We are overlooked by a commercial railway line and loads of trees, hence free leaves for Dexter to eat

He is currently 13lb, but long and thin. He is active in short bursts, but nothing compared to an outdoor cat I think.

Really have to know what food you are feeding. Switch to natural balance ultra and get some Vets best hairball relief tabs(amazon.com) Cats love them and they aid in digestion if he has problems. Wet food best and smaller portions more frequently along with hairball relief. Also you need to brush him.

Yes, we really DO need to know WHAT wet food you are feeding, although it sounds like you are not located in the U.S., so we may have to get someone who is familiar with European (?) brands to assist here.

400 grams is a LOT of food for one cat to eat in a single day.  My largest cat is probably the same size as yours, and he doesn't even eat half that amount in a day.  I DO try to feed very low carb food, so that probably makes a big difference though. 

Some cats cannot handle certain foods.  It sounds to me as if no matter HOW you feed him, he is vomiting, then he just might not be able to tolerate this particular food.  Maybe you simply need to change to a different wet food.  It really doesn't make sense that by spreading out his meals to more, but smaller meals, he would be more hungry.  He should be more satiated.  I think I really would try changing the brand of wet food and look for something that doesn't have any wheat or corn in it, but making sure it's 100% nutritionally complete.  I know in Europe there are a few foods out there that are "complimentary" rather than "complete"i