Boyfriend thinks I feed our cat too much..

Hello everyone 

As many of you know I have a cat named Ghibli and he is now about eight months old. I once posted a thread stating "when to stop feeding your young cat as much as they want to eat". I understand that many people say that you should pretty much feed a cat as much food as they want until they are done growing (about a year old)--correct? On some days, Ghibli only wants two 3.3 oz cans. On other days, he will act like he is starving unless he has FOUR whole cans of food or more . He's been checked by the vet numerous times for other reasons (blood tests, X-rays, etc.) and nothing seems to be wrong with him physically. He is the ideal weight, has lots of energy, and is about 7.6 pounds. Should I really continue to feed him the amount that he desires until he is one? Sometimes it seems like an awful lot (four cans or more), but he literally acts like he is starving and will lick the bowl clean. What do you all think? Thanks

I want to show my boyfriend this thread. He thinks I am feeding Ghibli too much (he has never had cats, though). 

My only thought is that maybe some days he's just way more active?
If he's his ideal weight, I don't see anything wrong with continuing to feed him as you have been until he's done growing.

I just went and got two different brands of wet cat food and read the labels. Each says something totally totally different, LOL. (The 'recommendations' are an advertising gimmick).

The Sheba (Salmon Entree - Pate`) says feed an adult cat up to 1 can (3 oz.) per 4 pounds of body weight. Feed a kitten up to 4 1/2 cans a day.  So, that would be 13.5 ounces for your kitten. 

The 9 Lives (Meaty Pate` - NOT what I normally feed them/it was given to me) says feed an adult 8-10 lb. cat OR 3lb Kitten 1 can (5.5 oz.) twice a day.  That would be 22.0 ounces a day based on the fact your kitten is 7.0+ pounds. 

Now, let me tell you what I think of that:  Bull Hackey! 

I have two neutered males. They are both 22 months old TODAY!   And they each weigh just a few ounces under 15 pounds. For the Sheba, IF I followed their recommendations, they would EACH be consuming about 3.75 cans every day. And for the 9-Lives they should be consuming 3.0 cans every day. 

What do they eat?  I give them one (1) 3.0 ounce can of Sheba once in the morning and once again in the evening. They SHARE it. So, each of my two 15 pound cats eat 3.0 ounces of wet food a day. And sometimes they don't always finish it between the two of them. 

Mind you, they are also free-fed dry food 24/7. They bag recommends they each eat 1 1/2 cups a day. Between the two of them together, they share approximately 3/4 cups dry food daily - or about 1/3 cup each. Given that, with the combination of wet AND dry that they consume, they are pretty on target.  

Some days they eat more; some days they eat less. When they are hungry, they eat. When they aren't hungry, they don't eat. Do I panic or worry about it? Nope! Some days I eat bacon, eggs, and pancakes for breakfast and other days I eat a slice of toast. Some days I eat a full course dinner and some days I don't even eat dinner. Cats are the same way. They know when they are hungry and when they're not. Your kitten is still growing and right now he is most likely going through an adolescent growth spurt, so his appetite is going to fluctuate. He is developing muscles and bones right now. If he is energetic and active, I would let him eat what he wants; especially since his weight IS ideal. 

If you want to be 'sure', I suggest you give your Vet a call and talk with either the vet or a tech and see what they have to say. Personally, I think he is eating perfectly! 

Not all cats reach their full size by their first birthday. Some keep growing for the first three or four years. Even after they've reached their adult size they continue to build muscle for a while after that. If Ghibli is a healthy weight and seems hungry, keep feeding him.

If Ghibli is maintaing his weight and isn't too fat or too skinny, then keep feeding him as usual If he wants 4 cans, then give him all 4 cans. Appetite can vary every day in cats, just like it does for peple. Some days you're completely starving and eat a lot of food, other days you're just picking at food because you're just not hungry.

My little outside feral cat ate 2 - 5.5 oz Friskies when she was younger. She is a small female, now she eats 2/3 of that. She eats no dry maybe a mouse occasionally. I can see she eats less now she is no longer a kitten. My inside cats eat 6 oz each and some kibble treats and Purebites, no dry free feedings

I agree with the others: keep feeding him when he asks for it! As long as he's not overweight, he should be fine.

I couldn't agree more with what @Norachan says about come cats continuing to grow after the one-year mark: our cats kept eating (and growing) prodigiously until they were two or so. They're three now and their appetites vary a little from day to day, like @Fyllis mentions, probably partly because their foods vary in calories. I just follow along with their requests, albeit within reason, since they do seem to have stopped growing (finally!) and Edwina has a tendency to overeat.

Thanks guys! This was so insightful. Can't wait to show my boyfriend this thread so he will not think I'm some crazy, over-feeding cat lady 

He seems very proportional so I'm very curious to see how much growing he has left to do! As I am typing this he is on my lap and eyeing the mouse icon on the computer like, "should I pounce on it?"

I will continue to feed him whenever he desires

eck1kaylie said:

My only thought is that maybe some days he's just way more active?
If he's his ideal weight, I don't see anything wrong with continuing to feed him as you have been until he's done growing.

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i agree with this. My ragdoll kitten is 10 months & 1 week old, weighing in at 11 lbs. 

I think that in the first 2 years of growing, the 'explosive' periods of appetite are normal.

i also think that wet-food only diets aid in kitty self-regulating and maintaining a healthy growing weight.

regardless of any 'schedule' for feeding - i know when my boy is hungry. he has a number of very distinct ways of telling me 

I can't really add anymore to what everyone else said.

His appetite will vary depending on his activity and growth. He is a very pretty boy and as long as your vet don't have a problem with his weight and the amount you are feeding it is all good.

I'm sure your BF just don't want him to have any health issues.

eck1kaylie said:

My only thought is that maybe some days he's just way more active?
If he's his ideal weight, I don't see anything wrong with continuing to feed him as you have been until he's done growing.

Click to expand...

LTS3 said:

 
If Ghibli is maintaing his weight and isn't too fat or too skinny, then keep feeding him as usual

If he wants 4 cans, then give him all 4 cans. Appetite can vary every day in cats, just like it does for peple. Some days you're completely starving and eat a lot of food, other days you're just picking at food because you're just not hungry.

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Completely agree with this.

Our kittens are 9 and 8.5 months now, there are some days where they eat a modest amount (roughly what I expect adult maintenance to be) and some days they finish everything that comes their way and meow for more.

We put a limit on the amount of dry food we give them, but give them all the wet/raw food they want

The biggest thing is you and/or your vet's opinion of his general health and whether he's getting fat or not.

This is easy. Simply feel along his rib cage. If you start feeling a significant layer of fat develop then you can cut back.   My wife kids me about underfeeding one of our Main Coon's.  I simply respond "And why it is again that you like to call him your favorite figure 8?".    lol.

Every time our 2cat bowls are empty I fill them up. I feel they aren't getting enough food and don't want them to go hungry when we sleep or leave for a time Durning the day. So how much is too much ?