Kitten obsessed with food!! Please help!

aspynandellie · Jun 14, 2016

Hi I just got two new kittens from the shelter last Friday (both girls & they estimated around 8-9 weeks of age.) in their cage they also had a brother, but there was no mom to be seen nor did they say anything about her. When I took them to the vet aspyn weighed 1.8 lbs and the food obsessed (she has no name of right now) weighed 1.5 lbs.... Also I'd like to add that they both were diagnosed with worms(not much) and also a lot of Coccidia whe they are on meds for rn, and they had just had respiratory problems but those were all healed... .. So When I brought them home I realized that no name ran up to me when I was eating she would relentlessly try to get to my food until I finished she also eats her her soft food very fast and vigorously and while she's eating it she's growling (I have never taken food from her) . I'd really appreciate someone telling me what is going on and if she's OK because I just want her to be healthy. I leave hard food down all the time and her sister never takes food from her. Also usually no name it more sweet than aspyn but when they get around food no name completely changes.. Do you think no name has an addictive personality? She gets like that with one type of toy as well.. Please help!!

cj778994 · Jun 14, 2016

This is totally normal and will die down once she feels that she has a secure source of food. My fiance and I adopted two kittens last Sunday and one kitten was exactly as described. After some training and consistent feedings it died down within a few days. Good luck!

ginny · Jun 14, 2016

Are you also feeding wet food several times a day?

Canned kitten food is usually higher in protein (you will have to read the label to see if meat is the first ingredient) which is definitely what she needs to grow. She also needs a high quality dry food, not the cheap kind that has lots of grain (an appetite stimulant) and fillers but not much protein. This may be why she is so hungry!

The advisors have said this many times: you cannot overfeed a kitten.you might see if she will lap KMR or raw goats milk.

aspynandellie · Jun 14, 2016

So glad to hear I'm not the only one! What type of training did you do?

aspynandellie · Jun 14, 2016

I only feed wet food once a day, but I would gladly feed them more often than that, how many times a day do you suggest that I feed them, and do I give a whole can each time? As of right now I'm feeding them IAMS proactive health kitten because it's what the shelter gave them but I am looking into switching them, do you have any suggestions? Also wet food suggestions would be great right now I have blue healthy gourmet and blue indoor kitten freedom because those where the only kitten ones that I saw. If she is still hungry I will try the milk! Thank you so much for your input!

ginny · Jun 14, 2016

Fancy Feast has kitten foods. Stay away from the fishes, stick with chicken and beef and be sure to look at the label and that meat is the first ingredient. Stay away from gravies, stick to pate (with an accent over the e). Pate is usually grain-free or close to it. Not all grain free is low carb. If it has potato or peas as filler, it won't be very filling to your little bottomless pit! (Also, grain is an appetite stimulant! I apologize if I've said that already.) Cats are obligate carnivores and so the only veggies they ever eat in the wild is what is in the stomach of their prey. So think low carb/high protein/moderate fat. They never eat grain.

I would try a tablespoon at a time and see if he wants more and serve him 4 times a day or every time he asks. You can't overfeed a kitten because they are growing like little weeds!

In addition to the wet food, which is an absolute must, I would put down kitten dry food and have that available 24/7 for right now while they are still growing to adulthood. I know this: Blue doesn't have a very good reputation. Neither does Iams. They are both marketed well, but their food is not the best.

Usually shelters feed donated food which is not always the best quality so I'm glad you are going to switch them. Also, of course, provide plenty of fresh filtered water (not fluoridated) along with their dry food.

Send pictures of your babies! We love pictures!

I'm not sure kittens have addictive personalities, lol. They are just bundles of energy! Such little goofballs and such fun.

Oh and make sure you don't use clumping litter. Kittens will eat it and there will be big problems if they do. So, non-clumping litter for now until they much bigger.

bonepicker · Jun 14, 2016

Do not give cows milk to kittens. 4 wet feedings a day is ideal if you can

ginny · Jun 14, 2016

bonepicker said:
Do not give cows milk to kittens. 4 wet feedings a day is ideal if you can

Right! It has to be raw goats milk (unpasteurized) or KMR.

Kat0121 · Jun 14, 2016

Ginny said:
Fancy Feast has kitten foods. Stay away from the fishes, stick with chicken and beef and be sure to look at the label and that meat is the first ingredient. Stay away from gravies, stick to pate (with an accent over the e). Pate is usually grain-free or close to it. Not all grain free is low carb. If it has potato or peas as filler, it won't be very filling to your little bottomless pit! (Also, grain is an appetite stimulant! I apologize if I've said that already.) Cats are obligate carnivores and so the only veggies they ever eat in the wild is what is in the stomach of their prey. So think low carb/high protein/moderate fat. They never eat grain.

@Kat0121 please advise on the amounts to give this hungry kitten. I would try a tablespoon at a time and see if he wants more and serve him 4 times a day or every time he asks. You can't overfeed a kitten because they are growing like little weeds!

In addition to the wet food, which is an absolute must, I would put down kitten dry food and have that available 24/7 for right now while they are still growing to adulthood. = @Kat0121 probably has some good recommendations there. I know this: Blue doesn't have a very good reputation. Neither does Iams. They are both marketed well, but their food is not the best.

Usually shelters feed donated food which is not always the best quality so I'm glad you are going to switch them. Also, of course, provide plenty of fresh filtered water (not fluoridated) along with their dry food.

Send pictures of your babies! We love pictures!

I'm not sure kittens have addictive personalities, lol. They are just bundles of energy! Such little goofballs and such fun.

Oh and make sure you don't use clumping litter. Kittens will eat it and there will be big problems if they do. So, non-clumping litter for now until they much bigger.

I recommend the Fancy Feast turkey kitten food. I'd give her a can at each feeding. She's a baby. She needs to eat as much as she wants right now. This hunger will taper off as she gets used to regular feedings and she grows. For dry food, I'd give her Merrick dry kitten food. It's grin free, affordable and available from Petco and Chewy. http://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcos...tro-grain-free-healthy-kitten-food-5004794--1

LTS3 · Jun 14, 2016

Wellness has two good quality kitten foods: http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/recipes.aspx?pet=cat&ft=2 There is also kitten dry food as well.

aspynandellie · Jun 14, 2016

Thanks Ginny for all your help! I didn't think this kitten food was very good because their dog foods aren't great either! I will be stopping for cat food tomorrow and will definitely follow your recommendations! I'll also probably get some of that formula for just in case! I will start feeding them 4 times a day tomorrow,

image.jpeg

aspynandellie
Jun 14, 2016

These are the kittens (hard to get a good pic when they are always on the move!) how old should they be before I use clumping litter ?

aspynandellie · Jun 14, 2016

Thank you kat for the food recommendations I'll be sure to check everything out! Can you find the Fancy feast at petco as well?

Kat0121 · Jun 14, 2016

aspynandellie said:
Thank you kat for the food recommendations I'll be sure to check everything out! Can you find the Fancy feast at petco as well?

Yes you can. Wal Mart also carries the Fancy Feast but not the Merrick

aspynandellie · Jun 14, 2016

OH also i was wondering what you all thought of cat treats, and if they are okay are there any that are your favorites?

Kat0121 · Jun 14, 2016

aspynandellie said:
OH also i was wondering what you all thought of cat treats, and if they are okay are there any that are your favorites?

I'd stay away from Temptations and Party Mix. They are kitty crack for most cats but they aren't very healthy. Hands down the best treats IMO are Pure Bites. They are freeze dried chicken breast and nothing eelse. They also come in other flavors but my cats like the chicken ones best. They can be pricey but don't have to be. If you have an Amazon account, get a small bag from them and if your cat likes them, get the big dog sized bag. It's 11 ounces and the best value. The treats are easy to break up into smaller ones. I also crush them on my cats' food as a topper for when they are being fussy which is most of the time.

aspynandellie · Jun 14, 2016

Kat0121 said:
I'd stay away from Temptations and Party Mix. They are kitty crack for most cats but they aren't very healthy. Hands down the best treats IMO are Pure Bites. They are freeze dried chicken breast and nothing eelse. They also come in other flavors but my cats like the chicken ones best. They can be pricey but don't have to be. If you have an Amazon account, get a small bag from them and if your cat likes them, get the big dog sized bag. It's 11 ounces and the best value. The treats are easy to break up into smaller ones. I also crush them on my cats' food as a topper for when they are being fussy which is most of the time. :rolleyes2

Okay thanks! Id rather pay a little more money for something that is good for them!

LTS3 · Jun 14, 2016

Freeze dried meat or fish treats are great

PureBites has already been mentioned. The PureBites for dog are the exact same thing as the cat ones, just in a alrger bag and in larger pieces for just a few dollars more. You can easily break the treats up into smaller pieces.

Here are more suggestions:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/310827/vital-essentials-freeze-dried-treats

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/314398/what-treats-do-you-feed-your-cat

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/245903/best-and-worst-cat-treats

You can also give treats of raw meat (never pre-gound supermarket meat) or plain cooked meat (no seasonings, spices, etc).. Boiled or poached chicken is great if you don't want to feed raw

You can freeze the cooked meat for later use along with some of the cooking water which is now kindof like broth.

ginny · Jun 14, 2016

aspynandellie said:
These are the kittens (hard to get a good pic when they are always on the move!) how old should they be before I use clumping litter ?

Awww they are very cute!! I don't know how long to use the non clumping kind. Just until you know for sure they aren't eating it - or at least 3 or 4 months?

LTS3 · Jun 14, 2016

Wellness can be found at Petco and Petsmart. Fancy Feast is found nearly everywhere: dollar stores, supermarkets, big box stores like Wal Mart, chain pet stores, etc.

aspynandellie · Jun 14, 2016

LTS3 said:
Freeze dried meat or fish treats are great PureBites has already been mentioned. The PureBites for dog are the exact same thing as the cat ones, just in a alrger bag and in larger pieces for just a few dollars more. You can easily break the treats up into smaller pieces.

Here are more suggestions:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/310827/vital-essentials-freeze-dried-treats
http://www.thecatsite.com/t/314398/what-treats-do-you-feed-your-cat
http://www.thecatsite.com/t/245903/best-and-worst-cat-treats

You can also give treats of raw meat (never pre-gound supermarket meat) or plain cooked meat (no seasonings, spices, etc).. Boiled or poached chicken is great if you don't want to feed raw You can freeze the cooked meat for later use along with some of the cooking water which is now kindof like broth.

So if I get the dog version it won't be bad for them because the only ingredient is the meat? Also why aren't cat foods with fish good but the fish treats are okay? Is it difference in the quality of the fish? And the raw meat sounds like a great idea, I'll have to try it! And is it too soon for me to give treats, with them having worms and all? And the last question is am I allowed use different soft foods or does it have to be the same brand and type? Sorry for all the questions lol I'm just new to this and want the best for my kittens!

Kitten obsessed with food!! Please help!

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