Is He Overeating?

Alicia88

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I've had Connor and Murphy since May.  They're about 7 months old.  I keep Purina One kitten formula dry food out all the time and twice a day, I give them each half a can of wet food.  I get Fancy Feast and Sheba - the 3 oz cans.  They never finish it.

We adopted a new kitten, Mickey, a couple days ago.  I'm pretty sure he was underfed before coming here.  I was told he's 8 months old, and he's about the same length as my boys, but pretty skinny.  He eats like he's starving.  He eats a full can of the soft food (twice a day) and then finishes whatever Connor and Murphy leave behind and he eats plenty of the dry food, too.

Should I give him less wet food?  I don't know if he's really that hungry or if he's so used to not having food, he keeps gorging himself.  He never vomits.  I've heard that you can't overfeed kittens.  I just don't want to make him sick or cause him to be obese or anything.  And since he's eating more than double what Connor and Murphy eat, I'm a bit concerned.

Connor and Murphy have never been underfed.  They've been spoiled house cats since birth.  Mickey was a stray on the street.
 
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louann jude

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Has he been to the vet and tested for parasites, worms? I had one do that when he had tapeworms. 

If it was me I would let him eat. It make take a while for him to gain the weight he needs to get to. It would make me think he was eating to much if he was vomiting but he isn't. 

He might end up being a big boy when he is older and not fat big either. 
 
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Alicia88

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I haven't gotten him to the vet yet, but I'm going to ask for wormer for all 3 of them. I just have a very small one bedroom apartment, so keeping them apart just wasn't feasible. Already they're barely hissing at each other so that's good. They'll be friends in no time.
Connor and Murphy are both neutered. I'm not sure about Mickey. I can't tell. I can't even get a decent look through all his fur!
I'm not sure when I'll be able to get to the vet. He was an unexpected rescue so I didn't have the funds ready.
 
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Alicia88

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He seems perfectly healthy aside from being skinny.
 

louann jude

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I understand the spur of the moment rescue and no funds to take to the vet. I have been there so many times. 

Can you post pics of him? I am just wanting to see pics. 
 

tabbytom

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I'll feed Mickey as much and often as he can eat. All cats are different when comes to eating. Some eat more and some less. Some are food driven too.
As Mickey was found off the streets, he's probably starved and under nourished.
Just watch his weight and make sure he don't get too pudgy. Best is get him dewormed, or you'll see a pot bellied cat.
 
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Alicia88

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He's such a little cutiepie.  And I think the hissing at each other is over (knock on wood).  I'm surprised they're getting over it so quickly.  Maybe younger cats are just more accepting.
 

hbunny

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Alicia, he will self-regulate eventually. He is gorging now because he's afraid the food will disappear one day.
Alicia, she is SO correct!  When we brought Shortstack, a former feral, in to live in the house forever he ate and ate until I was really worried.  It's like he was terrified he would never get food again.  He finally leveled out. Now he likes to graze as he passes through the kitchen, but no more gobbling everything in sight. 

I can definitely attest to the pudgy warning above---Stack was 12.5 pounds when we rushed him to the vet and got him neutered (it too was an unexpected, yet urgent situation) and afterwards he ate his way up to 20 pounds.  He stopped gorging himself after a few weeks, but kept gaining.  Through a strict controlled portion diet, I have him down to 16 pounds now, but he is still huge!  Our goal is around 13, so 3 to go!
 
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Alicia88

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Hopefully since he's still a kitten, he won't develop a huge weight problem by the time he realizes that the food isn't going to disappear.

I'm pretty sure he does think he's in heaven.  He's showing no interest in going outside (his previous owner said it was impossible to keep him in because he liked to roam) and his little motor is constantly on standby, starting up every time anyone so much as touches him.

I need to go buy some more wet food.  He eats as much as the other two combined, so we're going through it much faster than usual.  I do like that I'm not throwing out the boys' leftovers anymore.  I hate wasting money and throwing all that soft food out was like throwing money down the drain.  So I'm glad someone is eating it now.  Yes, I'm spending more money on food, but none of it is being wasted so it's less annoying to me.  If that makes any sense.
 

profdanglais

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I think that you can get Panacur from Amazon, or possibly from a pet store. Sometimes they say that you need a vet's approval, but I wonder if you couldn't maybe get that over the phone rather than having to actually go to the vet. I'm not saying don't take Mickey to the vet, just maybe you could start him on some worming meds sooner rather than later if you can't get there for a few weeks. 
 
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Alicia88

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I think that you can get Panacur from Amazon, or possibly from a pet store. Sometimes they say that you need a vet's approval, but I wonder if you couldn't maybe get that over the phone rather than having to actually go to the vet. I'm not saying don't take Mickey to the vet, just maybe you could start him on some worming meds sooner rather than later if you can't get there for a few weeks. 
I don't think it will be that long before we can get to the vet - with John's new job, we'll have a lot more money coming in and he'll be getting his first really big paycheck sometime in the first week of November so I think when I get paid Thursday, we can probably take him with that and John's check will cover the bills due at the beginning of the month.  So I'll be calling the vet tomorrow and asking when we can get him in.
 

tabbytom

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Mickey is a handsome boy! [emoji]10084[/emoji]️

Yes, what Primula said is true. When my boy came back home with us, initially he wolfed down his food and making the 'nom nom nom' sound while eating and when I shift his plate for him, he did that too. He is afraid that I take his food away and also afraid that the food will disappear. After some time, he got use to having food regularly, he no longer rush for food while I'm preparing and not wolf the the food. Now he takes his time to eat.
So don't worry, Mickey will gain confidence and will know that there is no threat in the house and he'll eventually eat slowly.
 

hellomisskitty

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I love your description that "his little motor is always on standby" [emoji]10084[/emoji]️ Mickey sounds as adorable as he looks and is so lucky to have crossed paths with you and John.
 
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Alicia88

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He really is.  Every time you pet him, he rolls over onto his back for belly rubs.  I wonder if he thinks he's part dog - I've never known a cat to like belly rubs that much!  I mean, Connor and Murphy like them to an certain extent but Mickey takes it to a whole new level.
 

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Hopefully since he's still a kitten, he won't develop a huge weight problem by the time he realizes that the food isn't going to disappear.
I'm pretty sure he does think he's in heaven.  He's showing no interest in going outside (his previous owner said it was impossible to keep him in because he liked to roam) and his little motor is constantly on standby, starting up every time anyone so much as touches him.
I need to go buy some more wet food.  He eats as much as the other two combined, so we're going through it much faster than usual.  I do like that I'm not throwing out the boys' leftovers anymore.  I hate wasting money and throwing all that soft food out was like throwing money down the drain.  So I'm glad someone is eating it now.  Yes, I'm spending more money on food, but none of it is being wasted so it's less annoying to me.  If that makes any sense.
He doesn't want to go outside because he's afraid he won't be able to come in again. This story has just made my week!
 
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Alicia88

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Right now he's laying across my lap getting pets and purring up a storm.
 
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