 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion GroupsGeneral TopicsCat AnecdotesHealth and BehaviorRescue CatKB.com Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map |
Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / March 2006Feeling pretty crappy ...
You know how cats are picky eaters? Well, when Oscar started refusing her wet food, I figured it was because I'd given her dry food while we went on several overnight trips. I know that she loves kibble, so I figured she was just holding out for the dry stuff. Except she was losing weight. Well, a lot of cats lose some weight in the spring time ... I monitored her behavior carefully, and while she was eating only a few bites of her food, she was still energetic, clear-eyed, got the zoomies, etc. She didn't seem like a cat who was suffering from starvation or any other illness, except that she was getting pretty skinny. I even tried poking a few kibble into her wet food to stimulate her appetite; not much luck. Well, this weekend, I finally went and bought some other flavors of wet food, to see if maybe it was just this flavor. As soon as I served up something other than the cans I'd been feeding her, she fell to like a lumberjack eating a hearty meal of pancakes before a long day's work. Or maybe like a starving cat. Now I feel really sh*tty because I should have realized that something was wrong. Oscar's an indoor kitty, so it's not like she can go hunting if she doesn't like the meals. I had thought she'd eaten this flavor she's rejecting before, but now I'm thinking I misremembered. I got it because it's not seafood -- she much prefers the seafood, and I worry about mercury. She's pretty impressed with a pheasant food (I would never have guessed that, but the lady at my pet store gave me a free can to try), but that has rice in it, and I try to stay away from carb-y foods for her ... Sigh. Monique, cat-starver =/ > I had thought she'd eaten this flavor she's rejecting before, but now > I'm thinking I misremembered. I got it because it's not seafood -- > she much prefers the seafood, and I worry about mercury. I don't think there's much of mercury problem with most seafood outside of shrimp and tuna. Salmon is ideal because it's farm-raised. > the lady at my pet store gave me a free can to try), but that has rice > in it, and I try to stay away from carb-y foods for her ... Again, I don't think you need to worry about rice, as they probably use whole grain which is not nearly as dangerous, carb-wise, as white rice. Hey, we all make silly mistakes. Try pleasing seven kitties with one type of food! But they eventually adapt and eat whatever is served. The only thing that absolutely won't get touched around here is any of the cheap, off-brand stuff, even if it came from a can. >I don't think there's much of mercury problem with most seafood outside of >shrimp and tuna. Salmon is ideal because it's farm-raised. But unfortunately farmed salmon is full of PCB's. > Again, I don't think you need to worry about rice, as they probably > use whole grain which is not nearly as dangerous, carb-wise, as > white rice. Yeah, it's not the worst, just something I'd prefer to avoid. > Hey, we all make silly mistakes. Try pleasing seven kitties with one > type of food! But they eventually adapt and eat whatever is served. > The only thing that absolutely won't get touched around here is any > of the cheap, off-brand stuff, even if it came from a can. Yeah, I don't know how you handle 7 cats! One is enough to tie me in knots.  Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > Yeah, I don't know how you handle 7 cats! One is enough to tie me in > knots. Same here. TED once tried to talk me into adopting another cat from the clinic to keep Rusty company. Good thing I didn't. Rusty's vet bills and prescription food are enough to bankrupt me. I don't need to feed another cat. Winnie > As soon as I served up something other than the cans I'd been feeding > her, she fell to like a lumberjack eating a hearty meal of pancakes > before a long day's work. Or maybe like a starving cat. Aww, don't feel bad. You do the best you can. We can't read their minds. Hope Oscar's appetite will be good from now on. SignatureMarina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. marina (dot) kurten (at) iki (dot) fi Stories and pics at http://koti.welho.com/mkurten/ Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki > You know how cats are picky eaters? > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > Sigh. Monique, cat-starver =/ You couldn't have known that, Monique! I guess Oscar just needed a change in her diet. Best wishes, Polonca and Soncek > You know how cats are picky eaters? > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > Sigh. Monique, cat-starver =/ You are not a "cat-starver." There was food there if Oscar had deigned to eat it. My cats have tried to play this one on me and I have called their bluff. If they turn their nose up because "we don't want the lamb flavour today" it's removed. There is nothing until the next meal (2x/day) It's surprising how they have suddenly decided they like what I give them. I do not play the food game with them any more when I used to try and find more yummy food that they might like better. They eat what I provide or go without. It works. Tweed > You are not a "cat-starver." There was food there if Oscar had > deigned to eat it. My cats have tried to play this one on me and I [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > they might like better. They eat what I provide or go without. It > works. Yes, but your cats do have the option to hunt for themselves (well, Boyfie might hunt for KFC, lately, it sounds like). If I fed Oscar food that was somehow contaminated, she would have no options. Also, how long did it take for them to break down and eat the food you provided? Oscar got noticably skinnier; enough so that I could feel her hip bones and her backbone was more prominent to the touch than I would like. True, she was behaving normally, so it probably isn't as bad as it sounds ... but still scary. It honestly seemed like she would rather starve than eat that food. We went through most of a case (20? 24? cans) of this flavor before I caved. Fortunately, I can go back to the pet store and trade the unused cans for a flavor she will like. DH also says that if she's really hungry, she'll eat. But she got skinny enough that I was afraid to call her bluff. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > It honestly seemed like she would rather starve than eat that > food. We went through most of a case (20? 24? cans) of this > flavor before I caved. Wow! That's a lot of cans. I wonder if there was something not quite right about that food? I would expect a cat to eat anything edible if it's really, really hungry (to the point of actually losing weight), but maybe if the cat thinks there's something wrong with the food, they won't eat it no matter what. > DH also says that if she's really hungry, she'll eat. But she got > skinny enough that I was afraid to call her bluff. I think you did the right thing by changing the food. This isn't just a case of a cat being finicky and manipulating you. After she refused the food over and over, I think you correctly interpreted that she does not want it! But please don't feel guilty about it - if she appeared to be eating it, and continued to act normally, then you would have no reason to think anything was amiss. Once you noticed her weight loss, then you were alerted to her eating patterns. I can't imagine how you would have figured it out any other way. Joyce > Wow! That's a lot of cans. I wonder if there was something not quite > right about that food? I would expect a cat to eat anything edible > if it's really, really hungry (to the point of actually losing > weight), but maybe if the cat thinks there's something wrong with > the food, they won't eat it no matter what. Well, I was trying to guess at the number of cans in the case. There were 5 left over when I finally gave up. Probably the initial several cans of the case were interspersed with other flavors that I still had. > > DH also says that if she's really hungry, she'll eat. But she got > > skinny enough that I was afraid to call her bluff. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > patterns. I can't imagine how you would have figured it out any > other way. Well, I knew she wasn't eating much -- but it did look like she often took a few bites off the top. I don't know. For all I know, she really did "play" me and just didn't like the flavor, but in the end, it doesn't really matter. I just wish I'd twigged to it sooner; I could have traded in a bunch of those cans for a flavor she *did* like. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca >> You are not a "cat-starver." There was food there if Oscar had >> deigned to eat it. My cats have tried to play this one on me and I [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Yes, but your cats do have the option to hunt for themselves (well, > Boyfie might hunt for KFC, lately, it sounds like). Well, yes, that is true although I didn't notice more than the normal amount of hunting going on during the time I was calling their bluff over their pickiness. Kitty would always prefer to eat collared doves over any cat food, anyway but Boyfie rarely eats anything himself that he catches, he brings in into the kitchen and leaves it for KFC. Two young rats this week that she apparently did not fancy and which I stepped on first thing in the morning... If I fed Oscar > food that was somehow contaminated, she would have no options. Do you suspect that this food might have been contaminated in any way? > Also, how long did it take for them to break down and eat the food you > provided? To eat everything I provided, with gusto, about 10 days. They didn't starve in the meantime, they did pick at the food and it was there for several hours after each mealtime. I don't mind at all if they take several hours to eat their meal, I think this is normal for a cat, but mine were beginning to take the p, forcing me, almost, to get really expensive stuff all the time and continually changing their minds over what was the favourite of the day. It's a pity really as I was shopping today and saw a tin of pink salmon for 32p. I wanted to get it to treat them, but treating them was how this whole food game started, so I didn't. > Oscar got noticably skinnier; enough so that I could feel > her hip bones and her backbone was more prominent to the touch than I > would like. True, she was behaving normally, so it probably isn't as > bad as it sounds ... but still scary. It honestly seemed like she > would rather starve than eat that food. We went through most of a > case (20? 24? cans) of this flavor before I caved. I can't imagine that a cat would allow itself to starve when food (even if of the not-preferred flavour) was available. This would be the ultimate in manipulative behaviour ;-) Maybe there was something wrong with the food. > Fortunately, I can go back to the pet store and trade the unused cans > for a flavor she will like. Good. > DH also says that if she's really hungry, she'll eat. But she got > skinny enough that I was afraid to call her bluff. He's right, she will, but unless you can rule out for definite that the food was bad you have done the right thing to get her something else. I don't buy cases of food any more, just in case of this very thing. Tweed >> Yes, but your cats do have the option to hunt for themselves (well, >> Boyfie might hunt for KFC, lately, it sounds like). > > Well, yes, that is true although I didn't notice more than the > normal amount of hunting going on during the time I was calling > their bluff over their pickiness. I just meant, if all else failed and they really hated your food, they have options. Your cats would never starve to death. (Then again, even if I let Oscar out, I strongly doubt she'd know how to hunt. And she might capture the cute little rabbit that likes to eat the plants in our front yard.) > leaves it for KFC. Two young rats this week that she apparently did > not fancy and which I stepped on first thing in the morning... Eeeyuck! I think, if I had outdoor cats, I'd be tempted to wear hard-soled slippers around the house. > If I fed Oscar >> food that was somehow contaminated, she would have no options. > > Do you suspect that this food might have been contaminated in any > way? There's no reason to think so, other than Oscar's absolute refusal to eat it. >> Also, how long did it take for them to break down and eat the food >> you provided? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > almost, to get really expensive stuff all the time and continually > changing their minds over what was the favourite of the day. I also leave the food out for a while (actually, I just leave the food out in the morning, then put down a new plate with new food in the evening). Oscar has always been a "grazer," and I don't see any reason to try to force her to eat all her food in one sitting. In fact, she seems to prefer to wait at least half an hour to eat, which also makes it hard to monitor her tastes. Oscar is pretty consistent, I think -- she either likes a flavor or doesn't. The trouble is her stupid human, who just can't keep them all straight. > It's a pity really as I was shopping today and saw a tin of pink > salmon for 32p. I wanted to get it to treat them, but treating them > was how this whole food game started, so I didn't. I guess they outsmarted themselves, taking too much advantage of a good thing. > I can't imagine that a cat would allow itself to starve when food > (even if of the not-preferred flavour) was available. This would be > the ultimate in manipulative behaviour ;-) Maybe there was something > wrong with the food. Maybe. Or maybe she's just crazy. She lost weight and didn't eat much when I switched her to wet food, and also scared me, but I stuck to it, and eventually she ate. Maybe I just don't have the nerve to go through that again. > He's right, she will, but unless you can rule out for definite that > the food was bad you have done the right thing to get her something > else. I don't buy cases of food any more, just in case of this very > thing. That's an interesting point. You just get several different flavors every time? Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca >> He's right, she will, but unless you can rule out for definite that >> the food was bad you have done the right thing to get her something [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > That's an interesting point. You just get several different flavors > every time? Yes. Not just different flavours but different brands. A few tins from here and there. All different to give them a variety of tastes. Some go down well and some don't. If they don't they just have to wait for one that does the next day. Tweed > Yes. Not just different flavours but different brands. A few tins > from here and there. All different to give them a variety of > tastes. Some go down well and some don't. If they don't they just > have to wait for one that does the next day. Well, I went back and traded the last 5 cans of the "nasty" flavor for a different flavor from the same brand. I told the proprietors my story, but they said they hadn't heard of anyone else having problems. They figured "cats just do that sometimes." Maybe ... They give a discount for cases. It's 10% or something, not bad ... Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > Sigh. Monique, cat-starver =/ Aw, you're not a cat-starver. She just changed her mind about what she wanted and didn't mind-meld to you about it. She'll be fine. SignatureSam, closely supervised by Mistletoe >> Sigh. Monique, cat-starver =/ >> > Aw, you're not a cat-starver. She just changed her mind about what > she wanted and didn't mind-meld to you about it. She'll be fine. So rude of her not to give me a telepathic heads-up =/ Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > You know how cats are picky eaters? > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > Sigh. Monique, cat-starver =/ I know exactly how you feel, Monique. I felt the same way when Vino wasn't eating his kibble, the stuff we eventually dumped out and a dog crapped on it. I opened a new bag of food and he eats it no problem. Sheesh, talk about a guilt trip! I'm glad Oscar's eating her new food now. She must be the opposite of Vino, he doesn't care for any of the seafood flavours. -- Britta
|
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.