feeding adult cat kitten food

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Yngver - 08 Mar 2004 16:17 GMT

We have moved from free feeding to feeding strict portion sizes twice a day to
our two overweight cats, and they are slowing losing weight (very slowly, like
an ounce a week) but unfortunately our third cat, who has never been overweight
and refuses to eat at set times during the day, has lost a half a pound which
she really didn't need to lose. We've tried offering her food more often during
the day but it isn't helping much. We used to free feed her with a bowl up in a
place that the other cat couldn't reach, but the third cat we adopted last
summer can jump up anywhere and she will eat anything.

Is there any reason we should not feed our thin cat (she's 7 years old) a
kitten or growth formula to help her keep her weight up? We bought her some and
she's been gobbling it up.

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kaeli - 08 Mar 2004 18:25 GMT

> Is there any reason we should not feed our thin cat (she's 7 years old) a
> kitten or growth formula to help her keep her weight up? We bought her some and
> she's been gobbling it up.

Since pregnant and nursing queens are fed kitten food, I doubt it will
hurt her any.

IMO, of course.

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Yngver - 08 Mar 2004 21:17 GMT

>> Is there any reason we should not feed our thin cat (she's 7 years old) a
>> kitten or growth formula to help her keep her weight up? We bought her some
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
>IMO, of course.

Thanks, yeah, I forgot that it was also for adult cats with extra nutritional
needs. We had been trying to feed her something higher calorie, like Wellness,
but half the time she won't eat it.

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Karen - 08 Mar 2004 18:56 GMT

> We have moved from free feeding to feeding strict portion sizes twice a day to
> our two overweight cats, and they are slowing losing weight (very slowly, like
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> kitten or growth formula to help her keep her weight up? We bought her some and
> she's been gobbling it up.

It's what I'd do. If she is underweight and has that tendancy I wouldn't
figure it a problem.

Karen

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Yngver - 08 Mar 2004 21:21 GMT

>> Is there any reason we should not feed our thin cat (she's 7 years old) a
>> kitten or growth formula to help her keep her weight up? We bought her
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>It's what I'd do. If she is underweight and has that tendancy I wouldn't
>figure it a problem.

Thanks. Although our cat just turned 7, and I see a lot of cat foods are
marketed as senior or mature formulas for cats age 7 and older, I'm assuming
most senior formulas are for weight control and not so good for a cat that
needs to gain weight. This is a cat that is so active I don't think she is
every going to be overweight. She is one cat that could be free fed without any
fear of overeating; unfortunately with our new fatso we can't do that anymore.

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Wendy - 08 Mar 2004 22:39 GMT

> >> Is there any reason we should not feed our thin cat (she's 7 years old) a
> >> kitten or growth formula to help her keep her weight up? We bought her
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> every going to be overweight. She is one cat that could be free fed without any
> fear of overeating; unfortunately with our new fatso we can't do that anymore.

If your skinny girl is much smaller than the overweight cats get a box and
cut a hole in the side that she can fit through but her portly friends can't
and feed her in there. That's what we have to do with Boots' food to keep
the two girls out of it. So far it's working although we had to velcro his
bowl down so Isabelle couldn't shake the box and get the bowl to slide to
the front where she could get to it.

W

W

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Yngver - 09 Mar 2004 15:44 GMT

>If your skinny girl is much smaller than the overweight cats get a box and
>cut a hole in the side that she can fit through but her portly friends can't
>and feed her in there. That's what we have to do with Boots' food to keep
>the two girls out of it. So far it's working although we had to velcro his
>bowl down so Isabelle couldn't shake the box and get the bowl to slide to
>the front where she could get to it.

That's a good idea. I think I'll have my husband try to rig up something like
that. It would have worked for sure before we adopted the third cat, who was an
emaciated stray (she has unfortunately doubled her weight since we took her in,
from five pounds to ten pounds, when she should be about eight and a half.) She
is a little taller than our skinny one and of course her sides bulge out more
because she's fat, but she is also very determined to get to any food that she
smells, so it might be a battle of wits to keep her out of the box. Our other
one is a lot bigger and not as motivated, so she'd probably only try once or
twice and then give up. Thanks for the idea.

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Wendy - 09 Mar 2004 23:01 GMT

> >If your skinny girl is much smaller than the overweight cats get a box and
> >cut a hole in the side that she can fit through but her portly friends can't
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> one is a lot bigger and not as motivated, so she'd probably only try once or
> twice and then give up. Thanks for the idea.

Not my original idea - it was a suggestion from someone in this NG. It's
working for Boots so thanks to the person who thought it up.

W

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Penelope Baker - 09 Mar 2004 00:34 GMT

You should be fine. Kitten food is often recommended for adult kitties who
are down in weight (and have had medical problems ruled out). Sounds like
yours fits the bill nicely. Let her have her treats :)

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> We have moved from free feeding to feeding strict portion sizes twice a
> day to
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> some and
> she's been gobbling it up.

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