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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / April 2005Diet & Weighing Survey
After reading many of the posts to Catnipped's survey, and having recently acquired (the hard way) some experience on feline diabetes, I became curious (and eager to learn more) about how closely people watch their cats' diets. Thus: 1. Do you count your cats' caloric intake: -- Pretty exactly -- Somewhat. They get the get the same, measured amount of food each day. -- Not at all [Pretty exactly. That's new for me and cats.] 2. By appearance, does your cat seem: -- a little overweight -- a lot overweight -- slim -- skinny -- just right [I think he's just right, but it's a little hard to say, as he has a touch of tapeworm and so has a bit of a pot belly.] 3. Do you weigh your cat(s)? If so, how often? Using what type of scale. [Yes, once a day. I use a human digital scale. I weigh myself then weigh me with the cat. I repeat this twice to make sure the scale seems to be working correctly.] 4. If you weigh your cat(s), how much does your cat(s) weigh? (Conversion factor: 2.2046 lbs/kg) [11.5 lbs] 5. If you do count your cat's calories, how many calories per pound of cat does s/he receive each day? [Right now he's having about 23 calories/lb., but I've only had him a week and so don't know if he's maintaining weight, gaining, or losing.] > After reading many of the posts to Catnipped's survey, and having recently > acquired (the hard way) some experience on feline diabetes, I became curious [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > -- Somewhat. They get the get the same, measured amount of food each day. > -- Not at all Not at all, I watch their weight, not their caloric comsumption. Sammy's weight will bear watching now (as you can see in the pictures I just posted), but she has very obvious Maine Coon ancestry, just made 1 year old (and I would hesitate to put so young a kitten on a calory restricted diet), she gets *TONS* of exercise, and I can still feel her ribs easily. Not being facetious, she is "fluffy" - as in *very* long-haired, so it's just hard to tell by looking at her. Jessie is the perfect wieght for her size and Bandit and Demi are, if anything, a bit underweight. > 2. By appearance, does your cat seem: > -- a little overweight > -- a lot overweight > -- slim > -- skinny > -- just right Sammy, as above, *maybe* a bit overweight (she'll be going to the vet next month for her yearly check-up and I'll find out from her doctor if she really is or is just a *big* girl ;>). Jessie is just right. Bandit and Demi maybe a tad underweight. > 3. Do you weigh your cat(s)? If so, how often? Using what type of scale. Yes, but only on my bathroom scale by weighing myself and then holding the cat and weighing again and looking at the difference in the two weights. If I were concered about their weight I would proabaly buy a scale like the vet has. But I don't think that's an issue right now. > 4. If you weigh your cat(s), how much does your cat(s) weigh? (Conversion > factor: 2.2046 lbs/kg) Sammy 14.7 pounds. Bandit 9.8 pounds Demi 6.4 pounds Jessie 4.8 pounds > 5. If you do count your cat's calories, how many calories per pound of cat > does s/he receive each day? I don't count calories, but I give the same *amount* every day. Hugs, CatNipped "CatNipped" <lcrews@houston.rr.com> wrote snip > > 4. If you weigh your cat(s), how much does your cat(s) weigh? (Conversion > > factor: 2.2046 lbs/kg) [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Demi 6.4 pounds > Jessie 4.8 pounds Seems like one diverse group of sizes! > > 5. If you do count your cat's calories, how many calories per pound of cat > > does s/he receive each day? > > I don't count calories, but I give the same *amount* every day. I have taken the sacred vow to do the same. I shall not be swayed by any cat's charms again. Surely they'd choose a little nutrional regimentation over diabetes etc.! My Truman cat is okay with it as long as I play with him a little when he starts meowing around the fridge, obviously quite eager to have an extra helping of those good canned turkey giblets, etc. > "CatNipped" <lcrews@houston.rr.com> wrote > snip [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Seems like one diverse group of sizes! The funniest thing is the littlest one, Jessie, regularly beats up the biggest one, Sammy. Sammy still thinks she's a tiny kitten (as evidenced as the pictures I just posted of Sammy in her undersized bed: http://www.possibleplaces.com/CatNipped/Too_Big_Two/), but lord help Jessie the day she realizes she's not! ;> Here's some pictures that shows both the difference in their size *and* their pecking order: http://www.possibleplaces.com/CatNipped/BigLittle/. > > > 5. If you do count your cat's calories, how many calories per pound of > cat [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > a little when he starts meowing around the fridge, obviously quite eager to > have an extra helping of those good canned turkey giblets, etc. Sammy is the only one who is really voracious, but then she's still a kitten. Jessie just eats when she's hungry and Bandit and Demi are picky eaters. Hugs, CatNipped "CatNipped" <lcrews@houston.rr.com> wrote snip > Here's some pictures that shows both the difference in their size *and* > their pecking order: http://www.possibleplaces.com/CatNipped/BigLittle/. I just went to your http://www.possibleplaces.com/CatNipped/Four_Sisters/ , too: What a fine quartet that make an already lovely-looking home even more beautiful! > "CatNipped" <lcrews@houston.rr.com> wrote > snip [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > too: What a fine quartet that make an already lovely-looking home even more > beautiful! Thank you! I need to go back and take the snide comments off the page now though since I decided to get out of the indoor/outdoor wars. Hugs, CatNipped > After reading many of the posts to Catnipped's survey, and having recently > acquired (the hard way) some experience on feline diabetes, I became curious > (and eager to learn more) about how closely people watch their cats' diets. > Thus: If I only had one cat, I'd do better. As it is, I have five, various ages and degrees of round-ness. Boots is a tiny thing and extremely picky; Biskit has become a tub and will clean up everybody's leftovers if I let her; Yoda only likes chicken-varieties of canned, and that's all; Bosley is a youngster, very active and lean, and needs more calories. Feeding time is complicated, and Biskit has to be locked in the bedroom with her own food. Nobody gets free fed because of her. Every time I catch Boots alone in the kitchen, I offer her a bit of canned food just to encourage her to eat a little more. She tends to pick at her food and only eat a very small amount several times a day. IMO, weighing the cat is extremely important. It is a major symptom of hidden illness, and you can't tell a cat has lost weight until they've lost a substantial amount. I just have baby scales, but I weigh them about once a month. Sherry > > After reading many of the posts to Catnipped's survey, and having > recently [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > lost a substantial amount. I just have baby scales, but I weigh them > about once a month. I was wondering how folks with multiple cats coped. Sounds like you're very disciplined and regimented to ensure all the cats' health; good for you! <SNIP> > WOW! A post about cats!!!! 1. Don't count calories, Feed them both on a volume of food to weight formula. 2. Both kittens are healthy & not overweight, just right. 3. Yes, I weigh them, my scale is a hooman one, so it's not real precise... But it tells me if the kitties are gaining or staying stable. 4. Chablis 7 lbs, Muscat 5 lbs. 5. n/a  SignatureMathew Butler to 2 kittens: Chablis & Muscat En Vino Veritas > After reading many of the posts to Catnipped's survey, and having recently > acquired (the hard way) some experience on feline diabetes, I became curious [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > -- Somewhat. They get the get the same, measured amount of food each day. > -- Not at all No. > [Pretty exactly. That's new for me and cats.] > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > -- skinny > -- just right Just right. > [I think he's just right, but it's a little hard to say, as he has a touch > of tapeworm and so has a bit of a pot belly.] > > 3. Do you weigh your cat(s)? If so, how often? Using what type of scale. Human scale. I weigh myself, then myself and the cat in my arms... on a digital scale. > [Yes, once a day. I use a human digital scale. I weigh myself then weigh me > with the cat. I repeat this twice to make sure the scale seems to be working [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > [11.5 lbs] 18 pounds. > 5. If you do count your cat's calories, how many calories per pound of cat > does s/he receive each day? > > [Right now he's having about 23 calories/lb., but I've only had him a week > and so don't know if he's maintaining weight, gaining, or losing.] Your survey is missing an important element. Breed of cat if applicable. Some are naturally bigger than others and the weight quoted may leave some thinking the cat is overweight... which mine is not because she is a Ragdoll. >1. Do you count your cats' caloric intake: Not at all. Charley is just 6 months old and burns energy like the sun. Just had him at the vet today for his feline leukemia booster, and he weighs 8.5 lbs. Perfect according to the vet. >2. By appearance, does your cat seem: Slim >3. Do you weigh your cat(s)? If so, how often? Using what >type of scale. So far, Charley has been weighed only at the vet's office. Tried to weigh him early on using the method you described, but he was only a couple months and my scale is not that exact. Could probably use your method now though. >4. If you weigh your cat(s), how much does your cat(s) >weigh? (Conversion >factor: 2.2046 lbs/kg) 8.5 lbs at 6 mo of age. >5. If you do count your cat's calories, how many calories >per pound of cat >does s/he receive each day? N/A |
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