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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / May 2005Feeding Thee Times a Day?
My fat cat Buddha has been on a canned-food only diet, with gradual, small reductions in the amount I feed her when she hits a plateau. She is losing weight slowly and safely. However, this cat is a real character, and very expressive, and she definitely lets me know that she wants food more often. (Translation: she bugs us relentlessly, jumping up and running to the kitchen and standing by her dish every time anyone gets up to go anywhere, begging when we eat, and even slapping at our feet when we walk by, just to get our attention. She is also now waiting to be sure I am occupied and sneaking upstairs to get my other cat's dry food. Very resourceful girl.) I have read that there are health benefits in scheduled feedings as opposed to free feeding. But would it hurt if I gave her three meals instead of two, i.e. the same amount spread out over three feedings, one at 8 am, one at 2 pm, and one at 8 pm? It would make it easier on her and on us, I think. However, I want to be sure to do the best thing for her health. > I have read that there are health benefits in scheduled feedings as opposed > to free feeding. But would it hurt if I gave her three meals instead of two, > i.e. the same amount spread out over three feedings, one at 8 am, one at 2 > pm, and one at 8 pm? Not that I know of. After all, a calorie is a calorie. Many people feed three times a day instead of twice. It's just often hard for those of us who are gone all day to do 3 feedings, as 2 would be too close together either in the am or pm. 3 is probably optimal. My opinion, obviously.  Signature-- ~kaeli~ A man needs a mistress... just to break the monogamy. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace >I have read that there are health benefits in scheduled >feedings as opposed >to free feeding. But would it hurt if I gave her three meals >instead of two, >i.e. the same amount spread out over three feedings, one >at 8 am, one at 2 >pm, and one at 8 pm? It would make it easier on her and >on us, I think. >However, I want to be sure to do the best thing for her >health. Makes sense to me to feed her more often, as long as you are maintaining the same amount of calories. Most people eat three times per day. On another note, I have 7 1/2 mo old kitten who I feed probably about 6-8 times a day because if I leave too much food down, he eats like a glutton and then throws up. With the many small feedings, he's doing just fine. Michelle I would think so... arent they always saying in Europe they eat even more meals than we do, but much smaller portions so they fill up faster? Maybe the same would happen to your kitty, she eats smaller portions so her tummy will shrink a little and she would not feel so hungry. > >I have read that there are health benefits in scheduled >feedings as > opposed [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Michelle > I would think so... arent they always saying in Europe they eat even more > meals than we do, but much smaller portions so they fill up faster? Maybe > the same would happen to your kitty, she eats smaller portions so her tummy > will shrink a little and she would not feel so hungry. Yep, maybe so. I am so thrilled that she is losing, but I don't want to be cruel to her. Plus, she is such a badass, I'm a little nervous about pissing her off too much! ;) > My fat cat Buddha has been on a canned-food only > diet, with gradual, small reductions in the amount I feed her when she [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > pm, and one at 8 pm? It would make it easier on her and on us, I think. > However, I want to be sure to do the best thing for her health. Yep, we feed at 8am, reduced meal at 6pm and a little meal at 10pm - we added the last one to ease his appetite overnight which seems to have removed his need to go out and kill mice and bring them in. > Yep, we feed at 8am, reduced meal at 6pm and a little meal at 10pm - we > added the last one to ease his appetite overnight which seems to have > removed his need to go out and kill mice and bring them in. Well that has to be nice for both of you. :) No more scraping the little nasty mouse bits up off the floor for you and he has dinner that does not try to run away. > My fat cat Buddha has been on a canned-food only > diet, with gradual, small reductions in the amount I feed her when she hits [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > also now waiting to be sure I am occupied and sneaking upstairs to get my > other cat's dry food. Very resourceful girl.) Hard-core grazers are sometimes difficult to convert. They're not really hungry since they're consuming the same amount of calories/day, they're just used to grazing because its been their routine for years. > I have read that there are health benefits in scheduled feedings as opposed > to free feeding. But would it hurt if I gave her three meals instead of two, > i.e. the same amount spread out over three feedings, one at 8 am, one at 2 > pm, and one at 8 pm? Absolutely not- as long as you don't increase her total daily caloric intake. Phil "Phil P." <phil@maxshouse.com> wrote : > But would it hurt if I gave her three meals instead of two, > > i.e. the same amount spread out over three feedings, one at 8 am, one at 2 > > pm, and one at 8 pm? > > Absolutely not- as long as you don't increase her total daily caloric > intake. Super, then she will get three. >"Phil P." <phil@maxshouse.com> wrote : >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >Super, then she will get three. End this thread right now please........it was as refreshing as a spring rain.....kind.....informative ......thoughtful answers not a cruel word or hint of sarcasm (Mary posted twice) way to go sweety.......OP is happy and told us so.....man this is sweet......way to go gang..... Brad LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT TO ARRIVE AT THE GRAVE SAFELY IN A WELL-PRESERVED BODY, BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT, SHOUTING... " HOLY @#$%... WHAT A RIDE!" > End this thread right now please........it was as refreshing as a > spring rain.....kind.....informative ......thoughtful answers not a Why Brad, I've never seen this side of you wooo haha "No matter how much cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens." - Abraham Lincoln "Ignorant people think it's the noise which fighting cats make that is so aggravating, but it ain't so; it's the sickening grammar they use." - Mark Twain oh how cute, bigbad found a cat quotes page... -- besides...I says when the thread is done! -- I would like to add another quote I found on the subject of feeding. "Even overweight, cats instinctively know the cardinal rule: when fat, arrange yourself in slim poses." - John Weitz > > End this thread right now please........it was as refreshing as a > > spring rain.....kind.....informative ......thoughtful answers not a [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > "Even overweight, cats instinctively know the cardinal rule: when fat, > arrange yourself in slim poses." - John Weitz Not my Buddha! After a meal she sprawls on her back on the kitchen floor with her four lets sticking out! Maybe she thinks her tiny little white bikini and socks will distract the eye from that great big black fuzzy belly! >> End this thread right now please........it was as refreshing as a >> spring rain.....kind.....informative ......thoughtful answers not a [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >-- >besides...I says when the thread is done! Outstanding but it got me thinking about catfights........why do you think when two females fight its called a cat fight.....and is it degrading to cats or women.....?? As for my praise of this thread I see two postings from my new gurlfriend dirctly beneath I think she may have burst my bubble.......sigh.....I'm not sure what wooo haha means but thank you I think...... Brad LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT TO ARRIVE AT THE GRAVE SAFELY IN A WELL-PRESERVED BODY, BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT, SHOUTING... " HOLY @#$%... WHAT A RIDE!" > >"Phil P." <phil@maxshouse.com> wrote : > >> [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > sweety.......OP is happy and told us so.....man this is sweet......way > to go gang..... Piss off you breeder-supporting anal retentive asswipe. :) >Piss off you breeder-supporting anal retentive asswipe. :) Sigh......don't be giving away our sexual preferences sweety........I'm not sure if you ruined the thread or not this is pretty tame for you I will give you a pass on this one....... Brad LIFE'S JOURNEY IS NOT TO ARRIVE AT THE GRAVE SAFELY IN A WELL-PRESERVED BODY, BUT RATHER TO SKID IN SIDEWAYS, TOTALLY WORN OUT, SHOUTING... " HOLY @#$%... WHAT A RIDE!" > My fat cat Buddha has been on a canned-food only > diet, with gradual, small reductions in the amount I feed her when she [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > pm, and one at 8 pm? It would make it easier on her and on us, I think. > However, I want to be sure to do the best thing for her health. My cat is a "grazer" and she is fed several times a day. Her total consumption if one 3oz tin of canned food along with 1/2 cup of dry, which divided up and totalled equate to 7 feedings each day. She gets a table spoon of dry and one third of the can, first thing in the morning. When I leave for work she gets another tablespoon of dry to see her through the day. When I get home from work she gets another tablespoon of dry and another third of a can. Over the course of the evening, she finishes off the can and another tablespoon of dry, leaving another tablespoon of the dry as an overnight snack. > My cat is a "grazer" and she is fed several times a day. Her total > consumption if one 3oz tin of canned food along with 1/2 cup of dry, which [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > off the can and another tablespoon of dry, leaving another tablespoon of the > dry as an overnight snack. That's not much food. What good girl. How is her weight? >> My cat is a "grazer" and she is fed several times a day. Her total >> consumption if one 3oz tin of canned food along with 1/2 cup of dry, [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > the >> dry as an overnight snack. Jeez, our indoor Maine Coon gets 1-1/2 3 oz pouches of nutro in the morning, 1- 3oz pouch at noon, then another 1-1/2 pouches in the evening. Thats 12 ozs a day to maintain his 18 - 20 lbs. You don't want to forget that 1/2 pouch either. SignaturePaul O. My sig line is my disclaimer to any advice given Absolutely clueless when it comes to cats Learning more every day, but still clueless oplholik@hotmail.com "Candy Cane" <wumpygirleatsnospam@yahoo.com> wrote in message > My cat is a "grazer" and she is fed several times a day. Her total > consumption if one 3oz tin of canned food along with 1/2 cup of dry, which [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > off the can and another tablespoon of dry, leaving another tablespoon of the > dry as an overnight snack. Dry food can contain 375 to 450 kcals a cup and a 3 oz can can contain 75-100 kcals. So, her total daily caloric intake is probably between 225 and 325 kcals. An average, moderately active cat has a daily energy requirement of about 45 kcals/kg/day- that translates into about 180 kcals for a 4 kg. cat. How much does your cat weigh, and what are the caloric contents (in kcals) of the dry and canned food? Phil |
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