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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / October 2003to feed or not to feed visiting cat
I have a friend... no really, it isn't me... but my friend is being visited by a cat who she said looked skinny when she first started coming around. So she was feeding her and would let her in only to part of their house when the weather was bad. She comes twice a day for food and always leaves at night and sounds to me like she prefers it outside, but likes my friend as she has left her dead presents on the doorstep. She says she otherwise looks to be in good shape - just skinny. All of a sudden the cat showed up with a collar on and a note attached to the collar saying this cat doesn't belong to you so stop feeding it. So now, of course, the cat is visiting regularly and deploying her best feed me tactics which can be so hard to ignore coming from such a cute face. What should my friend do? I want to say if the original owners cared so much about what the cat was eating they wouldn't let it outside where she can hunt and kill her own food. Or if there's a medical reason - that she should only be eating a special food - again why let her live so much of her life outside where she can eat plenty of other critters on her own. And besides which, the cat is in my friend's yard - her private property. So seems as though she could just as easily send a note back telling them to keep their [un-collared until now so that no one would know if it were stray, feral, or belonged to someone] cat out of her yard if they don't want her to feed it. If they're so concerned about it's well being, keep it inside where it will be safe from passing cars, dogs, foxes, diseases, and good hearted people like my friend who are saving the owners some $ on their cat food expenses. But then, I guess if the cat can hunt as she's showed, then she can also feed herself and maybe the owners wishes should be respected and she should be left to be on her own. In your opinions, how should I advise my friend? Thanks, Lydia > But then, I guess if the cat can hunt as she's showed, then she can also > feed herself and maybe the owners wishes should be respected and she should > be left to be on her own. > > In your opinions, how should I advise my friend? If the cat is skinny - feed it. The owners obviously aren't caring for it very well. If the cat were supposed to be on a special diet, it should not be roaming about. If the owners want people to leave it alone, they should take care to keep it on their property. Cats that make kills don't always eat the kill. When I had a large backyard as a child, we let our cats out. They'd often make kills, but we never saw a bite taken out of them (dead carcasses on the porch). They'd be totally intact - just dead. Also, area wildlife can be poisonous to eat, depending on your area and the use of pesticides and critter-control chemicals. Cats (or any predators) rarely catch totally healthy adult animals. They go for the sick, weak, old, or young. If they get a sick one, it could be deadly. A person I know that lets their cats out lost one when it ate a poisoned mouse from the neighboring farm. ------------------------------------------------- ~kaeli~ Hey, if you got it flaunt it! If you don't, stare at someone who does. Just don't lick the TV screen, it leaves streaks. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace ------------------------------------------------- > If they're so concerned about it's well being, keep it > inside where it will be safe from passing cars, dogs, foxes, diseases, and > good hearted people like my friend who are saving the owners some $ on their > cat food expenses. I wouldn't respect the owner's wishes if the cat is clearly skinny/underfed and is also allowed to roam freely. I'd send a note back saying, "FEED ME, [expletive]!" And, if I ever found out who the owner is, I'd report them.  Signaturehttp://www.mindspring.com/~slywy/ http://slywy.diaryland.com/ >I wouldn't respect the owner's wishes if >the cat is clearly skinny/underfed and is >also allowed to roam freely. I totally agree. The cat is clearly not receiving proper care. If I were in this situation I think I would make the cat effectively "disappear" if you know what I mean... ;-) Megan (hoping the cat ends up in a caring home - nudge-nudge wink-wink) Signature"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray >>I wouldn't respect the owner's wishes if >>the cat is clearly skinny/underfed and is [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > in this situation I think I would make the cat effectively "disappear" > if you know what I mean... ;-) Megan! I hope you don't mean "disappear" in a mafia sort of way.. ;) - nudge nudge wink wink... > Megan (hoping the cat ends up in a caring home - nudge-nudge wink-wink) > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > - W.H. Murray >From: "Karen M." mskitty@NOSPAMeasystreet.com >>>I wouldn't respect the owner's wishes if >>>the cat is clearly skinny/underfed and is [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >Megan! I hope you don't mean "disappear" in a mafia sort of way.. ;) - >nudge nudge wink wink... I think she's thinking more like a witness protection program :) Lauren ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm hee hee hee! :) >>From: "Karen M." mskitty@NOSPAMeasystreet.com > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html > Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm Karen wrote: >Megan! I hope you don't mean >"disappear" in a mafia sort of way.. ;) - >nudge nudge wink wink... LOL! No, I mean more in an FBI/witness relocation sort of way. :-) Megan Signature"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray > Karen wrote: > >Megan! I hope you don't mean [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Megan You do realize the poor cat would have to change her name and wear a wig for the rest of her life.... ;) > > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > - W.H. Murray Hi Lydia, Being from the UK where we have many indoor/outdoor cats , I'm gong to disagree with everyone else and say you should tell your friend to leave the cat alone. Just because your friend thinks the cat is skinny , doesn't mean to say it is . Cats are opportunists and your friend is enticing it away from its owners. She leaves at night to go home. Cats often bring dead prey as presents, especially females. The cat has an owner who has told your friend to leave it alone . Don't impose your beliefs on someone else's cat . -- Alison Rescues. http://mysite.freeserve.com/AnimalRescueLinksUK/ Links to animal information websites http://mysite.freeserve.com/petinfolinks/ > I have a friend... no really, it isn't me... but my friend is being visited > by a cat who she said looked skinny when she first started coming around. [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > Thanks, > Lydia Oh, I'm so glad some of you feel the same. I thought maybe I was being overly annoyed or whatever. I *know* if it were me, I'd continue to feed it and let it in when it's raining, but that's me. And good points about poisoned animals a cat might find or kill. I'll pass on the good advice to my friend - actually she's my cousin in-law. Lydia > Oh, I'm so glad some of you feel the same. I thought maybe I was being > overly annoyed or whatever. I *know* if it were me, I'd continue to feed it [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Lydia Hi Lydia , If she didn't feed it or let it in , it would go home. If your friend wants a cat then she could give a home to one that *really* needs it , ie one from a shelter where many are PTS. Alison The tone of the note attached to the collar does not sound friendly to me. The owner sounds like a real piece of work. Having someone care enough to feed one's cat should be the worst that can happen to a cat left outside. My advice? You're the cat's friend, not the owner's friend so do what you want. -- Barb I can only please one person a day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look good either. >In your opinions, how should I advise my friend? > >Thanks, >Lydia Send a note back with the cat to its owners to ask for an explanation. Its better to communicate than to be defensive about it all. After all it is not your cat. And also keep a tab on the cat's development - if its getting skinnier, etc. If its getting worse then you'll have to step in. >I have a friend... no really, it isn't me... but my friend is being visited >by a cat who she said looked skinny when she first started coming around. [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] >Thanks, >Lydia I would say that a collar without ID is useless. If the cat comes to eat, it is probably getting better food than at the unknown home. If the cat should disappear, they would never know what happened. I'm not really sure about how to handle this, but I think I would put food out anyway. MLB Lydia" lrengler@hotmail.com writes >my friend is being visited >by a cat who she said looked skinny The cat said your friend looked skinny? C'mon now. >All of a sudden the cat showed up >with a collar on and a note >attached to >the collar saying this cat doesn't >belong to you so stop feeding it. Any jerk who allows their cat to roam outside and provides no ID protection for the cat doesn't deserve the cat. The only exception for this is if the cat is an indoor only cat and accidently got out. For someone to put a collar on the cat for the sheer purpose of pinning a note demanding that the good neighbor STOP feeding the cat is unacceptable. This is reinforced even more because the cat did not appear to be well fed in the first place. >the cat is visiting regularly and >deploying her best feed me >tactics which can be so hard to >ignore coming from such a cute >face. What should my friend do? If you can determine who owns the cat, then you can ask them if they put the note on the collar because of a special needs diet. The response they give will tell you how they feel about their pet...whether or not they are caring people or arseholes. >I guess if the cat can hunt as she's >showed, then she can also >feed herself and maybe the >owners wishes should be >respected. Cats who live as domestic pets should NOT be running around the heavily populated area hunting for their own food. The medical/nutritional needs and safe environment are the preference...the "owners" wishes are secondary. > Any jerk who allows their cat to roam outside and provides no ID protection for > the cat doesn't deserve the cat. Excuse me?, I allow my cat to *roam * as you like to call it and I don't believe I'm a jerk . I don't have a collar on Kim because I believe they are dangerous , she is also allergic . She is microchipped . >>. For someone to put a collar on the > cat for the sheer purpose of pinning a note demanding that the good neighbor > STOP feeding the cat is unacceptable. >> It's totally acceptable if you don't know who is feeding the cat . Kim is on a special diet and I would do the same if I suspected someone was feeding her. >>This is reinforced even more because the > cat did not appear to be well fed in the first place. Yes, *appears * being the operative word. Many indoor cats are over weight so a normal cat looks thin to them . Alison > > Any jerk who allows their cat to roam outside and provides no ID > protection for [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Alison Once again, part of the problem in differences in outlook may stem from some people posting from the US (where many of us feel it is dangerous to let a cat roam) and others posting from the UK (where it is very common to leave cats outside). Of course, not everyone "fits" within these categories in either location. MaryL (take out the litter to reply) Photos of Duffy and Holly (pictorial history of my blind cat Duffy's integration into our household): Duffy, Part I: The Introduction -- http://tinyurl.com/8y54 Duffy, Part II: Life at Home -- http://tinyurl.com/8y56 > It's totally acceptable if you don't know who is feeding the cat . > Kim is on a special diet and I would do the same if I suspected > someone was feeding her. If you don't want me to feed your cat, keep it off my property. Easy. Simple. Keeps everyone happy. The only cats who belong on my property are mine. ------------------------------------------------- ~kaeli~ Hey, if you got it flaunt it! If you don't, stare at someone who does. Just don't lick the TV screen, it leaves streaks. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace ------------------------------------------------- >> Any jerk who allows their cat to roam outside and provides no ID >protection for [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >weight so a normal cat looks thin to them . > Alison There are no outward signs to indicate an animal is microchipped. How would anyone know it wasn't lost or strayed.? A cat needs a collar and obvious ID IMO. > There are no outward signs to indicate an animal is microchipped. > How would anyone know it wasn't lost or strayed.? A cat needs a > collar and obvious ID IMO. In my city tattooing is mandated by law, as are spaying/neutering and leashes when outdoors (roaming cats and dogs are prohibited, except for dogs in some leash-free parks). Of course I would say that maybe 30% or fewer of the cats in my city are tattooed, spayed/neutered, *and* leashed when outdoors or indoors-only. My cat is all three, plus she is microchipped. She does need some kind of tag, though, and I'm still looking for a good one that won't bother her too much. Better to be overly cautious than sorry! rona Signature***For e-mail, replace .com with .ca Sorry for the inconvenience!*** > My cat is all three, plus she is microchipped. > She does need some kind of tag, though, and I'm still looking for a good one > that won't bother her too much. Better to be overly cautious than sorry! They make collars with the ID embedded in it. I've seen them on ebay. No metal tags - the collar has the id sewn in. ------------------------------------------------- ~kaeli~ All I ask for is the chance to prove that money cannot make me happy. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace ------------------------------------------------- > They make collars with the ID embedded in it. I've seen them on ebay. No > metal tags - the collar has the id sewn in. Thanks! I took a look on e-bay but they must not have any right now. I'll keep checking back and also see what else I can find on-line. rona Signature***For e-mail, replace .com with .ca Sorry for the inconvenience!*** > Thanks! I took a look on e-bay but they must not have any right now. I'll > keep checking back and also see what else I can find on-line. > > rona You can get one embroidered with your info at one of these places... http://www.mafpettags.com/ http://www.tagsforpets.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc? source=googlecatcollars http://www.collarthatname.com/ http://www.scarfzone.homestead.com/collars.html I've never used any of them, so I'm not recommending any site specifically or anything. Google had more matches. Search for embroidered cat collar HTH ------------------------------------------------- ~kaeli~ All I ask for is the chance to prove that money cannot make me happy. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace ------------------------------------------------- > You can get one embroidered with your info at one of these places... > > http://www.mafpettags.com/ <snip other sources to save bandwidth> Thanks! I had looked on drsfostersmith.com and petsmart.com, but had not yet done a google search! Of course, knowing more specific search terms helps a lot! On e-bay I had looked for cat collar ID. If I had done a google search on that, I'm sure I would have had to wade through a lot sites I didn't want! Thanks again! rona Signature***For e-mail, replace .com with .ca Sorry for the inconvenience!*** > Thanks again! > > rona You're welcome. :) ------------------------------------------------- ~kaeli~ All I ask for is the chance to prove that money cannot make me happy. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace ------------------------------------------------- I said > Any jerk who allows their cat to >roam outside and provides no ID >protection for the cat doesn't >deserve the cat. "Alison" alison@Xallofus2X.fsnet.co.uk responds >> Excuse me?, I allow my cat to >>*roam * as you like to call it and I >>>don't believe I'm a jerk . I don't >>have a collar on Kim because I >>believe they are dangerous , she >>is also allergic . She is >>microchipped . It appears you are from the UK (at least I get that idea from your ID). Many people outside the USA do believe it's OK to let a cat roam outside.With that said, I will ask you how you taught your cat A) to know when to walk across the street and when to wait B) to know which cars are stopping for a light and which cars are continuing on C) NOT to drink any leaking coolant/anti-freeze. After all...it's very tasty and thousands (or more) cats have consumed this poison, had seizures, and died painfully. D) to determine which individual or group of people who are coming up the street might do her harm E) to evade every single dog and/or wild animal who might try to rip her to pieces or bite her? I said > For someone to put a collar on the >cat for the sheer purpose of >pinning a note demanding that the >good neighbor STOP feeding the >cat is unacceptable...This is >reinforced even more because the >cat did not appear to be well fed in >the first place. Allison snaps >>It's totally acceptable if you don't >>know who is feeding the cat . >>Kim is on a special diet and I >>would do the same if I suspected >>someone was feeding her...Many >>indoor cats are overweight so a >>normal cat looks thin to them . Do you read the stuff you post before hitting the "send" button? Your last comment is absolutely idiotic. "Indoor cats are overweight so a normal cat looks "thin". Dearie..there is a very big difference between a thin cat and one who looks to be malnourished. The latter will exhibit systems that include, but are not limited to, showing the ribs underneath the skin. I realize that very few people will have a PhD on the subject of the thread or a 4 year course of study/research on the topic of the posts...but, at the very least, one must have more than an off-the-cuff response. I utlize my personal experience (in cat rescue, having pets, college courses/seminars and general research) before I post. For example, I'm anti-declaw..but I don't just post "I'm against declawing so anyone who declaws is an idiot." I use academic information AND my basic feeling/opinion. Obviously, I don't expect everyone/anyone to duplicate my methodology, but I do expect more than just a rant...You are ranting. That, plus the last comment (explained above) is nothing more than an uneducated response. For the sake of argument (and to point to your foolish reasoning)..please cite 1-2-3 or more experts who gave you the idea that many indoor cats are overweight so a normal cat looks thin to them (other people). >> Any jerk who allows their cat to roam outside and provides no ID > protection for [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > weight so a normal cat looks thin to them . > Alison I totally agree with you Alison but, I'm also in the UK, perhaps that's the difference! It is fundamentally wrong to assume that a 'skinny' cat is not being fed and needs to be 'adopted'. My cat is indoor cat, she does have access to the outdoors but chooses to stay in 99% of the time. She's overweight (but succesfully dieting) Compared to her, most of the neighbourhood cats I see look skinny!!! Cat's can also be on special diets but be allowed out! My friend had a similar situation where she had to ask her neighbours NOT to feed her opportunistic cat because she has a delicate stomach and was being fed tasy tuna treats by well meaning neighbours (and loving it!) then coming home and vomiting. However, it soon stopped when she vomited on the neighbours sofa and I don't believe she was enticed in their house again! Lindsey > It is fundamentally wrong to assume that a 'skinny' cat is not being fed > and needs to be 'adopted'. There are published standards by which one can reliably judge "skinny" in domestic cats, and if by these standards an obviously neglected cat was skinny, I would feed it. It would be "fundamentally wrong" not to. Signaturehttp://www.mindspring.com/~slywy/ http://slywy.diaryland.com/ >From: "Alison" alison@Xallofus2X.fsnet.co.uk > Excuse me?, I allow my cat to *roam * as you like to call it and I >don't believe I'm a jerk . I don't have a collar on Kim because I >believe they are dangerous , she is also allergic . She is >microchipped . Alison - what is she allergic TO? I can't imagine that she's allergic to all cat collar materials and there are many that are VERY safe. >It's totally acceptable if you don't know who is feeding the cat . >Kim is on a special diet and I would do the same if I suspected >someone was feeding her. Sorry Alison - if she's on a special diet, then she shouldn't be allowed to raom and have access to other foods, even those foods that are supplied by "nature". My sister has a cat. Sort of. She didn't intend to get another cat after her last one died. But Martha had other ideas. She decided that the dog door was an invitation and took up residence in the guest room. Eventually, she decided the 2 goldens weren't very threatening and she moved into the rest of the house. What was my sister to do? Not feed her? She must have belonged to SOMEONE, but no collar, no ID, at this point obvious that she is spayed. My sister assumed she lived elsewhere, but allowed her to be a houseguest. These days (it's been about 2 years), Martha is in her house most of the time (and demanding attention - she's a very funny cat), and when outdoors, rarely leaves the yard. My sister put a "necklace" on her - a soft collar. Nobody has commented, written notes, etc, so nobody seems to claim her. She's a bit tubby, so she's probably being fed elsewhere too. Is she a shared cat? She's not telling - just enjoying the doted on life and choosing that herself. Janet Boss Best Friends Dog Obedience "Nice Manners for the Family Pet" Voted "Best of Baltimore 2001" - Baltimore Magazine www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com << But then, I guess if the cat can hunt as she's showed, then she can also feed herself and maybe the owners wishes should be respected and she should be left to be on her own. In your opinions, how should I advise my friend? Thanks, Lydia >> I'd feed the poor little thing, too. I don't think a cat should have to be hungry. I would be tempted to find out who the owners are, if I were her, to see how well they are taking care of her (not very, I guess). I wonder how they even know she's eating elsewhere if she's still skinny. And why do they want her to be skinny? It's just mean. Your friend has every right to leave cat food out on her own property. For all they know, it's food for her own cats. Candace (take the litter out before replying by e-mail) See my cats: http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace > I have a friend... no really, it isn't me... but my friend is being visited > by a cat who she said looked skinny when she first started coming around. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > All of a sudden the cat showed up with a collar on and a note attached to > the collar saying this cat doesn't belong to you so stop feeding it. I have a question. How would the people who pinned the note on the cat, implying they had no first hand knowledge of who was feeding it, know that someone was feeding it in the first place? Maybe they noticed it was approaching a normal weight and they got pissed off for some perverse reason? FWIW-I think if someone sees an underweight cat and feeds it, that's a GOOD thing. f.ck it's so-called "owners" who apparently have no compulsion about letting the cat wander into other people's property and then whinge when someone takes pity on the animal. (OTOH, if it looks well cared for, I think you shouldn't feed it because you shouldn't deliberately encourage someone else's cat to become attached to you, although that's hard sometimes if they are the affectionate type.) The only reason I could see for not feeding it is if it were sick and needed a special diet. Setting aside whether *any* cat should be allowed to roam outside, a cat that's underweight because it's sick certainly should'nt be left outside by its "owners." >I have a question. How would the people who pinned the note on the >cat, implying they had no first hand knowledge of who was feeding it, >know that someone was feeding it in the first place? That's what I wondered, too. I also vote theOP should continue to feed the thin kitty. Sherry > >I have a question. How would the people who pinned the note on the > >cat, implying they had no first hand knowledge of who was feeding it, [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > kitty. > Sherry I wondered about that, too. And as someone else said, as long as the cat is on the OP's property, how would anyone know the cat wasn't simply getting into another cat's food? Unless there have been some "conversations" among neighbors?? MaryL I asked that myself when I was chatting online with the girl who is feeding the cat... she doesn't know, but it could be a couple of possibilities we figured. Either a neighbor of a neighbor, etc. saw the cat being fed and the news made it back to the owners OR maybe they just noticed the cat getting bigger and the note was more of a "to whom it may concern" directed at no specific individual - just whoever might be feeding the cat. I don't know *how* skinny the cat is - just in my friend's opinion she thought kitty looked skinny and would like some food. So maybe the owners are keeping her trim, but not unhealthy? > > >I have a question. How would the people who pinned the note on the > > >cat, implying they had no first hand knowledge of who was feeding it, [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > MaryL > I asked that myself when I was chatting online with the girl who is feeding > the cat... she doesn't know, but it could be a couple of possibilities we > figured. Either a neighbor of a neighbor, etc. saw the cat being fed and > the news made it back to the owners It's hard to imagine the news getting back to the owners without some identification of who was feeding the cat. If so, the owners should have the balls to go ask your friend nicely rather than hide behind the cat. OR maybe they just noticed the cat > getting bigger and the note was more of a "to whom it may concern" directed > at no specific individual - just whoever might be feeding the cat. I don't > know *how* skinny the cat is - just in my friend's opinion she thought kitty > looked skinny and would like some food. So maybe the owners are keeping her > trim, but not unhealthy? It's obviously impossible to know without getting a better description or seeing the cat first hand. I seem to recall that as far as weighing enough, one warning sign is when you can see the cat's ribcage and/or spine (obviously that test won't work for a longer haired cat). I've seen lots of cats who had slender builds but passed that test. Maybe it's just a slender cat. If that were the case, as before I don't think it's a good idea to feed it just because you encourage the "second home" syndrome. I still think putting a note on the cat is the act of an a.shole. > > > >I have a question. How would the people who pinned the note on the > > > >cat, implying they had no first hand knowledge of who was feeding it, [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > > > MaryL >Maybe it's just a slender cat. If that were the case, as >before I don't think it's a good idea to feed it just because you >encourage the "second home" syndrome. I still think putting a note on >the cat is the act of an a.shole. Of course it is. Someone who is more concerned with ownership and control than the welfare of the cat. Else the cat would have had a collar & I.D. to begin with. I don't think well-fed cats go out and beg for food either; in my experience the trim cats I've had are picky eaters anyway. Then there are the opportunistic eaters, who who *would* eat what anyone put out, but those that I've had were on the heavy side. Sherry > >Maybe it's just a slender cat. If that were the case, as > >before I don't think it's a good idea to feed it just because you [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Sherry A slim cat (not too skinny) is a healthy cat! we always thought Bebe was under weight but my vet said she is perfect, over weight cats are un healthy and the owner is abusing the cat. >A slim cat (not too skinny) is a healthy cat! we always thought Bebe was >under weight but my vet said she is perfect, over weight cats are un healthy >and the owner is abusing the cat. I wouldn't go as far as to say a fat cat has an abusive owner. From my experience with rescues, they have gone so long not knowing when the next meal is, they wolf down everything whether they're hungry or not. "Opportunistic eating" if you will. It's difficult to keep them from overeating when you're feeding multiple cats, and picky eaters among them. Grossly obese cats, yeah, I guess so. But many of my rescues have been a bit on the "fluffy" side no matter how diligent I try to be with their feeding. Sherry >> A slim cat (not too skinny) is a healthy cat! we always thought >> Bebe was under weight but my vet said she is perfect, over weight [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Sherry I am NOT abusive to Shadow!!! :( >>> A slim cat (not too skinny) is a healthy cat! we always thought >>> Bebe was under weight but my vet said she is perfect, over weight [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > >I am NOT abusive to Shadow!!! :( Of course you aren't. Shadow isn't fat. He's.....fluffy. Right? Sherry >>>>A slim cat (not too skinny) is a healthy cat! we always thought >>>>Bebe was under weight but my vet said she is perfect, over weight [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Sherry Just like my Audrey is! :) >>>> A slim cat (not too skinny) is a healthy cat! we always thought >>>> Bebe was under weight but my vet said she is perfect, over weight [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Sherry Yeah, that's it. ;) I was just playin with ya Sherry... like I said to Lyn, I feel bad about his weight but it's better to see him this way then how he was last year. Working on it! >> Of course you aren't. Shadow isn't fat. He's.....fluffy. Right? >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >to Lyn, I feel bad about his weight but it's better to see him this >way then how he was last year. Working on it! IMO, Shadow needs the reserve anyway. See Lyn's post. Boottygirl is so doggone picky. If she ever gets sick, she would get down fast. There's just no reserve. Sherry >>> Of course you aren't. Shadow isn't fat. He's.....fluffy. Right? >>> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Sherry Have you had any luck with her and some of the food suggestions? Does she pass on Fancy Feast? Not that you want a FF junkie but it's good for weight gain. :) I found a canned food at Petco that both Shadow and Shamrock will eat called Petreet. Chicken and rice, though it's a bit costly. But it looks halfway decent ingredient-wise, and since Shadow is so picky with canned food, it must taste pretty good. >Have you had any luck with her and some of the food suggestions? Does >she pass on Fancy Feast? Not that you want a FF junkie but it's good >for weight gain. :) I found a canned food at Petco that both Shadow >and Shamrock will eat called Petreet. Chicken and rice, though it's a >bit costly. But it looks halfway decent ingredient-wise, and since >Shadow is so picky with canned food, it must taste pretty good. Petreet.I've never seen it but I'll look. Oh, yes, Her Royal Bootness turns her nose up at Fancy Feast too. Ditto canned SD, Pro Plan, Nutro. We've tried everything. Pro Plan dry is about it. I had a leftover piece of Mahi mahi and she ate every crumb the other day. Go figure. Sherry >> Have you had any luck with her and some of the food suggestions? >> Does [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Sherry LOL That sounds like Bonnie. I can't get that girl to eat canned food. She isn't skinny at all (now) but she is so stubborn it's maddening. She wraps herself around my legs in the mornings to be fed because I give her dry in the morning and canned at night and she won't eat it. I've tried so many different kinds and even tried switching her to canned in the morning when I know she's hungry and she won't go for it. Since I'm gone for like 10 hours I give in and give her dry. I might try reversing the plan and give her dry at night and canned in the morning... but then she'd have to go all day without eating if she won't touch it. She's very mean when she's hungry. lol When I withhold dry food at night she attacks my feet all night for me to feed her. I've lost lots of sleep. > >> A slim cat (not too skinny) is a healthy cat! we always thought > >> Bebe was under weight but my vet said she is perfect, over weight > >> cats are un healthy and the owner is abusing the cat. > > I wouldn't go as far as to say a fat cat has an abusive owner. > > From my experience with rescues, they have gone so long not knowing [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > I am NOT abusive to Shadow!!! :( I don't think ANYONE who reads this ng for any period of time would even *remotely* think that you are. Hell, you treat your cats better than I treat mine, and I wouldn't say that about very many people. ;) -L. >> I am NOT abusive to Shadow!!! :( > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > -L. I know.. I had to say that. lol I feel bad about his weight but I've been battling with this cats weight ever since he got some meat on his bones after I got him. I know I didn't know how to feed cats back then but I'm learning and trying. :) > >> . > >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > I am NOT abusive to Shadow!!! :( oh Cherly I wasn't saying you were! I am really sorry :- <cut and paste> A slim cat (not too skinny) is a healthy cat! we always thought Bebe was under weight but my vet said she is perfect, over weight cats are un healthy and the owner is abusing the cat I said what my vet said to me about Bebe, because I am not used to having slim cats! and thought she was under weight, sorry should of "Quoted" vet correctly I am sorry > > >Maybe it's just a slender cat. If that were the case, as > > >before I don't think it's a good idea to feed it just because you [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > under weight but my vet said she is perfect, over weight cats are un healthy > and the owner is abusing the cat. If your cat gets deathly ill, you will find out really quickly that his "slimness" isn't in his best interest. I have seen "slim" cats NOT recover from surgery and illness simply because they do not have the fat reserves to bounce back. A cat should be solid, with enough fat on its body to get it through a major stress. Some vets are way out of control in the "your cat has to be this skinny" ideology. They are vets who A) Don't treat a lot of cats and/or B) Have weight issues themselves. I've seen the type. I have a cat that ideally should weigh 19-20lbs - that's when he is in great shape and carries enough weight to get him through. A shitty vet told me he needed to be at 12lbs. I told her he was at 12lbs at about 6 months old - this cat is about 25 inches long, without tail. He cat recently got sick and dropped to under 17 lbs - he was sickly looking and scrawny. I would hate to see him at 12lbs. Needless to say, we won't see that vet again. -L. > > > >Maybe it's just a slender cat. If that were the case, as > > > >before I don't think it's a good idea to feed it just because you [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > NOT recover from surgery and illness simply because they do not have > the fat reserves to bounce back. Yes I agree with you! we were worried about Bebe being so slim! we tried all sorts of tip bits etc to try and get her to put on some weight! it was my vet that said it not me! > A cat should be solid, with enough fat on its body to get it through a > major stress. yes I agree with you totally, > Some vets are way out of control in the "your cat has to be this > skinny" ideology. They are vets who A) Don't treat a lot of cats > and/or B) Have weight issues themselves. I've seen the type. my vet is at a cats clinic, she specialises in cats only, has a few herself too... maybe Bebe is not under weight but I am used to having older plumper cats. > I have a cat that ideally should weigh 19-20lbs - that's when he is in > great shape and carries enough weight to get him through. A shitty > vet told me he needed to be at 12lbs. I told her he was at 12lbs at > about 6 months old - this cat is about 25 inches long, without tail. > He cat recently got sick and dropped to under 17 lbs - he was sickly > looking and scrawny. I would hate to see him at 12lbs. Both of my kitten weigh more than Bebe, they are 5 months and 7 months old, she is very lean but has a lovely shinny coat, bright clear eyes etc. and does eat but is very fussy. I would love her to put on more weight, she is 14 months maybe when she is older she will > Needless to say, we won't see that vet again. > -L. > > A slim cat (not too skinny) is a healthy cat! we always thought > > Bebe was under weight but my vet said she is perfect, over [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > skinny" ideology. They are vets who A) Don't treat a lot of cats > and/or B) Have weight issues themselves. I've seen the type. Hmmmm.... a veterinarian practicing "projection." By the same token, plenty of cat owners practice projecting THEIR biases onto their pets. Fat people don't often have skinny cats ... have you noticed? LOL -- ~~Philip "Never let school interfere with your education - Mark Twain" > > > A slim cat (not too skinny) is a healthy cat! we always thought > > > Bebe was under weight but my vet said she is perfect, over [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > ~~Philip well I am slim, 8st 8oz and 5ft 5 now I know why Bebe is slim ;-) In news:bl9vo7$jf0$1@titan.btinternet.com, ~*SooZy*~ <soozyqureshi@cathotmail.com> being of bellicose mind posted: > > > > A slim cat (not too skinny) is a healthy cat! we always > > > > thought Bebe was under weight but my vet said she is [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > well I am slim, 8st 8oz and 5ft 5 now I know why Bebe is slim ;-) Hmmm... (converting to American figures). About 112 pounds. That's slim. -- ~~Philip "Never let school interfere with your education - Mark Twain" > I asked that myself when I was chatting online with the girl who is feeding > the cat... she doesn't know, but it could be a couple of possibilities we [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > looked skinny and would like some food. So maybe the owners are keeping her > trim, but not unhealthy? The cat may be on a special diet for medical reasons. But obviously, the cat isn't being fed enough. I would be inclined to pay the assholio a turn in-kind and put a note on the cat that said: "If you do not want me to feed your cat, then feed it enough, yourself. The cat is obviously hungry and underfed. If the cat is hungry, and on my property, it WILL be fed." Better than that, I'd be inclined to make sure kitty "disappeared". The cat belongs to someone who isn't properly caring for it. -L. > > I asked that myself when I was chatting online with the girl who is feeding > > the cat... she doesn't know, but it could be a couple of possibilities we [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > -L. While I'm inclined to believe that the czt may be underfed in this instance (and we can't really know without seeing what it looks like), I can tell you from experience that the fact that a cat will eat at someone's home other than its owner's doesn't mean the owner isn't feeding it enough. When I was growing up, we had an indoor/outdoor cat who was fed regularly (hell, my parents served him scrambled eggs for breakfast every morning) and, while he wasn't fat, you could tell he didn't have any problem getting enough to eat. But I can remember instances where he would go missing for days (I was pretty attached to the cat and would get upset when he would go on these "trips") and then show up at home without a care in the world. We knew he had another "home on the side" somewhere but we never figured out where it was. If a cat happens to find himself somewhere where there are people he/she trusts and he/she's feeling peckish, he/she ain't gonna turn down a meal. :-) > I have a friend... no really, it isn't me... but my friend is being visited > by a cat who she said looked skinny when she first started coming around. [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > In your opinions, how should I advise my friend? Ignore the note and continue to feed the cat. In fact, if the collar wasn't a break-away collar, I'd take it off the cat for the cat's safety, and buy her a breakaway collar. Mind-boggling that a person would put a collar on a cat to send a message but not for ID in case the cat is picked up by Animal Control. If the cat is skinny due to malnourishment, I'd adopt the cat and let the so-called owners jump through hoops trying to prove ownership... in court. Since your friend has been feeding the cat regularly, she could be considered the "owner". To make sure the cat is ok, and also to strengthen her case for ownership, tell your friend to take the cat to a vet for an exam. If the cat is eating at home and at your friend's home, and the cat is still skinny, she may be hyperthyroid or diabetic and in need of immediate veterinary care. Another thing that bothers me very much: Your friend let the cat in her home when the weather was bad. Why didn't the cat go back to her own home in bad weather? Could be locked out during the day. Why was the cat out in bad weather in the first place? ...and another thing: I'd be concerned about the cat eating prey that may have consumed rodent poison or prey that may be infected with toxoplasmosis. I'd have no compunction about adopting the cat. Phil. . |
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