|
|
Post by arati on Dec 1, 2013 9:33:54 GMT
I would really appreciate some help and advice from anyone! I have a 4 year old cat called Eco and a 6 month old kitten Otis. Eco has always, always been a grazer, and in addition to this, is just so INCREDIBLY fussy. However, our kitten Otis is beyond greedy. He will eat and eat until he vomits, and is now a real fatty. We tried initiating meals instead of free feeding as we were assured that Eco would adapt. However, 3 months later, this has still not happened. When we tried it, he actually lost half a kilo (and really does not need to at all) rather than switch his eating patterns. We are now constantly putting little bits of food out for Eco, throughout the day and night on demand, and holding Otis while he eats (otherwise Otis pushes in out of the way and eats everything). Help please!
|
|
|
|
Post by tonib on Dec 1, 2013 12:02:32 GMT
Welcome to the forum arati. Oh dear, that is a difficult one. We had a similar situation in that we had 3 cats one of which would finish the other's food whilst we were at work. However we were lucky in that Penny (the finisher) is the oldest & a bit arthritic & we were able to change to feeding the other 2 on the worktops so she couldn't get it as she couldn't jump that high. Somehow I don't think that will work with a kitten!! However is there anywhere you can feed Eco which he can get to & Otis can't - Ait drastic but a catflap between rooms which only Eco can activate (microchip/collar tag)? We had Penny on various foods during her diet stages but after she had lost her weight we tried Hills Metabolic which seemed to work it keeping the weight off (it is also used to lose weight) & she didn't always finish it but seemed full. I know someone else on the forum is also giving it a try in a multicat household is using it so that one cat can maintain their current weight & the other lose weight. Since then we acquired another cat & she has complicated matters as she has a sensitive stomach & can't eat some foods that the other's like & doesn't respect other cat's food. As Penny is on meds for her athritis we can't leave her food down any more in case Lexie finishes it. We now feed Lexie in a separate room & remove the others food whilst she is about - although the James WellBeloved dry can be eaten by both her & Roman so we can leave that out but Osiris doesn't eat dry (he hates it). Luckily I'm retired so in a position to provide food almost on demand. Have you checked with your vet that there is no medical reason why Otis eats until he's sick? Hope someone comes up with a solution for you. Let us know how you get on. |
|
|
|
Post by spider on Dec 2, 2013 23:41:47 GMT
i think a kitten will still be on kitten food until almost 12 months old because of all the nutrients in kitten food and kittens use a lot of calories running and playing and growing maby being sick is something to do with the cat food most kittens are plump little tubs at six months but the sickness may be a job for a vet
|
|
|
|
Post by arati on Dec 3, 2013 22:13:27 GMT
Thank you both so much for your input!
The kitten is still on kitten food, but the problem is that he is so greedy that he will gobble up his food and then eat the older cat's (Eco) food as well. Because Eco is a grazer, he will leave his food unattended for the kitten to eat. And the kitten has been to the vet for a check up. The verdict is that he is just extremely greedy! He does not vomit after every meal, but only when he has had a chance to gulp food down unchecked (I.e. When my husband is in charge!).
The vet actually mentioned to me today that she has seen a food bowl that opens in response to a cat's microchip, and then closes when that cat moves away. Unfortunately, they are not on the market yet, but once they are, this might be the answer to our problems! Try as we might at the moment, we can't seem to budge either of our cat's feeding habits...
|
|
|
|
Post by tonib on Dec 4, 2013 0:59:55 GMT
Now that bowl would be a good idea for our cats - lets hope they get it on the market soon.
Wish we could think of a solution for you in the meantime.
|
|
|
|
Post by heartpawprints on Dec 4, 2013 18:47:34 GMT
Perhaps you will just have to feed them separately. I would keep an eye on the vomiting thing though as one of mine did that and he did need medication. When kitten has become an adult, an option may be to put them both on Metabolism food which is by Hills Science or the other one? I use it to slim down a fat cat and to maintain the weight on the non-fat one.
|
|
