I know this is a lame question....but seriously, my cats are outrageous. I had them on a self-feeder when I broke my leg because it was easier. now, i am trying to wean them off of it. they act like they are dying. i am trying to feed them twice a day now and they are not having it. constantly meowing, climbing on tables, etc.
what's the norm? do you think they just have to adjust to the new system?
I fed mine twice a day. first thing in the morning and at supper time.
they felt very abused and were a giant pain in the ass about it. They would have much prefered I waited on them with white gloves and served them in crystal bowls at their whim.
As a fellow cat owner, and not someone that is not at all qualified to giving pet adviced (sorry, it's my new standard greeting, lol.) they need about 30 calories per pound per day. Most cat food is around 275-325 cals per cup. So, basically, an average size cat would need about a cup a day but it doesn't really matter when they get it, but if you want to get real specific about only giving them what they need, you can just calculate it out if you know what they weigh. I feed mine twice a day. Sometimes the same amount of food spread out over 3-4 times, because he feels the need to graze or he'll be a douche and bring me home a bird to show me how to properly make food. It's like nursing. Give them it several times a day, and ween them down to whatever is realistic for you. Cats, for being low maintenance, are so *not* low maintenance, lol.
-- Edited by Cuppycake on Monday 18th of April 2011 07:07:02 AM
As a fellow cat owner, and not someone that is not at all qualified to giving pet adviced (sorry, it's my new standard greeting, lol.) they need about 30 calories per pound per day. Most cat food is around 275-325 cals per cup. So, basically, an average size cat would need about a cup a day but it doesn't really matter when they get it, but if you want to get real specific about only giving them what they need, you can just calculate it out if you know what they weigh. I feed mine twice a day. Sometimes the same amount of food spread out over 3-4 times, because he feels the need to graze or he'll be a douche and bring me home a bird to show me how to properly make food. It's like nursing. Give them it several times a day, and ween them down to whatever is realistic for you. Cats, for being low maintenance, are so *not* low maintenance, lol.
-- Edited by Cuppycake on Monday 18th of April 2011 07:07:02 AM
Thanks Leah!! This is super helpful! I can't wait to to check my cat food for calorie count...lol
I fed mine twice a day. first thing in the morning and at supper time.
they felt very abused and were a giant pain in the ass about it. They would have much prefered I waited on them with white gloves and served them in crystal bowls at their whim.
diva princesses.
Ha!! this describes mine perfectly!! (only they're boys...lol)
As a fellow cat owner, and not someone that is not at all qualified to giving pet adviced (sorry, it's my new standard greeting, lol.) they need about 30 calories per pound per day. Most cat food is around 275-325 cals per cup. So, basically, an average size cat would need about a cup a day but it doesn't really matter when they get it, but if you want to get real specific about only giving them what they need, you can just calculate it out if you know what they weigh. I feed mine twice a day. Sometimes the same amount of food spread out over 3-4 times, because he feels the need to graze or he'll be a douche and bring me home a bird to show me how to properly make food. It's like nursing. Give them it several times a day, and ween them down to whatever is realistic for you. Cats, for being low maintenance, are so *not* low maintenance, lol.
-- Edited by Cuppycake on Monday 18th of April 2011 07:07:02 AM
oh so does hunting mean they are hungry? we had a bird who got trapped in our house (they often fall in through the chiimeny and get trapped in the fireplace) and before we could get it out - one of my cats got it. so, i had to chase him through the house with a bird in his mouth...what fun ;)
I leave a bowl out and only do dry food. My cats never seem to "abuse" the bowl.
are they older cats?
yes, 7 and 10, but we have always done it this way. From the time they were little. We never had a problem. they graze and eat when they are hungry.
Ill trade ya ;) i think my cats are just adjusting, i guess. it's so funny how different they are and yet they are brothers. my one cat is so fat his belly hangs down and the other one, we call "slim" but he actually eats more than the other one.
I fed mine twice a day. first thing in the morning and at supper time.
they felt very abused and were a giant pain in the ass about it. They would have much prefered I waited on them with white gloves and served them in crystal bowls at their whim.
diva princesses.
Ha!! this describes mine perfectly!! (only they're boys...lol)
As a fellow cat owner, and not someone that is not at all qualified to giving pet adviced (sorry, it's my new standard greeting, lol.) they need about 30 calories per pound per day. Most cat food is around 275-325 cals per cup. So, basically, an average size cat would need about a cup a day but it doesn't really matter when they get it, but if you want to get real specific about only giving them what they need, you can just calculate it out if you know what they weigh. I feed mine twice a day. Sometimes the same amount of food spread out over 3-4 times, because he feels the need to graze or he'll be a douche and bring me home a bird to show me how to properly make food. It's like nursing. Give them it several times a day, and ween them down to whatever is realistic for you. Cats, for being low maintenance, are so *not* low maintenance, lol.
-- Edited by Cuppycake on Monday 18th of April 2011 07:07:02 AM
oh so does hunting mean they are hungry? we had a bird who got trapped in our house (they often fall in through the chiimeny and get trapped in the fireplace) and before we could get it out - one of my cats got it. so, i had to chase him through the house with a bird in his mouth...what fun ;)
I think a lot of is just cat nature! We used to have a feral that we fed- kept her in a constant supply of food and water- in return, she kept us in a constant supply of dead field mice. It was like her way of saying, "Thanks! I got rid of the mice for you." Not so nice to step on but still.
The two we have now we do like Melissa- I leave about a cup of food out for them to graze on. If it gets low and Jack (the adult) does his cat rubbing/"I'm going to trip you" routine, I know he's hungry. :D Jiji follows Jack. Whatever he does, she does.
Same here as Melissa. We have three cats, and I just keep the bowl filled. None of them are waaay overweight. Maybe a pound or so.... I used to just feed them Friskies, but did recently start giving them the more expensive stuff, because my 15 yo female cat seemed to be having some urinary tract problems and the doc. put her on special food. :eyeroll
Maybe a pound or so.... I used to just feed them Friskies, but did recently start giving them the more expensive stuff, because my 15 yo female cat seemed to be having some urinary tract problems and the doc. put her on special food. :eyeroll
