Feeding questions

We have a 16 year old spayed female tabby, Tigger, who has a tendency to be
overweight. We got her down to 9 lbs. but this is still a little heavy for
her frame. It is imperative to keep her weight down as she has arthritis.

We also have a 1-2 yr. old long hair spayed female, Isabel. We recently
adopted her from a local shelter and she appeared to be grossly overweight
(her picture was in the dictionary next to bowling ball). We are trying to
get her down to a healthy weight.

Our third cat, Boots, is 12 weeks old. He is the last of a litter of kittens
we ended up bottle feeding when Mom took off and left them on our property.
The last of his siblings were adopted last Saturday.

Now to the feeding question. Since Boot's siblings have left he has decided
he doesn't want to eat the kitten food. He wants to eat the same food as the
adult cats. How long should he be on kitten food? I hesitate to ask as I
gather there is a debate over dry and wet food but should he be on more
"wet" food because he is a male? He doesn't seem to want to eat much at one
sitting but would rather munch during the day. This is a challenge as Isabel
is a total chow hound and must be watched like a hawk or she'll eat the
kitten food if left out.

Any suggestions how to handle the needs of all these guys so that they all
get what they need?

W

From: "Wendy"

Since Boot's siblings have left he has decided
he doesn't want to eat the kitten food. He wants to eat the same food as the
adult cats. How long should he be on kitten food? I hesitate to ask as I
gather there is a debate over dry and wet food but should he be on more
"wet" food because he is a male? He doesn't seem to want to eat much at one
sitting but would rather munch during the day. This is a challenge as Isabel
is a total chow hound and must be watched like a hawk or she'll eat the
kitten food if left out.

Any suggestions how to handle the needs of all these guys so that they all
get what they need?

W

You could feed the kitten separately and usually kitten food is fed until the
cat is 1 year old. Or, you could feed an "all life stages" food for all the
cats. Canned is definitely better for them than dry food which tends to be
more cereal than meat.

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

Or, you could feed an "all life stages" food for all the
cats.

That is definitely NOT good advice. All life stage foods are formulated for
kittens and may contain nutrient levels (of fat, phosphorus, calcium,
magnesium, sodium, etc.) not appropriate for senior and/or adult cats.

Canned is definitely better for them than dry food which tends to be
more cereal than meat.


Canned is a good idea but not because of the "cereal vs meat" argument. (what
kind of cereal is that? Frosted Flakes?? lol) Canned foods are mostly water
and getting enough water into the cats should be a goal of proper nutrition.

Or, you could feed an "all life stages" food for all the
cats.

That is definitely NOT good advice. All life stage foods are formulated for
kittens and may contain nutrient levels (of fat, phosphorus, calcium,
magnesium, sodium, etc.) not appropriate for senior and/or adult cats.

Canned is definitely better for them than dry food which tends to be
more cereal than meat.


Canned is a good idea but not because of the "cereal vs meat" argument. (what
kind of cereal is that? Frosted Flakes?? lol) Canned foods are mostly water
and getting enough water into the cats should be a goal of proper nutrition.

Boots ended up in the bathroom this morning to allow the other two to eat.
He is a bold little bugger and doesn't hesitate to shove his way in to the
food bowls while the big girls are trying to eat. I think Tiggy is totally
traumatized as she took to pooping in various location around the house this
morning - on purpose. I've been keeping the kitten food in the "box" the
kittens were in when they were smaller. The top is open so Boots can jump in
himself to eat. As long as Isabel doesn't see anyone put food in there she's
leaving it alone and poor Tiggy couldn't jump in there to save her soul with
her arthritis.

I'm beginning to think that having cats of such different ages and
requirements may have been a big mistake.

W

"PawsForThought" wrote in message
...
From: "Wendy"



You could feed the kitten separately and usually kitten food is fed until
the
cat is 1 year old. Or, you could feed an "all life stages" food for all the
cats. Canned is definitely better for them than dry food which tends to be
more cereal than meat.

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

From: "Wendy"

Boots ended up in the bathroom this morning to allow the other two to eat.
He is a bold little bugger and doesn't hesitate to shove his way in to the
food bowls while the big girls are trying to eat.

But it's good he has a healthy appetite

I think Tiggy is totally
traumatized as she took to pooping in various location around the house this
morning - on purpose.

Is this the first time this has happened? How many litter boxes do you have?


I'm beginning to think that having cats of such different ages and
requirements may have been a big mistake.

Yeah but before you know it, the kitten will be full grown

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

Tiggy has gone outside the box a few times in the last few years mostly on
the days when she's really walking stiffly. However, those occasions it's
been in just one spot. This morning she left some in two different spots in
the bedroom, one in the living room and I caught her in the act of leaving
another present in the living room. I suspect Tiggy is displeased.

We have three litter boxes going and have been cleaning them out daily.

W

"PawsForThought" wrote in message
...
From: "Wendy"


I think Tiggy is totally
traumatized as she took to pooping in various location around the house
this
morning - on purpose.

Is this the first time this has happened? How many litter boxes do you
have?




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

Tiggy has gone outside the box a few times in the last few years mostly on
the days when she's really walking stiffly. However, those occasions it's
been in just one spot. This morning she left some in two different spots in
the bedroom, one in the living room and I caught her in the act of leaving
another present in the living room. I suspect Tiggy is displeased.

We have three litter boxes going and have been cleaning them out daily.

W

"PawsForThought" wrote in message
...
From: "Wendy"


I think Tiggy is totally
traumatized as she took to pooping in various location around the house
this
morning - on purpose.

Is this the first time this has happened? How many litter boxes do you
have?




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

From: "Wendy"

Boots ended up in the bathroom this morning to allow the other two to eat.
He is a bold little bugger and doesn't hesitate to shove his way in to the
food bowls while the big girls are trying to eat.

But it's good he has a healthy appetite

I think Tiggy is totally
traumatized as she took to pooping in various location around the house this
morning - on purpose.

Is this the first time this has happened? How many litter boxes do you have?


I'm beginning to think that having cats of such different ages and
requirements may have been a big mistake.

Yeah but before you know it, the kitten will be full grown

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

Boots ended up in the bathroom this morning to allow the other two to eat.
He is a bold little bugger and doesn't hesitate to shove his way in to the
food bowls while the big girls are trying to eat. I think Tiggy is totally
traumatized as she took to pooping in various location around the house this
morning - on purpose. I've been keeping the kitten food in the "box" the
kittens were in when they were smaller. The top is open so Boots can jump in
himself to eat. As long as Isabel doesn't see anyone put food in there she's
leaving it alone and poor Tiggy couldn't jump in there to save her soul with
her arthritis.

I'm beginning to think that having cats of such different ages and
requirements may have been a big mistake.

W

"PawsForThought" wrote in message
...
From: "Wendy"



You could feed the kitten separately and usually kitten food is fed until
the
cat is 1 year old. Or, you could feed an "all life stages" food for all the
cats. Canned is definitely better for them than dry food which tends to be
more cereal than meat.

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