If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Feeling pretty crappy ...
You know how cats are picky eaters?
Well, when Oscar started refusing her wet food, I figured it was because I'd given her dry food while we went on several overnight trips. I know that she loves kibble, so I figured she was just holding out for the dry stuff. Except she was losing weight. Well, a lot of cats lose some weight in the spring time ... I monitored her behavior carefully, and while she was eating only a few bites of her food, she was still energetic, clear-eyed, got the zoomies, etc. She didn't seem like a cat who was suffering from starvation or any other illness, except that she was getting pretty skinny. I even tried poking a few kibble into her wet food to stimulate her appetite; not much luck. Well, this weekend, I finally went and bought some other flavors of wet food, to see if maybe it was just this flavor. As soon as I served up something other than the cans I'd been feeding her, she fell to like a lumberjack eating a hearty meal of pancakes before a long day's work. Or maybe like a starving cat. Now I feel really sh*tty because I should have realized that something was wrong. Oscar's an indoor kitty, so it's not like she can go hunting if she doesn't like the meals. I had thought she'd eaten this flavor she's rejecting before, but now I'm thinking I misremembered. I got it because it's not seafood -- she much prefers the seafood, and I worry about mercury. She's pretty impressed with a pheasant food (I would never have guessed that, but the lady at my pet store gave me a free can to try), but that has rice in it, and I try to stay away from carb-y foods for her ... Sigh. Monique, cat-starver =/ |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Feeling pretty crappy ...
"Monique Y. Mudama" wrote I had thought she'd eaten this flavor she's rejecting before, but now I'm thinking I misremembered. I got it because it's not seafood -- she much prefers the seafood, and I worry about mercury. I don't think there's much of mercury problem with most seafood outside of shrimp and tuna. Salmon is ideal because it's farm-raised. the lady at my pet store gave me a free can to try), but that has rice in it, and I try to stay away from carb-y foods for her ... Again, I don't think you need to worry about rice, as they probably use whole grain which is not nearly as dangerous, carb-wise, as white rice. Hey, we all make silly mistakes. Try pleasing seven kitties with one type of food! But they eventually adapt and eat whatever is served. The only thing that absolutely won't get touched around here is any of the cheap, off-brand stuff, even if it came from a can. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Feeling pretty crappy ...
I don't think there's much of mercury problem with most seafood outside of
shrimp and tuna. Salmon is ideal because it's farm-raised. But unfortunately farmed salmon is full of PCB's. -- Message posted via CatKB.com http://www.catkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx...dotes/200603/1 |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Feeling pretty crappy ...
Monique Y. Mudama wrote:
As soon as I served up something other than the cans I'd been feeding her, she fell to like a lumberjack eating a hearty meal of pancakes before a long day's work. Or maybe like a starving cat. Aww, don't feel bad. You do the best you can. We can't read their minds. Hope Oscar's appetite will be good from now on. -- Marina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. marina (dot) kurten (at) iki (dot) fi Stories and pics at http://koti.welho.com/mkurten/ Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Feeling pretty crappy ...
Monique Y. Mudama wrote:
You know how cats are picky eaters? Well, when Oscar started refusing her wet food, I figured it was because I'd given her dry food while we went on several overnight trips. I know that she loves kibble, so I figured she was just holding out for the dry stuff. Except she was losing weight. Well, a lot of cats lose some weight in the spring time ... I monitored her behavior carefully, and while she was eating only a few bites of her food, she was still energetic, clear-eyed, got the zoomies, etc. She didn't seem like a cat who was suffering from starvation or any other illness, except that she was getting pretty skinny. I even tried poking a few kibble into her wet food to stimulate her appetite; not much luck. Well, this weekend, I finally went and bought some other flavors of wet food, to see if maybe it was just this flavor. As soon as I served up something other than the cans I'd been feeding her, she fell to like a lumberjack eating a hearty meal of pancakes before a long day's work. Or maybe like a starving cat. Now I feel really sh*tty because I should have realized that something was wrong. Oscar's an indoor kitty, so it's not like she can go hunting if she doesn't like the meals. I had thought she'd eaten this flavor she's rejecting before, but now I'm thinking I misremembered. I got it because it's not seafood -- she much prefers the seafood, and I worry about mercury. She's pretty impressed with a pheasant food (I would never have guessed that, but the lady at my pet store gave me a free can to try), but that has rice in it, and I try to stay away from carb-y foods for her ... Sigh. Monique, cat-starver =/ You couldn't have known that, Monique! I guess Oscar just needed a change in her diet. Best wishes, Polonca and Soncek |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Feeling pretty crappy ...
"Monique Y. Mudama" wrote in message ... You know how cats are picky eaters? Well, when Oscar started refusing her wet food, I figured it was because I'd given her dry food while we went on several overnight trips. I know that she loves kibble, so I figured she was just holding out for the dry stuff. Except she was losing weight. Well, a lot of cats lose some weight in the spring time ... I monitored her behavior carefully, and while she was eating only a few bites of her food, she was still energetic, clear-eyed, got the zoomies, etc. She didn't seem like a cat who was suffering from starvation or any other illness, except that she was getting pretty skinny. I even tried poking a few kibble into her wet food to stimulate her appetite; not much luck. Well, this weekend, I finally went and bought some other flavors of wet food, to see if maybe it was just this flavor. As soon as I served up something other than the cans I'd been feeding her, she fell to like a lumberjack eating a hearty meal of pancakes before a long day's work. Or maybe like a starving cat. Now I feel really sh*tty because I should have realized that something was wrong. Oscar's an indoor kitty, so it's not like she can go hunting if she doesn't like the meals. I had thought she'd eaten this flavor she's rejecting before, but now I'm thinking I misremembered. I got it because it's not seafood -- she much prefers the seafood, and I worry about mercury. She's pretty impressed with a pheasant food (I would never have guessed that, but the lady at my pet store gave me a free can to try), but that has rice in it, and I try to stay away from carb-y foods for her ... Sigh. Monique, cat-starver =/ You are not a "cat-starver." There was food there if Oscar had deigned to eat it. My cats have tried to play this one on me and I have called their bluff. If they turn their nose up because "we don't want the lamb flavour today" it's removed. There is nothing until the next meal (2x/day) It's surprising how they have suddenly decided they like what I give them. I do not play the food game with them any more when I used to try and find more yummy food that they might like better. They eat what I provide or go without. It works. Tweed |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Feeling pretty crappy ...
On 2006-03-23, Christina Websell penned:
You are not a "cat-starver." There was food there if Oscar had deigned to eat it. My cats have tried to play this one on me and I have called their bluff. If they turn their nose up because "we don't want the lamb flavour today" it's removed. There is nothing until the next meal (2x/day) It's surprising how they have suddenly decided they like what I give them. I do not play the food game with them any more when I used to try and find more yummy food that they might like better. They eat what I provide or go without. It works. Yes, but your cats do have the option to hunt for themselves (well, Boyfie might hunt for KFC, lately, it sounds like). If I fed Oscar food that was somehow contaminated, she would have no options. Also, how long did it take for them to break down and eat the food you provided? Oscar got noticably skinnier; enough so that I could feel her hip bones and her backbone was more prominent to the touch than I would like. True, she was behaving normally, so it probably isn't as bad as it sounds ... but still scary. It honestly seemed like she would rather starve than eat that food. We went through most of a case (20? 24? cans) of this flavor before I caved. Fortunately, I can go back to the pet store and trade the unused cans for a flavor she will like. DH also says that if she's really hungry, she'll eat. But she got skinny enough that I was afraid to call her bluff. -- monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Feeling pretty crappy ...
Monique Y. Mudama wrote:
It honestly seemed like she would rather starve than eat that food. We went through most of a case (20? 24? cans) of this flavor before I caved. Wow! That's a lot of cans. I wonder if there was something not quite right about that food? I would expect a cat to eat anything edible if it's really, really hungry (to the point of actually losing weight), but maybe if the cat thinks there's something wrong with the food, they won't eat it no matter what. DH also says that if she's really hungry, she'll eat. But she got skinny enough that I was afraid to call her bluff. I think you did the right thing by changing the food. This isn't just a case of a cat being finicky and manipulating you. After she refused the food over and over, I think you correctly interpreted that she does not want it! But please don't feel guilty about it - if she appeared to be eating it, and continued to act normally, then you would have no reason to think anything was amiss. Once you noticed her weight loss, then you were alerted to her eating patterns. I can't imagine how you would have figured it out any other way. Joyce |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Feeling pretty crappy ...
Monique Y. Mudama wrote:
Sigh. Monique, cat-starver =/ Aw, you're not a cat-starver. She just changed her mind about what she wanted and didn't mind-meld to you about it. She'll be fine. -- Sam, closely supervised by Mistletoe |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Feeling pretty crappy ...
"Monique Y. Mudama" wrote in message ... You know how cats are picky eaters? Well, when Oscar started refusing her wet food, I figured it was because I'd given her dry food while we went on several overnight trips. I know that she loves kibble, so I figured she was just holding out for the dry stuff. Except she was losing weight. Well, a lot of cats lose some weight in the spring time ... I monitored her behavior carefully, and while she was eating only a few bites of her food, she was still energetic, clear-eyed, got the zoomies, etc. She didn't seem like a cat who was suffering from starvation or any other illness, except that she was getting pretty skinny. I even tried poking a few kibble into her wet food to stimulate her appetite; not much luck. Well, this weekend, I finally went and bought some other flavors of wet food, to see if maybe it was just this flavor. As soon as I served up something other than the cans I'd been feeding her, she fell to like a lumberjack eating a hearty meal of pancakes before a long day's work. Or maybe like a starving cat. Now I feel really sh*tty because I should have realized that something was wrong. Oscar's an indoor kitty, so it's not like she can go hunting if she doesn't like the meals. I had thought she'd eaten this flavor she's rejecting before, but now I'm thinking I misremembered. I got it because it's not seafood -- she much prefers the seafood, and I worry about mercury. She's pretty impressed with a pheasant food (I would never have guessed that, but the lady at my pet store gave me a free can to try), but that has rice in it, and I try to stay away from carb-y foods for her ... Sigh. Monique, cat-starver =/ I know exactly how you feel, Monique. I felt the same way when Vino wasn't eating his kibble, the stuff we eventually dumped out and a dog crapped on it. I opened a new bag of food and he eats it no problem. Sheesh, talk about a guilt trip! I'm glad Oscar's eating her new food now. She must be the opposite of Vino, he doesn't care for any of the seafood flavours. -- Britta |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
other old pretty elbows will fear wistfully below clouds | V. M. Cantrell | Cat anecdotes | 0 | September 12th 05 12:20 PM |
gawd, aches smell above hot mornings, unless they're pretty | Professor I. Johnston | Cat anecdotes | 0 | September 12th 05 10:06 AM |
who pours wanly, when Zack calls the pretty dryer before the morning | Greasy Sucker | Cat anecdotes | 0 | September 11th 05 02:13 PM |
Mike's feeling better!! | LOL | Cat anecdotes | 21 | February 28th 04 05:49 PM |
Feeling Good... | Dee | Cat health & behaviour | 40 | July 1st 03 02:53 PM |