Caring for a stray (1): how to tell if she is hungry or has eaten?

With no experience in pets, I started feeding a stray/homeless cat.
Initially, I later learned, she was fed by a nighbor, but felt
harrassed by his cat and children. So she would eat there but climb one
floor up to my porch to relax. It is quieter, sunnier, higher up here.
That's how we met. She was always friendly, dignified, independent.
Never made a mess, never begged, and always wanted to leave after a few
hours. I never knew and still don't all the places she goes to.

When my neighbor left for Europe, it fell upon me to take over feeding.
That was a minor adjustment for her and she easily learned it.

Now, it sounds stupid, but here is my problem: She is not my pet, I
don't know all the places she roams, she may well have other sources of
food even if they are not stable, and I cannot tell when she is really
hungry and when she has already eaten enough elsewhere.

As I said she does not let me know she is hungry but comes and hangs
around. If I don't offer her food, she won't beg. But, perhaps because
she may have spent many hungry days, she finds it hard to resist the
food that is offered. (On rare occasions, when she is neither hungry
nor likes the food served, she'd eat only a little and most of it is
wasted, but that is the smaller problem.) The bigger and more frequent
problem is that she already ate something, tends to overeat and get
sick. This happens about once a week.

So, dear experts on cat behavior, please help me figure this out. How
can I get a hint whether she is hungry or full?

I have tried asking around if anyone feeds her (no one I asked). I have
tried putting a can in front of her and watch her reaction, but I have
no clue until I open the can and watch the results. (Sorry to be gross,
but I can tell from her vomit that mostly it isn't hairball but some
food in addition to what I gave.)

Thanks!

On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 07:39:29 GMT, Ajanta wrote:

With no experience in pets, I started feeding a stray/homeless cat.
Initially, I later learned, she was fed by a nighbor, but felt
harrassed by his cat and children. So she would eat there but climb one
floor up to my porch to relax. It is quieter, sunnier, higher up here.
That's how we met. She was always friendly, dignified, independent.
Never made a mess, never begged, and always wanted to leave after a few
hours. I never knew and still don't all the places she goes to.

When my neighbor left for Europe, it fell upon me to take over feeding.
That was a minor adjustment for her and she easily learned it.

Now, it sounds stupid, but here is my problem: She is not my pet, I
don't know all the places she roams, she may well have other sources of
food even if they are not stable, and I cannot tell when she is really
hungry and when she has already eaten enough elsewhere.

As I said she does not let me know she is hungry but comes and hangs
around. If I don't offer her food, she won't beg. But, perhaps because
she may have spent many hungry days, she finds it hard to resist the
food that is offered. (On rare occasions, when she is neither hungry
nor likes the food served, she'd eat only a little and most of it is
wasted, but that is the smaller problem.) The bigger and more frequent
problem is that she already ate something, tends to overeat and get
sick. This happens about once a week.

So, dear experts on cat behavior, please help me figure this out. How
can I get a hint whether she is hungry or full?

I have tried asking around if anyone feeds her (no one I asked). I have
tried putting a can in front of her and watch her reaction, but I have
no clue until I open the can and watch the results. (Sorry to be gross,
but I can tell from her vomit that mostly it isn't hairball but some
food in addition to what I gave.)

Thanks!


I would say to leave a bowl of dry food out where she can get at it and eat whenever it is
hungry along with some water and ocassionaly give it some canned.




http://members.aol.com/larrystark/

http://members.aol.com/larrystark/strays.htm

On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 12:54:53 GMT, whayface
wrote:

On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 07:39:29 GMT, Ajanta wrote:

With no experience in pets, I started feeding a stray/homeless cat.
Initially, I later learned, she was fed by a nighbor, but felt
harrassed by his cat and children. So she would eat there but climb one
floor up to my porch to relax. It is quieter, sunnier, higher up here.
That's how we met. She was always friendly, dignified, independent.
Never made a mess, never begged, and always wanted to leave after a few
hours. I never knew and still don't all the places she goes to.

When my neighbor left for Europe, it fell upon me to take over feeding.
That was a minor adjustment for her and she easily learned it.

Now, it sounds stupid, but here is my problem: She is not my pet, I
don't know all the places she roams, she may well have other sources of
food even if they are not stable, and I cannot tell when she is really
hungry and when she has already eaten enough elsewhere.

As I said she does not let me know she is hungry but comes and hangs
around. If I don't offer her food, she won't beg. But, perhaps because
she may have spent many hungry days, she finds it hard to resist the
food that is offered. (On rare occasions, when she is neither hungry
nor likes the food served, she'd eat only a little and most of it is
wasted, but that is the smaller problem.) The bigger and more frequent
problem is that she already ate something, tends to overeat and get
sick. This happens about once a week.

So, dear experts on cat behavior, please help me figure this out. How
can I get a hint whether she is hungry or full?

I have tried asking around if anyone feeds her (no one I asked). I have
tried putting a can in front of her and watch her reaction, but I have
no clue until I open the can and watch the results. (Sorry to be gross,
but I can tell from her vomit that mostly it isn't hairball but some
food in addition to what I gave.)

Thanks!


I would say to leave a bowl of dry food out where she can get at it and eat whenever it is
hungry along with some water and ocassionaly give it some canned.




http://members.aol.com/larrystark/

http://members.aol.com/larrystark/strays.htm



One thing I've noticed is that the squirrels love the dry catfood I
put out.. =(

BLink

On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 13:56:23 -0500, Brian Link wrote:

With no experience in pets, I started feeding a stray/homeless cat.
Initially, I later learned, she was fed by a nighbor, but felt
harrassed by his cat and children. So she would eat there but climb one
floor up to my porch to relax. It is quieter, sunnier, higher up here.
That's how we met. She was always friendly, dignified, independent.
Never made a mess, never begged, and always wanted to leave after a few
hours. I never knew and still don't all the places she goes to.

When my neighbor left for Europe, it fell upon me to take over feeding.
That was a minor adjustment for her and she easily learned it.

Now, it sounds stupid, but here is my problem: She is not my pet, I
don't know all the places she roams, she may well have other sources of
food even if they are not stable, and I cannot tell when she is really
hungry and when she has already eaten enough elsewhere.

As I said she does not let me know she is hungry but comes and hangs
around. If I don't offer her food, she won't beg. But, perhaps because
she may have spent many hungry days, she finds it hard to resist the
food that is offered. (On rare occasions, when she is neither hungry
nor likes the food served, she'd eat only a little and most of it is
wasted, but that is the smaller problem.) The bigger and more frequent
problem is that she already ate something, tends to overeat and get
sick. This happens about once a week.

So, dear experts on cat behavior, please help me figure this out. How
can I get a hint whether she is hungry or full?

I have tried asking around if anyone feeds her (no one I asked). I have
tried putting a can in front of her and watch her reaction, but I have
no clue until I open the can and watch the results. (Sorry to be gross,
but I can tell from her vomit that mostly it isn't hairball but some
food in addition to what I gave.)

Thanks!


I would say to leave a bowl of dry food out where she can get at it and eat whenever it is
hungry along with some water and ocassionaly give it some canned.



One thing I've noticed is that the squirrels love the dry catfood I
put out.. =(

BLink

Here when I put the dry food out the birds find it and have a field day or picnic,
especially during the winter, no matter where I put it. Even under porch with a hole just
big enough for cats.



http://members.aol.com/larrystark/

http://members.aol.com/larrystark/strays.htm

"Ajanta" wrote in message
...
With no experience in pets, I started feeding a stray/homeless cat.
Initially, I later learned, she was fed by a nighbor,

Yeah, they will have multiple feeding points,..it's part of their survival
response.



but felt
harrassed by his cat and children. So she would eat there but climb one
floor up to my porch to relax. It is quieter, sunnier, higher up here.
That's how we met. She was always friendly, dignified, independent.
Never made a mess, never begged, and always wanted to leave after a few
hours. I never knew and still don't all the places she goes to.

They usually all do that. They are conditioned to live outside. Don't feel
as tho she is rejecting you. She's just doing her rounds. Eventually, she
will spend more and more time with you, as she feels she's wanted and
there's food there every time.



When my neighbor left for Europe, it fell upon me to take over feeding.
That was a minor adjustment for her and she easily learned it.

Now, it sounds stupid, but here is my problem: She is not my pet, I
don't know all the places she roams, she may well have other sources of
food even if they are not stable, and I cannot tell when she is really
hungry and when she has already eaten enough elsewhere.

As far as I know, cats don't eat unless they are hungary. They may just take
a nibble,..but no more than that if they're full.


As I said she does not let me know she is hungry but comes and hangs
around. If I don't offer her food, she won't beg. But, perhaps because
she may have spent many hungry days, she finds it hard to resist the
food that is offered. (On rare occasions, when she is neither hungry
nor likes the food served, she'd eat only a little and most of it is
wasted, but that is the smaller problem.) The bigger and more frequent
problem is that she already ate something, tends to overeat and get
sick. This happens about once a week.

So, dear experts on cat behavior, please help me figure this out. How
can I get a hint whether she is hungry or full?

My experience is, that all cats have a routine when they want to tell you
they want some food. Perhaps she gives you more attention or hangs around
the cupboard or kitchen where the food is prepared/ tins opened?


I have tried asking around if anyone feeds her (no one I asked). I have
tried putting a can in front of her and watch her reaction, but I have
no clue until I open the can and watch the results. (Sorry to be gross,
but I can tell from her vomit that mostly it isn't hairball but some
food in addition to what I gave.)

The vomiting maybe just a response to a different food, or she has just
ingested some grass, or she maybe feeling a little off. Cats eat grass to
make themselves vomit,...but I get the impression, some do it (eat grass) as
a reflex, even when they aren't feeling sick.

Thanks!

Jason

Jason James wrote:

Thanks Jason. Internet is a wonderful thing, still capable of amazing
me that I can post a question in Chicgao and get a response from
Australia...

: My experience is, that all cats have a routine when they want to tell you
: they want some food. Perhaps she gives you more attention or hangs
: around the cupboard or kitchen where the food is prepared/ tins opened?

Certainly, if I walk to the cupboard she follows, if I show a can she'd
try to paw it, if I open the can she perks up. But she does it all the
time, not more when she is hungry and less when she should not be. At
least I have not been able to differentiate.

Maybe the problem is I have always fed her promptly when she arrived,
so she knows food is coming and doesn't have to tell me anything? I can
try to play cool and see what happens. Of course, you hate to play such
games with a little animal.

: The vomiting maybe just a response to a different food, or she has just
: ingested some grass, or she maybe feeling a little off.

She does eat "different" foods, but the vomiting comes only every 7-8
days.

As I said I had no experience with pets. When I started with this cat,
I read a little and the consensus was canned food is better than dry
for their health. So I started buying canned, whatever was on sale.
This way I have fed her many different brands and many varieties within
a brand. She is pretty good about eating what I offer except a few
types she clearly doesn't like and I avoid those.

I get 5.5 oz cans and one suffices for two meals. I am not very good at
reheating the refrigerated portion, because she is always more
enthusiastic about the first 1/2 of the can than the second. This is
regardless of brands and type.

: Cats eat grass to make themselves vomit...

Well, she does have access to a lot of grass! Does this mean an
indoor-only cat vomits less?

"Ajanta" wrote in message
...
Jason James wrote:

Thanks Jason. Internet is a wonderful thing, still capable of amazing
me that I can post a question in Chicgao and get a response from
Australia...

: My experience is, that all cats have a routine when they want to tell
you
: they want some food. Perhaps she gives you more attention or hangs
: around the cupboard or kitchen where the food is prepared/ tins opened?

Certainly, if I walk to the cupboard she follows,

Yep,..that is a strong sign. Our House cat does that when she's hungery.
Mind you, if there are cat-biscuits leftover from the day before, she'll
reject those in favour of fresh ones,..a bit like us :-)


if I show a can she'd
try to paw it, if I open the can she perks up. But she does it all the
time, not more when she is hungry and less when she should not be. At
least I have not been able to differentiate.

Sounds like she developed a pattern of feeding where she asks for food even
if she's eaten a couple of hours before. We also programmed our cat that
way, without wishing to. Bringing out food or making it available once or
twice a day only is a better way.


Maybe the problem is I have always fed her promptly when she arrived,
so she knows food is coming and doesn't have to tell me anything? I can
try to play cool and see what happens. Of course, you hate to play such
games with a little animal.

It's a bit tough, but it provides order,..where otherwise there's chaos :-)


: The vomiting maybe just a response to a different food, or she has just
: ingested some grass, or she maybe feeling a little off.

She does eat "different" foods, but the vomiting comes only every 7-8
days.

As I said I had no experience with pets. When I started with this cat,
I read a little and the consensus was canned food is better than dry
for their health. So I started buying canned, whatever was on sale.
This way I have fed her many different brands and many varieties within
a brand. She is pretty good about eating what I offer except a few
types she clearly doesn't like and I avoid those.

Yeah,..that's what we did. They seem to like lots of gravy,.especially
canned salmon and vegetables with fish-gravy,..they love it! I;ve yet to see
either of ours eat the peas that come in some cans. Sheesh what are they
thinking,..cats dont eat peas..

I get 5.5 oz cans and one suffices for two meals. I am not very good at
reheating the refrigerated portion, because she is always more
enthusiastic about the first 1/2 of the can than the second. This is
regardless of brands and type.

Yep,..same thing here, we waste a bit, which I dont like doing,..but I think
its not just you and I that have this prob with our furry friends.


: Cats eat grass to make themselves vomit...

Well, she does have access to a lot of grass! Does this mean an
indoor-only cat vomits less?

Yes. They seem to eat it any time they get out after being inside (the house
cats we've had I mean).

best o luck

Jason

! I;ve yet to see
either of ours eat the peas that come in some cans. Sheesh what are they
thinking,..cats dont eat peas..

Ummm...Sarrasine eats the peas and the carrots. Then again this is not
an achievement as she devours pretty much anything in her bowl

Isis(RB) adored a variety of "Sheba" that contained mushrooms and she
picked the mushrooms out and ate them first. She was also very fond of
cod and carrot catfood

A while ago some new catfood came onto the market and one variety was
Pilchard in tomato sauce so we tried that and to our sheer disbelief
Fugazi (RB- Isis' sister) wolfed the lot down and licked the bowl until
she could see her face it in. The same brand (can't remember what it's
called now- isn't around anymore) produced a Xmas special with turkey
and cranberries and that was also a big hit with them

Lesley

Slave of the Fabulous Furballs

"Lesley" wrote in message
oups.com...

! I;ve yet to see
either of ours eat the peas that come in some cans. Sheesh what are they
thinking,..cats dont eat peas..

Ummm...Sarrasine eats the peas and the carrots. Then again this is not
an achievement as she devours pretty much anything in her bowl

Isis(RB) adored a variety of "Sheba" that contained mushrooms and she
picked the mushrooms out and ate them first. She was also very fond of
cod and carrot catfood

A while ago some new catfood came onto the market and one variety was
Pilchard in tomato sauce so we tried that and to our sheer disbelief
Fugazi (RB- Isis' sister) wolfed the lot down and licked the bowl until
she could see her face it in. The same brand (can't remember what it's
called now- isn't around anymore) produced a Xmas special with turkey
and cranberries and that was also a big hit with them

Lesley

Slave of the Fabulous Furballs


Fair enough,..I guess just because cats are predatorial, doesn't mean they
just eat only meat.

Jason

On Fri, 30 Sep 2005 04:34:18 GMT, "Jason James" wrote:


Yep,..that is a strong sign. Our House cat does that when she's hungery.
Mind you, if there are cat-biscuits leftover from the day before, she'll
reject those in favour of fresh ones,..a bit like us :-)

Mine will wake me each morning for fresh food even if there is still food there from the
nigth before and then they eat the fresh like they have not been fed for a week but my ex
has one that prefers food after it has stood for a day and will bypass the fresh for the
old. Go figure!!



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