Twink
06-30-2004, 11:53 AM
Hi everyone! I haven't posted in weeks (due to crazy life), but I've been keeping up with everyone's news. I just had to come post on some of the recent events, today, and figured that as long as I was here, I'd solicit some advice! The boys are fine. Still delighting in the glory of battle. Usually at 3:00 a.m. :rolleyes: Rizzo actually groomed Barli for a few seconds the other day, and Barli let him do it! I'm not sure which half of that interaction surprised me more.
But, here's what I need advice about:
The Problem:
Mr. Barliman Butterbur is getting fluffy. You know, plush. If pressed, I might even go so far as to say "rotund." We knew this was going to happen, as he is a BIG eater. For instance, when he first came to us, did he cower and mope? Did he explore? Nope. He went straight out of the carrier, and right to the food bowl! I'm afraid he's eating a lot of Rizzo's food, as well as his own. I wouldn't worry so much, but he's only a year old, and if he's getting pudgy now, I'm afraid he's going to end up grossly overweight. I'd like to nip it in the bud sooner rather than later.
The Complications:
1) Rizzo has never been very fond of food. He eats because he has to. He's lean and muscular (with just a hint of belly flab to let the world know he's a house cat!). He never eats more than a few bites at a sitting, even if it's something that he's excited about eating. So, I figure he needs to be a free feeder.
2) Barliman can jump like any kitty, but Rizzo is a GROUND CAT. He doesn't try high jumps usually, and when he does, he's unsuccessful (*wriggle* *leap* *THUD* *THUMP* *shake* *groom*). Consequently, there's no place in the house that he can get to that Barli can't.
3) Barli has a bit of a turbulent tummy, so that if I feed him anything other than his regular dry food (including wet food treats, loose catnip, and hairball paste), well . . . let's just say that cleaning the litter box becomes really unpleasant, and I spend a lot of time trimming the hair under his tail.
How in the world am I supposed to feed these two so that the one doesn't become grossly obese and the other doesn't wither away?
But, here's what I need advice about:
The Problem:
Mr. Barliman Butterbur is getting fluffy. You know, plush. If pressed, I might even go so far as to say "rotund." We knew this was going to happen, as he is a BIG eater. For instance, when he first came to us, did he cower and mope? Did he explore? Nope. He went straight out of the carrier, and right to the food bowl! I'm afraid he's eating a lot of Rizzo's food, as well as his own. I wouldn't worry so much, but he's only a year old, and if he's getting pudgy now, I'm afraid he's going to end up grossly overweight. I'd like to nip it in the bud sooner rather than later.
The Complications:
1) Rizzo has never been very fond of food. He eats because he has to. He's lean and muscular (with just a hint of belly flab to let the world know he's a house cat!). He never eats more than a few bites at a sitting, even if it's something that he's excited about eating. So, I figure he needs to be a free feeder.
2) Barliman can jump like any kitty, but Rizzo is a GROUND CAT. He doesn't try high jumps usually, and when he does, he's unsuccessful (*wriggle* *leap* *THUD* *THUMP* *shake* *groom*). Consequently, there's no place in the house that he can get to that Barli can't.
3) Barli has a bit of a turbulent tummy, so that if I feed him anything other than his regular dry food (including wet food treats, loose catnip, and hairball paste), well . . . let's just say that cleaning the litter box becomes really unpleasant, and I spend a lot of time trimming the hair under his tail.
How in the world am I supposed to feed these two so that the one doesn't become grossly obese and the other doesn't wither away?