No food...No sleep!

[Jennsen]

Last night I didnt get to the store before they closed to get more cat food. There was about 2 cups left in the bowl at about 8pm, so I thought everyone would "survive" until morning when I would go first thing(the bowl is always full 24/7). Well, by 9pm they had polished that food off, and were all sitting by the bowl looking at me. By 10pm, they were chasing me around, meowing like they havent eaten in a week! This just got worse and worse and they started attacking the dog and my legs, not meaning to harm but just irritated. The rest of the night, they would come into my bed and play with my hair, lay on my head and bite my hands, and I could hear hissing and things falling all night long! So this morning first thing I went and got their food and they dove into it like they had been starved, ATE JUST A LITTLE and were their normal selves again. I got no sleep last night over a couple bites of food! My husband just laughed at me, saying I create my own nightmares because I spoil them rotten! I have to agree with him after such a long night! LOL!!!!!!!
But here's my problem, Jack is getting soooo fat, while the other's are actually thin because they run and play hard all the time. Jack perfers to sleep his life away and is quite happy doing so, but gets up every hour to eat a little. How do I put Jack on a diet, and still have food out for the one's that really need it? If I take the food away and give it to them at set times, they will be out of control and act like they did last night. I know I should just do it and put up with their behavior now and they'll eventually learn that's how it's going to be. But to be fair the the "humans" in the house(because they were tortured also last night) I cant let the cats run and attack and be destructive until they get used to it. Does anyone have suggestions on how to handle this???

Thanks Jenn

[ChrisH]

I don't have an answer for you, just replying to *bump* up for the PT knowlegeable cat people to see.

[Jennsen]

Thank you Chris, that is very very nice of you! Everyone one here on PT have been the greatest and I couldnt be more thankful!

[Jennsen]

I just read, "Anyone ever deal with this" and it's almost the same problem as I'm having here, and there is some great answers there! So I'm going to go there for some help!

Thanks, Jenn

[jenluckenbach]

First of all I must admit to laughing at what happened.

But my only advice is to just bite the bullet and put them on a feeding schedule. (I know, easier said than done) but they WILL get used to it.

Is Jack really TOO heavy to be healthy? If the answer is no, than maybe you can just keep things as they are

If the answer is yes, think of him and give scheduled feedings a try. Maybe you can offer DIET food all the time and the GOOD stuff at feeding times.

[moosmom]

If you find an answer to that problem, let me know, will ya?? My cats will play kitty tag, running over me while I'm asleep, just to let me know they're hungry. They are NOT happy if I don't refill their bowls (there would be SOME food in it, but they like to eat from the middle, leaving a circle of kibble in the bowl)

[mougi]

well, maybe you should change the feeding habits for all of them because they all may get fat like jack gradually. my friend's 2 cats were rather fat and what she did was just put out a certain amount of dry food (maybe 2 cups a day) instead of the "non-stop" container. she also gave them a little can food in the evening. anyway, of course they didn't like it first, but gradually got used to it and lost weight. it's just like with humans - you hate it first and it's very difficult, but if you survive the first days or weeks, you et used to it. unlike humans, they can't get the food themselves, so you have to be the strong one. keep in mind, it's for his (or their) good and good health! you're the more intelligent one! act according to that. just like feeding a child what it should eat not want it wants. good luck. 8-))

[BigCharles]

Lamoni gets irritated if he can see the bottom of the bowl. I'm looking for a bowl that is the same color as the dry food.

Luckily I live less than a block from a 7-11 (24hr conveinience shop for those not in the US). I have walked over there at 5 AM just to get a tny can of wet food for their "breakfast". What we do for love.

Lamoni was getting so fat that we were afraid to take him to the vet. (Long story, skipped) We finally got some hairball control dry food to help Fifi. We Lamoni does not like it so much. He lost weight and Fifi has far fewr hairballs.

We went to the tiny cans of wet food. Got them down from 1/2 can morning and evening each, to 1/2 can in the morning each, to now 1/2 can BETWEEN them in the morning.

These old cats get funny about digestion. A cats digestive tract works just about as well in reverse as anything. The will give back rich food and then want more. Just like a bunch of ancient Romans.