chubby Patches

[marysmerrycats]

Patches is just too fat. he can't even move like he used to, or like the other cats. it's a real effort for him to jump up, and now I notice when he is sleeping, he breathes funny, making these awful sounds from being too heavy. it really scares me. I have started taking the food away, not letting him have access to it 24 hrs a day anymore. I feed him limited amounts, not starving him but monitoring his food, and when I feed them their daily canned food, I water his down alot, so he is not getting that much actual food. it seems to be starting to help. also he is not getting the same amount of exercise since he sits in front of a window so much of the day and watches the birdies! more than he did at the other house, making that funny noise and thumping his tail! of course he does still play and run with the others. I am going to have to play with him more and get him more exercise.

my question is, how do I do this fairly to the other cats? there have been times when they are hungry and looking for the food, but as soon as I fill the bowls for them, no matter how quiet I try to be, Patches comes running and then he eats even when he would not have otherwise!

[jenluckenbach]

I do not really know of a way to free feed and still watch the diet of one. All my guys eat in their own area (be it a carrier or a separate room) so that the amount that they eat is measured by me. I feed twice a day and this way I can give special food to those who need it and the correct amount to each according to their size. I also know IMMEDIATELY if one is not eating properly, no doubt in my mind as no one else can reach their bowl. Yes, it is an adjustment, to you and the cats, but they CAN learn. (if you want them to)

[marysmerrycats]

Jen
that's interesting, thanks for replying. have you always fed them in separate rooms? that is a good idea, and one that would be well worth the effort, it will be an effort to change their habbits, but I am going to try it. I have been thinking it would be good for Louise anyway, because every day when they eat their canned food, she eats fast, then leaves, alot of the time not finishing her food then a while later seems to want more, I don't think she likes eating with the group. the boys are such piggies! but Charlie never gets fat!
thanks for your help!

so, do you close the door, or they each just go to their own areas when it is food time?

[jenluckenbach]

I started the separate feeding when one cat needed a prescription diet. It has been many, many years. They each eat behind a closed door. 9 in a carrier and the others is a room by themselves. (too fearful for a carrier). They KNOW where to go. hee hee.

[catland]

I don't have any kitties with special dietary needs right now, but I still feed Jan in a separate room because she doesn't like to be near the boys. She just becomes very grumpy and is very vocal about it.

This is one of the smarter things we've ever done. She's no longer miserable, we're no longer miserable, and Sid and Joxer don't have to put up with her bad disposition.

[NoahsMommy]

Can you switch their food to a wieght management formula? I don't think it would hurt the others, as long as they are over 1 year old.

[Nomilynn]

If he is having breathing problems you might want to have it checked out by the vet. I thought that Bassett's breathing problems were from her weight, but the reason she was gaining so much was because she couldn't exercise due to not breathing. She also was making funny noises while sleeping. My vet said that any time a cat is having trouble breathing, it's worth getting checked out because you can never really know what's going on in their little bodies.

I'm not trying to freak you out, but I would feel horrible if I didn't tell you about the similarities.

[marysmerrycats]

Naomi
thanks so much for the advice, I appreciate the warning. I had brought Patches to the vet not long ago when he was doing that coughing/gagging sound. and they took x-rays, tested etc. turned out to be an allergy, and it is better now. but I will mention it to the vet about the breathing when I take Emma and Louise next week for their annual visit. I have been watching him pretty close, even tho the coughing has stopped, I still worry about the little piggy!

BTW..how is Bassett doing now?

[L. Wayne]

I have 4 furkids that I attempt to feed separately. Tiger is one, because of her sensitive stomach syndrome. The others will prefer her food over their own, and therefore, she is fed separately. Normally, I feed her on the top of the 'frig because it is too high for the other to jump up on to. Amy is thin and agile enough to jump from the kitchen counter to the 'frig top, a distance of about 5 1/2 ft., but none of the others even attempt that. I don't mind if Amy jumps because she is one of the 4 that needs to eat separately.

..........wayne

[marysmerrycats]

well I am still trying to get the cats adjusted to eating separately, it is not always easy, but it is going ok, at least Patches does not seem to be making that funny noise when he sleeps...still a long way to go, I bought a pet scale, waiting for it to arrive, from drs foster and smith catalog. I will update again soon, when I can weigh Patches and see if he is losing weight, so far he does not seem to look any different but it hasn't been that long yet. I am going to put him on low calorie food, now that he does not eat with the others. Louise could stand to put on a couple pounds! sheesh I will have 3 different kinds of diets going for these cats

[L. Wayne]

Mary, that is how it goes when you are a responsible and caring pet owner. Hill's Science diet make a cat food that is called "Light feline maintenance". It fills up our furkids but doesn't put a lot of calories and fat into their system. It states on the package "low magnesium". You might try a bag of this.

.............wayne

[marysmerrycats]

thanks Wayne, I will try that
I'm going to get Patches slimmed down , so he won't get sick!
it isn't going to be easy but I will do it.

[marysmerrycats]

I went to petsmart today, and got the hills science diet. they had several there, I bought the one that is light, for adult.

Wayne
is that the one you meant? it doesnt say light feline maitenance, is there more than one kind of light food made by them?

I also bought one that is suposedly, from what the girl told me, suposed to help cats put on some weight, Muffin is too skinny! I just spent $100.00... ... on her vet visit, she had some blood tests too, I brought her there because my mom told me she was not drinking much water and her ..poops, were so dry(sorry) I was worried about her. well she is fine. healthy and playful and she is drinking water now as long as she has a bowl on the bathroom counter, seems miss princess doesnt want it on the floor! also Louise could put on a couple pounds, and since I am feeding them separatley now, I have the different kinds. the feeding separately is going ok, the hardest part is in the morning, not having the food out at all times anymore, they wake me up so early meow we're hungry! today tit was 4:30 AM
oh well they're worth it

[L. Wayne]

Mary, apparently that is the same one, the light science diet. The feline maintenance part is is small letters below the "Light". At any rate, I'm sure it is the same stuff. Is the color of the package pink, or has pink in the logos? I am taking my examples from sample packages. It is not uncommon to spend $100. on pet necessities. Everytime I take one of mine into the vets for anything I seldom get away from there for less that $65.00. Mopsy just cost me $80.00 to get her checked and bathed

.........wayne

[marysmerrycats]

yeah I know that is not so uncommon to pay that at the vet, a blood test was $52, or 56 alone. and she is just fine, but it was worth that for me to know for sure, to have peace of mind about her health.

yes the pkg of food I bought does have the pink lettering.
and they all love it!