Advice: Feeding Two Cats Differently

The terrible two to TED's yesterday for their annual vaccination and
check-up. I felt real sorry for the poor lass when, after she'd
struggled with a wriggling Rhia to get her to stay still for the
injection i diffidently asked "I don't suppose you'd like to have a go
at trimming her claws would you?". This of course lead to a wrestling
session in which Rhia managed to bite me, the only time she's ever done
that, but we did get three and a half feet done. Amy, of course, was
the model patient.

Anyway Ted told me what I was already aware of, Rhia is seriously
overweight. She's now 5.2Kg, which is definitely too much for a
Siamese. Her sister's a much more acceptable 4Kg. So now I need to
restrict Rhia's diet without cutting back on Amy's food too much. I
think I'm going to have to resort to separating them at feeding time, I
did try this this evening, but neither of them liked it much. I know
that some folks here have cats that need special diets, so has anyone
got any useful tips to help here?

Thanks,
John, servant to their Imperial SIamese Majesties, Rhia and Amy.

Anyway Ted told me what I was already aware of, Rhia is seriously
overweight. She's now 5.2Kg, which is definitely too much for a
Siamese. Her sister's a much more acceptable 4Kg. So now I need to
restrict Rhia's diet without cutting back on Amy's food too much. I
think I'm going to have to resort to separating them at feeding time,
I did try this this evening, but neither of them liked it much. I know
that some folks here have cats that need special diets, so has anyone
got any useful tips to help here?

Just feed Amy some extra food in a different room at a different time,
and let them share their main feed (which will be less than before).

We've been following this sort of regimen to get extra food into Ishtar,
who was badly underweight a few months ago. It took a while before she
got the concept that being shut in the bathroom might be a good thing,
and the others still occasionally try to muscle in, but it's working.

==== j a c k at c a m p i n . m e . u k === http://www.campin.me.uk ====
Jack Campin, 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland == mob 07800 739 557
CD-ROMs and free stuff: Scottish music, food intolerance, and Mac logic fonts

"John A" wrote in message
...
The terrible two to TED's yesterday for their annual vaccination and
check-up. I felt real sorry for the poor lass when, after she'd
struggled with a wriggling Rhia to get her to stay still for the
injection i diffidently asked "I don't suppose you'd like to have a go
at trimming her claws would you?". This of course lead to a wrestling
session in which Rhia managed to bite me, the only time she's ever done
that, but we did get three and a half feet done. Amy, of course, was
the model patient.

Anyway Ted told me what I was already aware of, Rhia is seriously
overweight. She's now 5.2Kg, which is definitely too much for a
Siamese. Her sister's a much more acceptable 4Kg. So now I need to
restrict Rhia's diet without cutting back on Amy's food too much. I
think I'm going to have to resort to separating them at feeding time, I
did try this this evening, but neither of them liked it much. I know
that some folks here have cats that need special diets, so has anyone
got any useful tips to help here?


I have to feed my two separately now as KFC has chicken, takes ages to eat
and Boyfie would soon eat his cat food and scarf hers up in a millisecond.
They'd been used to eating near each other, separate dishes, for a long
time. They didn't like it at first but soon got used to it.
In your situation I would feed both you cats at the same time in adjoining
rooms with the door shut. Give Amy her normal amount, give Rhia less and
don't let them back together until both have finished.
I don't know if the vet has suggested to you how much to cut Rhia's food
back by to achieve some weight loss, if s/he hasn't I would ask. And then
measure it ;-)
She may not be your friend for a while but harden your heart and persevere.
It will be worth it in the long run. Think diabetes risk.

Tweed

Christina Websell wrote:
"John A" wrote in message
...

Anyway Ted told me what I was already aware of, Rhia is seriously
overweight. She's now 5.2Kg, which is definitely too much for a
Siamese. Her sister's a much more acceptable 4Kg. So now I need to
restrict Rhia's diet without cutting back on Amy's food too much. I
think I'm going to have to resort to separating them at feeding time, I
did try this this evening, but neither of them liked it much. I know
that some folks here have cats that need special diets, so has anyone
got any useful tips to help here?
[...]
I don't know if the vet has suggested to you how much to cut Rhia's food
back by to achieve some weight loss, if s/he hasn't I would ask. And then
measure it ;-)
She may not be your friend for a while but harden your heart and persevere.
It will be worth it in the long run. Think diabetes risk.

Not just diabetes risk. IME, coming down to a healthier weight can also
increase playfulness, which improves quality of life. We used to free
feed here, but ever since Itachi got on special prescription food (and
then Shadow got on a different special food) everyone is on a schedule
(twice a day) and restricted rations. Itachi eats in the bathroom, and
Shadow eats in the carrier. It took them a couple weeks to get used to
it, but now everybody goes to their places to eat when we get the food
out. Well, they go to their places after they're done weaving around my
ankles.

Maeve ^..^
--
http://moonglowminnow.wordpress.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/minnow/

John A wrote:
I
think I'm going to have to resort to separating them at feeding time, I
did try this this evening, but neither of them liked it much. I know
that some folks here have cats that need special diets, so has anyone
got any useful tips to help here?

I have one cat who loves his food (Caliban) and another cat who isn't
interested at all (Miranda). Feeding them is always a big production
that takes several hours. Oh, Caliban hoovers his food in a few seconds
(I still weigh all his portions after his successful diet last spring),
but Miranda is another kettle of fish... um cats.

I put out Miranda's food at the same time as Caliban's (I feed them at 7
am and pm), but she hardly ever eats at once. In order to keep her food
safe from Caliban, I put her dish on top of the fridge. When she goes to
her feeding place, I go and take down the dish and watch as she eats,
usually just one or two mouthfuls, and fend off Caliban. Sometimes I
just hold Caliban while Mir eats. This is the only way I can protect
Mir's food against Caliban. It means I have to keep feeding Mir for
several hours, one mouthful at a time. If I can't be there to feed her,
I put her dish on top of a wardrobe, where she can climb but Caliban can't.

I've thought about separating them, but since Mir eats so very slowly,
they would have to be separated most of the time. But maybe yours wil
get used to eating in separate rooms.

--
Marina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki.

"Marina" wrote in message
...
John A wrote:
I
think I'm going to have to resort to separating them at feeding
time, I
did try this this evening, but neither of them liked it much. I
know
that some folks here have cats that need special diets, so has
anyone
got any useful tips to help here?

I have one cat who loves his food (Caliban) and another cat who
isn't interested at all (Miranda). Feeding them is always a big
production that takes several hours. Oh, Caliban hoovers his food in
a few seconds (I still weigh all his portions after his successful
diet last spring), but Miranda is another kettle of fish... um cats.

I put out Miranda's food at the same time as Caliban's (I feed them
at 7 am and pm), but she hardly ever eats at once. In order to keep
her food safe from Caliban, I put her dish on top of the fridge.
When she goes to her feeding place, I go and take down the dish and
watch as she eats, usually just one or two mouthfuls, and fend off
Caliban. Sometimes I just hold Caliban while Mir eats. This is the
only way I can protect Mir's food against Caliban. It means I have
to keep feeding Mir for several hours, one mouthful at a time. If I
can't be there to feed her, I put her dish on top of a wardrobe,
where she can climb but Caliban can't.

I've thought about separating them, but since Mir eats so very
slowly, they would have to be separated most of the time. But maybe
yours wil get used to eating in separate rooms.

Miranda has never heard, or at least doesn't believe "if they are
hungry, they'll eat".

She may be the only cat I know that is proof positive otherwise.

I truly think she would starve herself if she didn't have you.

Are any of her related cats a problem to feed? I know the one, Kasper
I think it is sure doesn't look it.

Jo

Jofirey wrote:
Miranda has never heard, or at least doesn't believe "if they are
hungry, they'll eat".

She may be the only cat I know that is proof positive otherwise.

Yeah, I've never met another cat that was so disinterested in food.

I truly think she would starve herself if she didn't have you.

Maybe that's why she chose me; she knew I was a fully trained slave.

Are any of her related cats a problem to feed? I know the one, Kasper
I think it is sure doesn't look it.

Kasper, her half uncle, Kira, her mother, and Emil, her brother, all
like their food. They are all pretty chunky (can't call a very
short-haired cat like a Russian Blue 'fluffy' ). Emil does have a
food quirk, in that he will only eat kibble. Mir's and Emil's Estonian
father is the same. I don't know if the other kitties in that litter are
'special' about their food. I vaguely remember my niece saying one of
them also only eats meat.


--
Marina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki.

Marina wrote:
Jofirey wrote:
Miranda has never heard, or at least doesn't believe "if they are
hungry, they'll eat".

She may be the only cat I know that is proof positive otherwise.

Yeah, I've never met another cat that was so disinterested in food.

I truly think she would starve herself if she didn't have you.

Maybe that's why she chose me; she knew I was a fully trained slave.

Are any of her related cats a problem to feed? I know the one,
Kasper I think it is sure doesn't look it.

Kasper, her half uncle, Kira, her mother, and Emil, her brother, all
like their food. They are all pretty chunky (can't call a very
short-haired cat like a Russian Blue 'fluffy' ). Emil does have a
food quirk, in that he will only eat kibble. Mir's and Emil's Estonian
father is the same. I don't know if the other kitties in that litter
are 'special' about their food. I vaguely remember my niece saying
one of them also only eats meat.

I didn't realise before that Miranda had Estonian forbears as well as
Caliban.
--
Adrian (Owned by Snoopy, Bagheera & Shadow)
Cats leave pawprints on your heart
http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk