Expert: Jessica - 11/6/2009

Question
Hello Jessica,
I have two 5-month old kittens, male and female, from different litters. They are not fixed yet, but have their appointments next month. I feed them raw organic cat food, and occasionally straight raw beef or chicken (they LOVE the chicken) and raw eggs once in a while. They only drink water. I started to separate them during feedings, when I noticed that the male would eat much faster and would eat all of the food, leaving nothing for the girl. So for about 3 months they have been getting the same amount of potions, in separate plates and away from each other. The problem is, while they are about the same size, the boy is about 4 pounds heavier and when he eats his stomach gets really round, and he seems kind of fat all the time, even when he is hungry. While the girl does not blow up at all, and is very slim. They don't have any kind of worms and are perfectly healthy.  
When they chase the laser pointer, the girl has flying abilities and jumps on the wall 5 feet up, while the boy only goes for it while it's on the floor and is lazy to make any jumps at all. I am worried what is going to happen to him weight-wise, and his activity level when he gets neutered. He is also a lot more fearful of loud sounds and foreign environments. The girl has no fear whatsoever, and is curious about everything.
Any advice or feedback appreciated.
Thank you.

Sahana.

Answer
Hi Sahana.  Neutering can cause weight gain in some cats because testosterone is a natural appetite suppressant.  However, as long as you continue to control portions, neutering will have no impact on how much he is able to eat.  

As far as his activity level, unneutered males are generally preoccupied with mating and fighting but are not otherwise more active than their neutered counterparts.  His natural energy level could pose a problem for him regarding weight gain, but finding creative ways to encourage him to exercise should help keep him trim.  A new laser pointer toy, the FroliCat BOLT, can be set for 15-minute intervals.  You can place cooked bits of chicken or organic cat treats in a treat ball, which he will need to roll around to try to figure out how to get the treats out.  Catnip can also help increase activity level, but use this only a few times a week, since over-exposure can cause desensitization.