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QUESTION: My cat crys for food most of the time during the day, after I feed her she lies down & sleeps. When she wakes up, crys for more food. Does that mean that she's hungary all the time or what. By the way she's overweight. What can I do. I give in to her crying all the time.
ANSWER: Wayne,
What, in effect, you have done is allowed your cat to manipulate you into feeding her whether she needs it or not. The way out of that is to have a strict regimen whereby she gets fed set amounts twice a day and then ignore her cries!!!!!
Initially, her metabolism will slow down a bit and she will not lose weight immediately. In time she will lose the weight.
Best regards... Norm.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Norm
How much food should I be feeding her per day. She is eight years old & weighs 15 lbs. Thanks
Wayne
Wayne.
We feed about 4 heaping teaspoons of a wet dry mixture for a 15# cat twice a day. If she gains wait on this, cut it back to 3 heaping teaspoons twice a day. It really depends on the cats metabolism. Once you begin cutting her back, you can see how she does and gauge your amounts accordingly.
Best regards... Norm.
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Answers by Expert:
Norman Auspitz
Expertise
I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.
Experience
I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.
Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.
Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook
Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.
Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.
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