About Barb Forrest Expertise I have been a cat breeder for over 25 years. I know a lot about health and behavior of felines. I can also help potential exhibitors learn about the world of showing cats. I know when I can help answer health questions and when to refer to a veterinarian... I would be happy to help any who have questions about cats. My particular breed of cat is an Ocicat, however, I have always owned many cats of various breeds.
Experience In the cat world, I have entered my cats in many
cat shows. I have shown one cat to a Grand Championship award, then after he was neutered, I entered him again in the neuter category, and again grand championed him
in that category, and showed him to a Grand Premier.
I will always remember the sweetness of his nature,
and how he "wowed" the judges with his loving
ways.
Question Hi Barb, I have two littermates - sisters. They are a year old, and I'm finding out that it seems that their caloric requirements are different. I'm not sure how best to regulate their food intake. One of the cats has gotten quite chubby already, and the other seems to have a more slim, healthy weight. I feed them together twice a day (I feed a total of cup of food between the two of them in those two meals), and they appear to eat about the same amount of food - finishing the portion within a half an hour or so after I put it out. What can I do to try to help the chubby kitty lose some of the chub, but not underfeed the slimmer kitty? Should I put them in different rooms at mealtimes? I read somewhere that the right portion for a cat is what it will eat in 10 minutes twice a day. What do you think?
Thank you in advance for any information you can share, Jen
Answer Hi Jen,
There really is no way you can regulate what a cat eats when you have more than one. May I ask what kind of food you feed? I have found that if you stick with the premium brands, such as, IAMs, Science Diet, or MaxCat, it is much healthier for the cats. Their bodies absorb the right amount of nutrients and their weight sort of regulates itself. Do not attempt to measure their dry food. Just leave a bowl out all the time. Most cats are very smart about their diets, and if you provide them with a nutritious food, they regulate themselves. Their bodies are healthier and run better, and even the litter box elimination is lessened with the right food.
Cat's are grazers. If you let them eat a little bit anytime they want to, they won't gorge at a pre-set mealtime. This is pretty normal for everyone, even people. Smaller meals a few times a day is better for us than 2 or 3 large meals a day. I have an automatic feeder and mine just eat a bite or two whenever they feel like it. They are very normal in weight. If you deprive a cat and restrict their food, they will find other ways to supplement, like eating your plants, and some have even been known to eat things like socks, or dirt, just to fill the hunger in their belly. I have raised cats for 30 years, and with the helpful advice of the vet, I have learned that free feeding with a nutritious food is the best for all cats. I hope this helps, and let me know if I can help further. Hugs, Barb
