Fat Flossy... hellpppp

[happyjo]

Hi

I love reading everyone's stories about their lovely cats. Some are sad most are lovely...

Some of you may remember we adopted a little stray that has recently lost her litter. She was only 1 and we took her in after she was spayed and treated for mlanutrition.

We have been host to this minx for 9 months now and she has gone from a mange ridden wretch to a healthy soft beauty.

Problem---- she eats like a horse ( I kid you not) and has gone from a skinny minx to a fat cat.

We give her 2 pouches a day and a few dry treats, She cries and cries for more and more and more and we are worried she will explode if she carries on eating this way.

We stopped feeding her as much on a gradual basis, but she was not best pleased and dissapeared for 3 days only to come back full and fatter. She also bringd in birds, mice and other little prezzies when she is not fed as much.

Flossy is amazing and we all love her, We just want her to walk not waddle...

Help puuurleeze x

[pastafreak]

My caspar is a biggie also....he will easily have 3 pouches a day plus a fair amount of dry. He is not really fat...but he IS a big boy. Unfortunately he is deaf-so cannot go outside. I just need to make sure that I play with him..anything to keep him moving-lol That is what you need to do with yours......2pouches a day does not sound excessive...so more exercise should do the trick.

[jen78]

You could ask your vet if there is any food which looks the same amount but doesn't have the same amount of calories?

As pasta said, maybe get her to exercise more.

My Heathcliffe is a big boy, he is thin from being a stray though putting on some weight nicely and looks in much better condition since I rescued him.

I feed him two pouches a day and he always had biscuits available and he gets the odd titbit so unpless she is tiny then I wouldn't say you're over-feeding her.

Piccie here (loads more on facebook if you're on there - you can find me on the chatterbank & answerbank groups)...

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=1zcd9jq&s=4

[madboutcats]

Poor flossie has had a poor start to life fending for herself and not knowing where her next meal is coming from, now shes fallen on her feet and has got a good loving home but shes probably still weary and that could be why shes wanting so much to eat as it could all end tomorrow for her (which you know it wont). Maybe when shes asking for more food pick her up and make a fuss of her, let her know shes a very much loved puss, hopefully she will learn she has no worries about food, you are there to care for her.

[Schutzengel]

3 pouches a day is recommended on most of the pouch foods for an adult cat. If she's going missing and coming home full up, and also bringing home a stock of food as she sees it, then I'm sure you are not overfeeding her. Perhaps now she's well again, she's meant to be a round and cuddly cat, but you could ask your vet to check her weight. I'm sure she's absolutely gorgeous, and obviously has a mind of her own. PS. Lots of Hugs to Flossy.

[bensmum]

She sounds absolutely gorgeous and I agree that she may be worrying about where her next meal is coming from. She obviously needs lots of love and reassurance and I'm sure she is getting that. I wish my own Flossie was a fatty - she has thyroid problems and is as thin as a blade of grass despite medication

[happyjo]

Thank you for all your comments..

I will try to add a couple of pics when I suss out how to upload them..

Flossy has started her diet... I am just sticking to a routine. 1/2 pouch 2-3 times a day with a small serving of quality dried food... she is petite in her frame with a little head...so I think she is not meant to be a chubster.

I am not bothered about her losing weight, I just dont want her to get any bigger.
I will get her playing a bit more too!!!

Thanks everyone

J x

[ailurophile]

If she catches a lot of prey, do you de-worm her every month? It may be that she has worms, hence hungry (although she shouldn't get fat just maybe a round stomach). Try science plan light food, you weigh out the same amount of dry food as normal but it obviously has less calories (thats what the local animal sanctuary uses for overweight cats). Could you maybe try just dry food for a while instead of rich pouches????? (that may be hard if she decides to go walkabout)