Overweight cat- begging

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KillerGemini
@KillerGemini
12 YearsGemini

Comments: 0 · Posts: 41 · Topics: 20
I have 2 cats. One is overweight, 22lbs. The other is 5lbs. My 5 lb cat has chronic renal failure so she eats a lot but doesn't gain much. Both cats are older the fat one being 8 or 9. The little one being 12-13.

I feed Cleo, my sick cat, canned food bec she's got no teeth. ( She's a stray... abused. Someone kicked her teeth out.) Anyway, I feed her and I watch her eat because if I don't the fat cat, Tigger, will sit and watch her eat, which intimidates her and she leaves... then Tigger can swoop in and he'll eat the food.

I give Tigger Science Diet Light... he eats it but he begs constantly. Not for human food. He will bite you when you're sitting watching tv, he'll meow at you, clae you... anything. I figure, attention will distract him from food. He goes with it for about 30 seconds and he wants food again.


How do I stop the begging?
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lildol
@lildol
16 Years5,000+ Posts

Comments: 334 · Posts: 8771 · Topics: 323
I'm not sure what to do about the begging. But, I would suggest a different food. Your "Lite" simply has less fat (most likely). Weight management foods have more fiber to help fill your cat up quicker so that they eat less in general and stay full longer. You may want to try Purina Pro Weight Management Formula (Note: Pro Plan IS supposed to be a better option than Science Diet for health in general). A little on the less expensive side is Purina Healthy Weight.
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deezie
@deezie
19 Years1,000+ PostsPisces

Comments: 73 · Posts: 3385 · Topics: 36
Well... I will tell you from my own experience:

I had a cat that was 30lbs. Dry food since the day I got him. It got to the point where you are at. Incessant begging for food. Didn't matter if he had just eaten, he seemed insatiable.

I switched him to wet food (although inconvenient, it is much more in-line with what cats are meant to eat diet wise). I switched, mainly because he was having a hard time with bowel movements, but also in search of not having to feed him every other time I blinked.

To the best of my knowledge, cats need protein rich diet (cats that survive on their own eat mice/birds/rabbit/etc (protein). Protein is what makes them feel full/gives energy/best serves their physiological needs. There is minimal protein in dry food.

My cat had gotten so big and bloated, that he wasn't comfortable. He hated to be picked up, because it was uncomfortable for him.

SO.... the point of my story is - after switching to wet food - not only does he not beg me for food anymore, but he has also lost quite a bit of weight (a lot quicker than I would have liked, and that's something to be cautious of), but he seems overall more content. He still eats numerous times a day, which I attribute to other things not worth going into for your benefit. He will only eat very small amounts at a time, but they crying and begging has stopped. Even when I look at the "recommended serving size" for a cat of his weight... he comes nowhere near eating that much of the wet food. Where the dry food he was eating a LOT more.

I'm no vet, so please don't take what I'm saying as gospel, but that is my experience from a very similar if not the same position as you are in. 🙂