Not A Dog But Dog Lovers Can Love Cats Too

[Loving my Oldies]

Some months ago, I started feeding Gussy on Optimum Dry (she's never been overly keen on wet food) and the difference it made to her coat and general appearance was wonderful.

However, she has put on a lot of weight and I am trying to feed her less.

The Optimum recommendation for a cat of her weight is a cup a day. It seems a huge amount and I am wondering what others think.

Gussy is a stray torti of about 8-9 years of age.

[Loving my Oldies]

Gussy has a new favourite place in the garden. See if you can find her. ;) Oh dear, the pic is really small now that I've had to resize it to fit here.

Edited September 28, 2007 by Arolf

[Loving my Oldies]

Can this be moved to the Cats sub forum in Off Topic, please.

Thanks

[The Spotted Devil]

Arolf, join us in the Cat Forum under Off Topic but.....I can tell you that a lot of the commercial cat foods overestimate the amount of food cats require. Many cats will guts themselves stupid and put on weight without any effort My cats get (each, per day split into 3 meals): one quarter of a cup of Eukanuba dry, 3 small chunks of chicken/beef/lamb plus one quarter of a tin of Fancy Feast OR a chicken neck (every other night) - they are inside cats (pretty active) and are in mint condition ;) At 8 or 9 your girl will not be particularly active so, like a dog, ensure she has a nice, visible "waist". If she is bolting her food, get a kitty treat ball to slow her down....I use one for my youngest cat and she loves it!!!

[jemappelle]

A cup of dry food a day is way too much! My lactating mums with 6 kittens would only just manage to eat that! Cut it in half and see how she goes.

[Loving my Oldies]

Thank you, ladies. Gussy comes walking with me around the block when I walk Tilly and Rover - the oldies. I wish I had a video of her running to catch up with her "undercarriage" swaying alarmingly.

Gussy is a grazer and eats very little at any one session; as the birds come into the garage to steal her food, I am never sure how much she actually eats. I have a new system, now, that I give her little meals through the day.

I will measure out 1/2 cup and spread that out through the day.

Here she is sunbathing. . . . . .

Thanks again.

[kamuzz]

Gussy has a new favourite place in the garden. See if you can find her. :rolleyes:

Are you sure there is a cat in that photo?

[Loving my Oldies]

There is a dark smudge almost in the middle of the photo and a little bit of yellow which is her tag. :rolleyes:

[oakway]

Why not try Optimum light.

[Loving my Oldies]

;) Good idea, thanks.

[Tali]

I've had my boy on Hills TD for his teeth for about 4 years now - it saved us getting his teeth cleaned under aneasthetic (at his age I'm wary of that) and he eats about 1/3 cup morning and night. Mind you, he doesn't eat it all - a lot gets left as crumbs but he obviously gets enough to keep him happy and "active".... for a cat....

[Loving my Oldies]

Thanks Tali. I will look for that at the vets.

[sheree_e4]

I have 2 cats and both are fed Hill's.Jinx is fed C/D as he had FLUTD and Link is fed R/D which is a weight reducing diet he has gone from 10Kg to 6.35kg in 10mths and is so much happier.They both get 1/4 Cup morning and night as hill tend to over estimate the feeding guide aswell.the difference in feeding R/D compared to light is that R/D has less calories and therefore weightloss is greater,Light is a maintainence food once weight is where you want it.

first pic is before R/D

after R/D

Edited October 1, 2007 by sheree_e4

[Loving my Oldies]

Gorgeous cat, Sheree. Certainly does look better after the weight loss. Gussy is just over 6kg and the vet wasn't particularly worried about her weight when she went for her annual vaccination a few weeks ago. But I have certainly cut down on her food and she is very eager for her meal when I give it to her.