#1
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Sugarcatmom and Growler-advice please
I have been trying to wean all my group off Orijen for obvious reasons. The last die hard is Jasper.
Sweet Pea is OVERWEIGHT (by about 4lbs ) and will eat anything AND everything so I can't leave any food down on the floor or she will eat it. No problem getting her off kibble. Puddles eats her three meals a day as she has since she has been 12 weeks so she is easy, just have to make sure Sweet Pea is locked up while she eats and she eats when her food is put down. She has been off kibble for a while so no issues with her. So now Jasper: He has some mental/stress issues and is very passive. He won't eat if there is any activity in the house. He gets very stressed and walks around and around the island. He won't eat if Sweet Pea is around (she would beat him up when he tried to eat when her kittens wanted to eat from his bowl). If it is quiet and he starts to eat, but will stop as soon as he hears a noise. When we were putting down kibble and allowing him to eat when he wanted he maintained his weight. Now that he is on canned with very limited kibble, he has lost about 2 lbs very quickly (kibble sprinkled on his Wellness). I have started locking him in the bedroom with us at night and bringing his food in with him so he will eat. The problem seems to be that he won't spend enough time eating to get enough calories with canned. Any change seems to stress this guy out. I am worried his weight loss will continue. He is actually at a healthy weight now, he was a little porky before. If only Sweet Pea would loose some. Should I continue with kibble or stick to my guns as I did with Puddles and have him eat only canned?
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Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
#2
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Hmm, that's a tough one. You know how generally anti-kibble I am, but I admit that there are times when it's not so cut-and-dried. I can only tell you what I would do, and that's based on my limited perspective of your particular situation. What if you were to cut out all the kibble but weigh Jasper frequently to keep track of anymore changes? It's possible that his weight is just balancing out and will level off, and hopefully his appetite will pick up the slack. Can you sneak him more food at quieter times periodically? If he still continues to lose weight, then maybe a small amount of kibble ain't so bad (Innova EVO is the highest in calories at 612/cup), as long as he still gets predominantly wet. Could it be that he also needs more enticement with the canned? Something like Real Food Toppers crumbled on top, or some tuna juice or parmesan cheese? A pinch of nutritional yeast powder also works well.
Jasper sounds like such a sweet, sensitive soul. I totally understand how frustrating it can be when kitties don't eat the way you want them to. Early on in Aztec's diabetes, he had some serious appetite issues and my whole life revolved around trying to get enough food in him. I would sit beside him while he ate and hold my breath until he was done. If the phone rang or hubby walked in and disturbed us, that was it, Aztec would walk away and I would literally start crying. Entirely different story today! Now he's a little pig and I'm having trouble getting his weight down (which is complicated by being diabetic). Let me know how it goes, and give that handsome cat of yours some extra chin scritches for me.
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"To close your eyes will not ease another's pain." ~ Chinese Proverb “We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” ~ Gretchen Wyler |
#3
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Thanks sugarcatmom, I really want him off kibble (and would really like him on raw, but that won't be for a while). I will start weighing him tonight. How often do you think I weigh him? I really like the weight he is now.
I am feeling the same way as you were with Aztec and sounds like they are very similar. The real food toppers worked with Puddles, but didn't entice him at all. Maybe I'l try different flavours like lamb, he is fed mainly Wellness, chicken, beef and chicken, and turkey. He has allergies to grains and gets horrible diarrhea and will literally scratch his eyes until they bleed.
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Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
#4
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Have you tried DVP Venison and Green Pea? Honestly I never could get Tabitha to eat any canned at all but she has turned into a hound! with this stuff! she actually drives me crazy now for it! might be worth a shot! I know what you mean about a skittish cat! my boy was the same way! he has adjusted noe but it can be tough!
Cindy
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Tabitha April 10, 1995 - August 23, 2013 Bomber April 10, 1995 - July 12, 2010 Winston Nov 15, 1999 - September 15, 2011 Sophie Aug 30, 2011 "UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED" He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. -Unknown |
#5
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Thanks Winston, I think I will try him on different flavours. That's the one problem with adopting an adult cat, if they are fussy, it is so hard to find what they like.
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Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
#6
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I have tried every brand on the market and they snub them all! But for some reason this one they LOVE! I'm doing the same thing trying to wean them off kibble which they have been on all their lives! Its tough! but we are up to almost a full can of that a day! I am worried that she will get sick of it! But for now she loves it!
Cindy
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Tabitha April 10, 1995 - August 23, 2013 Bomber April 10, 1995 - July 12, 2010 Winston Nov 15, 1999 - September 15, 2011 Sophie Aug 30, 2011 "UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED" He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. -Unknown |
#7
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L4H Does Jasper like fish?....
Wellness Salmon & Trout canned = calcium dry matter.......1.70% ............................................= phosphorus dry matter..1.28% ............................................= potassium dry matter....0.97% Would he eat the canned w/a little bit of raw topped on it? That would give a little extra good calories added to what he'll eat.
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Avoid biting when a simple growl will do The Spirit Lives As Long As Someone Who Lives Remembers You - Navaho Saying |
#8
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arghhhh i have no advice but i have been ther and feel your pain
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#9
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Quote:
__________________
Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
#10
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Weighed him last night, he is down to 11 lbs, he has lost 3 lbs in the last 6 weeks.:sad:
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Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
#11
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Quote:
Sorry to hi-jack L4H, trying to get finnicky cats to eat is a pain. Kale is similar to Jasper, everything has to be a certain way and a certain karma around the room, the slightest movement and he goes running. Lord knows why we've had him since he was itsy-bitsy. |
#12
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DVP is Dick Van Patten, Natural Balance. Puddles wouldn't eat Wellness either until I sprinkled some pulverized freeze dried salmon on it. She was a fish food addict (fancy feast). Now she loves it. I think it is what ever they get used to. That is funny how you describe karma's environment in order for him to eat Yes, Jasper is the same way. Even a differnt plate sends him into stress mode.
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Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
#13
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Forgot to mention, I took the weight off him and added it to my hips, yikes I am up 6 lbs
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Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
#14
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Herbie can be eating and I drop something from the fridge right next to him, maybe he will look and then again maybe not he just carries on munching. Kale on the other hand who eats on the other side of the kitchen, runs half a mile, if I'm putting dishes away, no way in the cupboard close to him, that's reason to scat also. |
#15
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Bought some Instinct canned Lamb, Venison and Rabbit:
http://www.naturesvariety.com/instinct_cat_can Fed him the lamb and he gobbled it up. When I was buying NV Lamb raw for the kittens, he would come in the kitchen an meow with the kittens while I was preparing their food, I would give him some but he wouldn't eat it.:sad:. I wonder if he was fed lamb in his previous home. He ate almost a full can since last night. I also bought some Wellness Delight treats and he loves those too. I sprinkled some on his breaky this morning: http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/cat_w..._delights.html
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Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
#16
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Hopefully he's found something he likes and will keep on eating. That isn't good losing that much weight that fast. :sad:
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Assumptions do nothing but make an ass out of u and me. We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD! |
#17
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Yay!!!!! I hope he keeps it up.
__________________
"To close your eyes will not ease another's pain." ~ Chinese Proverb “We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” ~ Gretchen Wyler |
#18
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OH! I haven't seen those Wellness treats! I didn't know they had any. I had thought Greenies were something healthy to give them but apparently it's not. I'm going to look for these!
L4H, I hope you get Jasper on the right track food wise. My fussiest eater is Oksana. She likes the Wellness but she eats very little at meal time and prefers to eat a little here and there throughout the day and evening. I've managed to get my gang off of kibble during the week and only give them a little bit on the weekend.
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There are only two rules at my house: House rule #1. Cats rule. House rule #2. See rule #1. http://nuriaandthegang.shutterfly.com/ |
#19
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Jasper can't eat Greenies, they have grains in them. Anytime I tried any food with grains he get very loose poops and they stink so no foods with grains in my house. He was eating Orijen quite nicely and we would put down kibble when ever he was at the pantry. Now I want him off kibble, but he doesn't eat the canned fast enough before Sweet Pea or the kittens gobble it up, and the little he does eat just doesn't have enough calories to sustain him, and if there is any little noise while he is eating, he stops and runs off.
So I have to find a food he really, really likes so he will gobble it up. Lamb seems to be it, will try venison tonight . The other good news, Sweet Pea doesn't seem to care for the lamb so she didn't gobble it up. And Puddles, well she is a tiny muncher and won't touch any food that isn't her "normal". The Wellness treats are new, Global didn't even have them on the shelves yet, they just came in yesterday, but they opened the box for me so I could buy some $5 per small bag
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Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
#20
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That's about the same price as Pet Food Direct on the web. Hopefully Petco will sell them or I can find somewhere that will sell them.
It's good the girls don't like Lamb, at least that's a plus for Jasper. He can have his food to himself. I saw a brand at the specialty pet store called Wysong. I didn't have a chance to look at the ingredients, but all they sell at this place is the good high quality brands so maybe that is something you can look into.
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There are only two rules at my house: House rule #1. Cats rule. House rule #2. See rule #1. http://nuriaandthegang.shutterfly.com/ |
#21
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Wysong is good & grain free, However the canned formulas are only for intermittent or supplemental feeding, they don't have the full nutritional supplements including Taurine that cats need.
__________________
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do The Spirit Lives As Long As Someone Who Lives Remembers You - Navaho Saying |
#22
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Lovely how they seem to withhold that fact. They have that at this place I go now and then to get my gang Wellness. I actually thought about buying that for them not long ago. At least it's something I can give them just not alone.
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There are only two rules at my house: House rule #1. Cats rule. House rule #2. See rule #1. http://nuriaandthegang.shutterfly.com/ |
#23
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It is mentioned on their website you have to find it though, it should also be stated on the cans as well. It is fine to feed as a snack or as 1 meal with something else provided the other meal that day is a nutritionally complete one. Not one to feed as a regular part of their diet unless you have something to go with it.
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Avoid biting when a simple growl will do The Spirit Lives As Long As Someone Who Lives Remembers You - Navaho Saying |
#24
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The Wysong "Au Jus" cans aren't complete (although you can buy Wysong's Call of the Wild supplement to add to them), but their "Gourmet" and "Stew in
Gravy" lines are. The Gourmet stuff isn't grain-free though, but it is low-carb. http://www.wysong.net/page/WOTTPWS/CTGY/FD
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"To close your eyes will not ease another's pain." ~ Chinese Proverb “We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” ~ Gretchen Wyler |
#25
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I'm going to give it a look into. On the weekends I like to give the gang a special treat of an extra snack during the day. This might be something they would appreciate.
I see they have a gourmet seafood and even snacks. I don't like to give them seafood often, just now and then, and they love it.
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There are only two rules at my house: House rule #1. Cats rule. House rule #2. See rule #1. http://nuriaandthegang.shutterfly.com/ |
#26
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Update
Jasper's weight has stablized. He absolutely loves Instinct: Lamb, Venison and Rabbit, Lamb being his favourite, so he gets that brand.
I have had to add kibble sprinkled on the top to add calories, but added water to the canned hoping to make up for the lack of moisture in his kibble. I really wanted to be kibble free so I will try again in the winter when he isn't so active. He runs like a dog when he is outside, climbs trees and runs after the chipmunk and resident turkey. His "special" dinner is kept locked up from Sweet Pea, who can't have any extra calories (so zero kibble) and Puddles, who has to have extra water and low phosphorus food. He is locked in the bedroom with Puddles and I at night and that is when he does the majority of his eating.
__________________
Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
#27
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You have probably seen this, and it seems that you've found a solution, L4H, but Innova has a reduced fat wet food: http://www.naturapet.com/brands/innova.asp
I'm considering it for my Millie, as she seems to be getting a little, er, rotund... I didn't know EVO was so high in calories. I'm currently feeding a bit of wet EVO with some dry California Natural (either Chicken or Herring).
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J'embrasse mon chien sur la bouche! "To err is human, to forgive, canine." -Unknown Mom to: Sola: 18 month old black lab/malamute Luna: 2 year old Siberian Husky (rescue) Millie: 2.5 year old tabby (rescue) Layla: ?? year old calico (rescue) Former mom to (RIP): Nicole: Maine Coon cat 1985-1999 Poncho: Degu Bibi: Degu Josette: St. Bernard, childhood pet |
#28
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Quote:
__________________
Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
#29
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Quote:
__________________
J'embrasse mon chien sur la bouche! "To err is human, to forgive, canine." -Unknown Mom to: Sola: 18 month old black lab/malamute Luna: 2 year old Siberian Husky (rescue) Millie: 2.5 year old tabby (rescue) Layla: ?? year old calico (rescue) Former mom to (RIP): Nicole: Maine Coon cat 1985-1999 Poncho: Degu Bibi: Degu Josette: St. Bernard, childhood pet |
#30
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Sweet Pea's stomach stretched so much that she wants to eat 3 times the norm for an adult cat. I couldn't believe what she would eat when she was nursing All my fault, I should have cut down her food while she was weaning her kittens.
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Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
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