New food from vet - portion advice

[don1976]

Our Minnie has been put on a specialist food by the vet (RC Calm dry food). The vet has also asked us to try to get her weight down a bit, as she's a little chunky.
They have recommended to feed twice a day. For her weight, it's recommended for 55g of the food per day to try to get her weight down a bit.
She loves the food, so no problem there. We feed half her allowance for breakfast, usually 7am, then the other half around 3pm. However, of an evening she's crying out for food.
Should we split her allowance into 3 so she's getting a little bit of a night?

[booktigger]

Interesting choice of food - do be aware that the recommended amounts are often on the high side and wet is better for weight loss. I think a third meal would be good, 16 hours between meals is a lot

[Janey]

I agree, I’d split it into 3. My lot have always snacked all day and it works fine. If your cat needs to be rationed then I’d split it more, then at least she’s got something to look forward to more often. Also I’ve found some cats get a lot of acid (like we can) if they go too long without food and it can make them nauseous. Good luck with the diet.

[Kay]

I think I would give a small meal of chicken or white fish in addition to the RC Calm, just to add some variety to her diet without triggering any possible food allergy

you could also try putting a third of the dry food amount into one of those balls which have to be played with to release the bits, which might encourage her to exercise

another possibility is to put a small amount of the RC in a timer to open during the early hours - like Janey says, acid can be a problem, and I had a cat who would bring up bile regularly around 6am until I put a feeder down which opened at 4am

[booktigger]

I was just coming back to suggest a treat ball, I find they only work when they don't have food down all the time - my friend got a puzzle feeder instead for hers

[don1976]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll tweak things a bit and see how she gets on.

[Lilith]

I may be sticking my neck out here a bit, but I do dislike it when vets insist on particular mealtimes for cats. Cats by nature are browsers and nibblers, as are humans once they abandon the old notion of breakfast, lunch, supper - and no eating between meals!

Suits me, and I'm a skinny minnie. At this time of year many cats are apt to be a bit portly after lounging about all winter; they'll become fitter when (if!) the good weather advances and they can get out and about. And your Minnie's been living a sedentary life in a shelter, too.

Totally agree with additional low-calorie meals of chicken/fish and the exercise gadgets ... couldn't bear to leave a cat crying for food.

I have seen obese cats (awful) and I've never had to deal with a portly cat or a portly me - in this house we eat when we're hungry, so obviously I've no experience in these matters but still, food for thought ...?

Good luck with her

Oh and ps, if you do cook her fish/chicken, braise it in a very little water, and give it to her chopped up in the broth - the liquid will fill her up too

[Red wine lady]

RC calm is to reduce stress and anxiety...I’ve tried it for this reason (the cat, not me!) and frankly zylkene tablets work quicker and are less expensive. I just don’t trust vets when it comes to diets....my vet purely did it out of greed rather than practically.

Wet food has less calories...2 pouches a day and no treats, should work wonders.

I’m interested in how much does your cat weigh? The reason I ask is, Oscar weighs in at 6.3 kg or 1 stone in old money, he is a pedigree moggie but he is tall boy, with long legs and he suits his 1 stone weight (in my opinion). Oscar now goes outside and definitely gets more exercise, his weight has not dropped, but his appetite has increased. He has 2.5 pouches and some dry and I weigh him once a week and no weigh change.

I would give up her exercise and give her another meal (what about the 50g Sheber taster packs?).xx

[Red wine lady]

I may be sticking my neck out here a bit, but I do dislike it when vets insist on particular mealtimes for cats. Cats by nature are browsers and nibblers, as are humans once they abandon the old notion of breakfast, lunch, supper - and no eating between meals!

Suits me, and I'm a skinny minnie. At this time of year many cats are apt to be a bit portly after lounging about all winter; they'll become fitter when (if!) the good weather advances and they can get out and about. And your Minnie's been living a sedentary life in a shelter, too.

Totally agree with additional low-calorie meals of chicken/fish and the exercise gadgets ... couldn't bear to leave a cat crying for food.

I have seen obese cats (awful) and I've never had to deal with a portly cat or a portly me - in this house we eat when we're hungry, so obviously I've no experience in these matters but still, food for thought ...?

Good luck with her

Oh and ps, if you do cook her fish/chicken, braise it in a very little water, and give it to her chopped up in the broth - the liquid will fill her up too

Skinny Minnie and a cat genius...I’ve never liked you!

[Lilith]

Love you too AND Oscar, like the new photo but do miss the one of him sprawled on his cushion though, gorgeous lad!

[Red wine lady]

He a gorgeous, but so naughty ! That’s his cat cardboard box...completely spoils the decor of our lounge, but being a cat owner is all about sacrifice

[Lilith]

Ah but the cat is the ultimate ornament