Cat diet

[hevy6]

Hi.

My cat is a fixed male, approx. 2 years old, 12lbs. My fault, I fed him so much because he gets destructive if he doesn't have food ALL the time, and he's having a hard time reaching when cleaning himself, not to mention seriously lazy, so I just put him on a diet.

His vet says he should have about 225 calories a day, the Purina web site says he should have about three 5oz cans a day, most everywhere else says one can.

Atm his diet is as follows, one 5oz can split into 4 feedings a day, 5 hours apart, and 1/4 cup of dry food late night, his calorie intake is from 226-241 withing a 24 hour period.

He is currently eating Purina One Indoor Advantage and Purina Indoor dry food, and Friskies Indoor canned. I was either going to switch the canned food to the Purina pro ($$) or the dry food to Friskies Indoor ($) I could use some suggestions on better quality food, but I am on disability, with a kid, and money is tight.

So, am I starving him?

[Mollycat]

Just a minute! You say he got fat because he got destructive if he thought he was going short, and now you have restricted his food. How is that going, is he getting destructive again?

Safe weight loss is very gradual for cats. I don't have numbers but be careful as too sharp a calorie drop can put them at risk of hepatic lipidosis, curable but traumatic and expensive for you both.

I had a similar problem with my 6 to 11 year old girl, she would get aggressive towards the other cat and incredibly anxious (yes she has issues) so she got like that too where she struggled to wash. Believe me I tried everything. In the end I had to invest in two microchip feeders and put her on special formula low calorie food. I used Hills but I used it incorrectly and for too long, there are other brands and always follow the instructions. But this allows for all vitamins and minerals and for the cat's stomach to feel full so it takes away the behaviour problems that led to the problem in the first place. Which is usually us humans!!

If you're not sure on the amount to give, reduce a little at a time and see how it goes for a few weeks each step.

Another angle - you're feeding him 4 meals a day? Some will disagree but first I would try teaching him to regulate his own food intake and reduce the anxiety around food. What happens if you put down the whole can in the morning and the dry at night? Does he just eat the lot at once then cry for more at the next mealtime? Or does he go back to pick at it through the day? Could you put down the dry and half the can in the morning than leave the dry down and give the other half can at night? I was a slave to 4 meals a day too, it made things worse.

[hevy6]

Thank you. He's been on the diet for two days, so far, so good.
His diet was dry food, so for the most part he always had food. About a month or so ago I had cut down the amount I was feeding him, instead of giving him 1/4 cup I would give him 1/8, he was not happy, if I leave him dry food he will just eat it all and want more in 2 hours, tops. The dry food is really high in calories, and it's supposed to be low calories.
This time I am giving him the canned food and he is doing way better. He won't eat a lot of wet food at one time, 1/4 of the can at most, and sometimes he leaves food, he won't go back for hours and I don't want to leave wet food out like that. I am starting him at the 5 feedings a day, and hope in a week or so I can cut down to 4, then 3, I will probably stick to 3, 2 wet and 1 dry.

[Mollycat]

Glad it's working and sounds like a great plan, as long as he loses the weight gently and isn't crying for food I would have thought that was ok.
If in doubt I guess check with your vet again.