I have a 7 lb. cat that will be 4 years old in May. When she first came to live with me (she was a stray), she was very thin, obviously malnourished. I free fed her for the first few months. Gave her about a cup of food a day, and refilled when it became low (maybe once a day). She gained weight very fast, and the vet said that at 10 lbs., she was now overweight. I began feeding her 3/4 cup of food daily, as the food package recommended. She has lost weight - is at 7 lb. Everyone says she's looking thin, but she looks healthy to me. The problem is, she acts like she's starving! Around 2:00 (her feeding time), she is meowing, batting me with her paws. Even after eating, around MY dinnertime, she is constantly in my face begging for some of my food. I guess I spoiled her by occasionally giving her a sample of my food. She acts like she's ravenous, though - it bothers me because she does eat. Right now, she's trying to climb on my lap to get at my Hot Pocket. She never acted like this when I was free feeding her. She's being a pest, but I'm wondering if this means she's just really hungry. I've given her several mons. to get used to this diet. What do you think? Should I go back to free feeding and risk her becoming overweight again? To me, 10 lbs. is not a fat cat. Sometimes, I think at her annual appt., the vet just wants to "find something wrong," so I won't feel like I'm out money. Should I wait until her appt. in May, ask them what to do?
ETA: Here are some pics of Maisey at 10 lbs. I think she looks a wee bit fat, but not terribly overweight.
http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/5568/mlb0021pt.jpg
http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/7849/mlb0016fv.jpg
ETA: Here are some pics of Maisey at 10 lbs. I think she looks a wee bit fat, but not terribly overweight.
http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/5568/mlb0021pt.jpg
http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/7849/mlb0016fv.jpg