Greetings all!
I adopted a new 1 year old cat 2 weeks ago.
She is full grown per the vet and is petite - weighs 5.5 lbs only (or at least she did).
The first 10 days or so, she ate lightly, and I'm sticking to the 1/2 cup in the morning and 1/2 c. at nite, as I've heard is the standard for feeding an adult cat. She gets dry Iams food, with tuna used as a treat for training only.
Now, in the last few days, she is eating fast, and then finds me to cry for some more. I want to be strong, for I've lived with overweight cats before and ones obsessed with food/feeding (and the bugging never ends). I want to avoid a food-obsessed pet, and have one who stays a normal weight.
I dont know if she is actually hungry or not. I of course want to feed her if she needs it, but I've lived with cats who would eat their own weight in food everyday if they could get away with it, as if they ignore their hunger/full cues.
She is an indoor cat who only sleeps/dozes about 10-12 hrs a day, and is v. active when playing. She goes *crazy* for three hours in the morning - running and climbing and attacking toys like crazy. She is less vigorous the rest of the day, but still energetic in her play, whether with me or alone.
How do I know Smidge truly needs to eat or she is just playing me?
How do I know what is enough?
I adopted a new 1 year old cat 2 weeks ago.
She is full grown per the vet and is petite - weighs 5.5 lbs only (or at least she did).
The first 10 days or so, she ate lightly, and I'm sticking to the 1/2 cup in the morning and 1/2 c. at nite, as I've heard is the standard for feeding an adult cat. She gets dry Iams food, with tuna used as a treat for training only.
Now, in the last few days, she is eating fast, and then finds me to cry for some more. I want to be strong, for I've lived with overweight cats before and ones obsessed with food/feeding (and the bugging never ends). I want to avoid a food-obsessed pet, and have one who stays a normal weight.
I dont know if she is actually hungry or not. I of course want to feed her if she needs it, but I've lived with cats who would eat their own weight in food everyday if they could get away with it, as if they ignore their hunger/full cues.
She is an indoor cat who only sleeps/dozes about 10-12 hrs a day, and is v. active when playing. She goes *crazy* for three hours in the morning - running and climbing and attacking toys like crazy. She is less vigorous the rest of the day, but still energetic in her play, whether with me or alone.
How do I know Smidge truly needs to eat or she is just playing me?
How do I know what is enough?