Puddles is growling over food

[vampiric_conure]

I've never had to deal with this in all the years I've had cats. I guess there's a new time for everything

X-posted from my Puddles journal:

'She started growling over her food, snapping it out of the dish before I could even put the bowl down. And she grabs it and carts it away from the food bowl sometimes. Could it be I'm not feeding her enough? She gets one can of Friskies (Flavors vary) a day. I'm not sure if this is enough for her...'

 

[Margot Lane]

I’ve always fed cats at least twice a day— if she’s not particularly overweight you could try a second feeding? Or experiment with another brand? There are many threads on this subject, one is called “How much food should I feed my cat?“

 

[vampiric_conure]

I’ve always fed cats at least twice a day— if she’s not particularly overweight you could try a second feeding? Or experiment with another brand?

She's fed twice a day. I've started feeding Puddles dry kibble before bed, to tide her over until the next meal. Her growling seemed to be predatory rather than aggressive and it happened when I removed her dry feeding. She devoured it. I might try changing her food up, too. She's been on Friskies for as long as I've had her. I don't want to turn her into a picky eater, LOL!

Thanks! .

 

[tabbytom]

'She started growling over her food, snapping it out of the dish before I could even put the bowl down. And she grabs it and carts it away from the food bowl sometimes. Could it be I'm not feeding her enough? She gets one can of Friskies (Flavors vary) a day. I'm not sure if this is enough for her...'

She's fed twice a day.

Feeding twice a day is not enough for a cat. Don't know where the idea of feeding cats twice a day came from but it is definitely not enough. I guess it came from free feeding as the hoomans top up the food twice a day and probably feeding twice a day came from that?

Yes, growling while eating and moving the dish away is a sign that Puddles does not have enough to eat and she is afraid that you take the dish away from her.

On the technical side of feeding, an indoor cat that is moderately active needs 200 - 250 calories per day and a very active cat needs 250 - 300 calories per day. Calories for wet food is best. From dry food is no good.

Read the label on the can as various manufacturers differs the amount of calories in the can. The other way is forget about the calories but just feed whenever Puddles is hungry. That may take a few meals a day. Once she's getting the right amount of food and calories per day, she should stop growling and be contented.

For me, I feed my boy whenever he's hungry. I don't free feed him and he receives no snacks or treats.

 

[Alldara]

She's probably very hungry if you removed her dry feeding. It keeps them full longer because first it might soak up water and expand before it digests.

You could continue to feed a tablespoon or two of dry food and put it in a puzzle feeder or treat ball. Some cats like some freeze dried treats instead. Most people must suppliment wet food with some dry due to various reasons. If that's the method you go, I'd recommend either Iams or Purina as they are pretty simply digestible and affordable and also come in small bags so won't go bad when feeding such low amounts.

Otherwise you might try some other brands of wet also. Steer clear of any formulas with milk or cheese.

 

[Kflowers]

I found the thread with pictures of Puddles. When ours were that size they were getting 6 ounces of wet food a day, and a handful of dry. But that was after they finished growing. It's possible Puddles has a bit more growing/bulking up to do since she was sort of ignored in her first home. If she's running around a lot and playing with puppy, you might well try giving her 8 or 9 ounces a day for awhile. Odds are when she feels safe and secure in there being enough food -- and puppy not eating it (I know you didn't let that happen) -- she may stop growling and guarding. Sometimes security comes from having more than you need or actually can eat for a a little bit of time.