I think some folks here might be familiar with my Kippy's story and his fatty liver disease. A small update: he's still kicking. The good news is he is definitely eating better than before, usually a rate of 3-4 cans of Fancy Feast a day...give or take. He generally leaves behind a few bits of food. I also got him off the Gravy Lovers kind he loved and more onto the grilled kind, though after looking at a kitty food nutrition chart, I see that the kitten turkey flavor and the flaked trout adult formula have the most calories per can for Fancy Feast, so I may get him those for a try.
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I also found out that, of all places, Tractor Supply Co. carries brands like Wellness. I would like to give him this since I think it would actually be about the same price per 5/5 oz can as two 3 oz. cans of Fancy Feast. The problem is Kip is still quite finicky and refuses to eat any cat food or tuna that has been refrigerated. He'll eat cold deli meat just fine, but will not touch canned cat food that has been in t he refrigerator, and since he hardly ever eats more than 3 ounces of food at one time, I would likely wind up wasting half these bigger cans...assuming he'd eat them.
He's only been eating this well for maybe a week or so and I think I am starting to see some slight weight gain. Not a lot, but he feels a little heavier and his belly isn't quite so sunken in. The bad part is he has noticeably less energy (though he is very vocal and energetic when it's food time) and he also has become more moody. Don't get me wrong, he's always been a temperamental cat; he'd be all happy one minute, then he'd start growling and hissing and bolt from the room, and then come back in 2 minutes later acting all happy again. Lately, though, he's been having more mood swings than normal and while I can get him to purr, he kind of gives me the cold shoulder and I don't know why.
He's not depressed or anything, he doesn't avoid me, but he's just not quite so snuggly. This might be a better thing to ask in the Behavior section. I thought maybe I'd see an improvement in behavior with improved eating habits. He still acts all lovey dovey when he sees my boyfriend, which he's always done, so that's good. I just wish I knew why he seems to not like me anymore when he used to be such an affectionate kitty.
Anyway, I would like to ask if there is maybe something more I can do to encourage weight gain for Kip. He has not eaten dry food in about 2 or 3 months, so that's out. It's been all canned food with very little human food because when he gets something like turkey or cheese, he goes off his cat food for 2 or 3 days. Could anyone suggest a brand of cat food that comes in a 3 oz can that would have more calories? Perhaps just anything for kittens would be alright? I know Wellness makes 3 oz cans, but I don't think anywhere local carries that size. I have also contemplated making homemade cat food using Catinfo.org's recipe, but since Kip takes such issue with refrigerated/re-heated food, I worry I'm going to spend a fortune on meat and vitamins and he won't eat it. He has turned up his nose at cooked chicken before.
One final question: I have read that a cat should get at least 15 calories per pound of (ideal) body weight every day. Is this true? My short term goal for Kippy's weight is 10 pounds and while I try to feed him as much as possible, I'm wondering if 150 calories a day for him would be an okay minimum number to aim for. I think he gets that much from the food he does eat, even when he leaves a little behind.
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I also found out that, of all places, Tractor Supply Co. carries brands like Wellness. I would like to give him this since I think it would actually be about the same price per 5/5 oz can as two 3 oz. cans of Fancy Feast. The problem is Kip is still quite finicky and refuses to eat any cat food or tuna that has been refrigerated. He'll eat cold deli meat just fine, but will not touch canned cat food that has been in t he refrigerator, and since he hardly ever eats more than 3 ounces of food at one time, I would likely wind up wasting half these bigger cans...assuming he'd eat them.
He's only been eating this well for maybe a week or so and I think I am starting to see some slight weight gain. Not a lot, but he feels a little heavier and his belly isn't quite so sunken in. The bad part is he has noticeably less energy (though he is very vocal and energetic when it's food time) and he also has become more moody. Don't get me wrong, he's always been a temperamental cat; he'd be all happy one minute, then he'd start growling and hissing and bolt from the room, and then come back in 2 minutes later acting all happy again. Lately, though, he's been having more mood swings than normal and while I can get him to purr, he kind of gives me the cold shoulder and I don't know why.
He's not depressed or anything, he doesn't avoid me, but he's just not quite so snuggly. This might be a better thing to ask in the Behavior section. I thought maybe I'd see an improvement in behavior with improved eating habits. He still acts all lovey dovey when he sees my boyfriend, which he's always done, so that's good. I just wish I knew why he seems to not like me anymore when he used to be such an affectionate kitty.
Anyway, I would like to ask if there is maybe something more I can do to encourage weight gain for Kip. He has not eaten dry food in about 2 or 3 months, so that's out. It's been all canned food with very little human food because when he gets something like turkey or cheese, he goes off his cat food for 2 or 3 days. Could anyone suggest a brand of cat food that comes in a 3 oz can that would have more calories? Perhaps just anything for kittens would be alright? I know Wellness makes 3 oz cans, but I don't think anywhere local carries that size. I have also contemplated making homemade cat food using Catinfo.org's recipe, but since Kip takes such issue with refrigerated/re-heated food, I worry I'm going to spend a fortune on meat and vitamins and he won't eat it. He has turned up his nose at cooked chicken before.
One final question: I have read that a cat should get at least 15 calories per pound of (ideal) body weight every day. Is this true? My short term goal for Kippy's weight is 10 pounds and while I try to feed him as much as possible, I'm wondering if 150 calories a day for him would be an okay minimum number to aim for. I think he gets that much from the food he does eat, even when he leaves a little behind.