RE: Cats Have Become Picky Eaters
I have a rescue cat with food issues that I call "Ever hopeful". She's there every time I head anywhere toward the kitchen. Doesn't like "people food" except ham (maybe 1T cut tiniest), but she's there all the time. I have owned her maybe 6 months and have found that it's best to just ignore her behavior. Talk to her, but don't put down wet food when she wants. Dry food is there for her to self-feed and she gets 1/4 can of wet twice daily, which may get cut back if I think I can stand her neediness. She bites if I try to calm her. It's a problem, but don't give in to the cat, because she's more focused than you are. I used to worry, but now I see that she'll eat the dry if she's hungry, but if I come in the kitchen you'd think she hadn't been fed for a week. Don't give in.
Posted on 05/20/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Cats Have Become Picky Eaters
The vet I used when I had money told us to sweat the cat out, and give nothing else, even if it whines, until it eats whatever. However, I learned to stop all canned cat foods, which contain phosphates that addict them to whatever it's in, to stop all dry food, and go straight to raw organic egg mixed into canned tuna, makerel, or Salmon, each one mixed with cooked rice and sprinkled with crushed acidophiles tablet for children or pets. They will quickly love it and forget all about the other stuff.
Avoid hamburger, shrimp, and ham, but give occasional deli meat in very small amounts. They'll be much healthier, not go into heat so often, stop yowling monthly, be happier. Remember to brush them 1 time/ week to prevent hair balls, and to add 1/2 tsp. coconut oil(looks like lard)from Walmart, about twice a week to their food menu. They cannot smell or taste it and it will help them to pass hairballs, and the recipe is great for better hair, eyes, skin, claws. Keep the inside corners of their eyes clean daily, and put out only one helping of the meat once a day, then begin to introduce a minimal amt. of organic dry cereal once a day at a different time. Leave nothing to snack on. Feed any crumbs to the birds/chickens. Keep their water bowl large, clean and full at all times. I use USED but fairly clean paper plates, my only "maid/luxury" and
being recycled before tossing after only one use.
Never buy canned cat food again, regardless of how cheap. I am totally convinced it contains tapeworm eggs, even though fleas eat it and spread the eggs too. If not, some of the chemicals are truly harmful for the cat. Read how many are in them, and know that the cereal is mostly corn, which has the most pesticides than all other veggies, according to pros.
Never give an adult cat milk unless in tiny amounts. Buy organic chicken broth in the box and add a little garlic salt for when they might seem to have a hair ball, but they should be healthier than ever on this diet. If their urine gets to strong, add a bit more acidophiles and watch the odor die down because it neutralizes any acid buildup in their kidneys.
Also, do NOT use kitty litter. instead, use newspaper and provide two areas, a dish bucket for urine, the other for solids. because the clay can kill, and we've lost cats from kidney failure using litters of all sorts. Don't feed them outside, regardless, because flies will lay eggs in the remnant food, and spread diseases from one neighbor to another, and wandering cats will also as they stop by for a nibble for any food left, to which your cat may return and be contaminated.
Cats have always been allowed to be more independent, but this doesn't have to be because
God says to take Dominion(control) over the earth and the animals. Make it easy for you, not just for them. Don't ever worship/ focus just on your pets, no matter how precious. They are not human and will behave much better with less than a lot of attention.
I am age 65 and know how important pets can be to our well being, but unless one is confined, disabled, or blind, pets can also absorb your every moment if you allow it.
God bless and help you. I hope some of this will help? : )
Posted on 05/19/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Cats Have Become Picky Eaters
My cats have to be on medicated dry food. I put out dishes of it, and that is all they get. They seem to like it, and self-feed.
My cats do like me to come and check their food or top up their bowl when it is not empty. They just like the attention. They also get treats a couple of times a day, when they happen to ask for them.
If I were you, I would consider the moist cat food a special treat, and only give them a tiny amount of it. Or if they seem to be overly fussy, don't give them any at all. Just let them eat their dry food, but be sure that it is a good quality one that provides all their nutritional needs. If they really don't seem to like this food, don't bother with it. They will be fine with just the dry kind, and less work for you. And less cost, which is a factor when you have so many cats.
Posted on 05/19/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Cats Have Become Picky Eaters
I agree. Put them on a schedule, twice a day, no picking or treats in between.
Posted on 05/19/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Cats Have Become Picky Eaters
This might sound harsh, but I would not leave food out for them. I would feed them a couple of times a day or whatever the cat food recommends and then put up the dish of dry food after about twenty minutes of so. If they have eaten, great, if they dont, great. Once they start appreciating the food more you can start to leave it out all the time.
Posted on 05/11/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
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