Question:
I am writing about my orange tabby that will be 2-years-old. Him and his twin brother are indoor cats. He weighs 20 pounds and his brother 10. I'm not sure what a healthy weight would be for him. They both eat a diet of just dry Meow Mix. They run around and play at the same level, but it's hard for this cat to lose weight. I am seeing him walk slower, almost with a slight limp that concerns me. I tried feeding him just twice a day, but my husband insists that they prefer to graze throughout the day. I am not sure what to do. Setting up separate feeding regimens is not possible with us working out of the house 10 hours a day. Do you have any suggestions?
S.K.S., Virginia Beach, Va Sep 13, 2010
Answer:
Your husband is right: Cats like to take small snacks, but what you are feeding your cats is going to shorten one of your cat's lives, if not both. You are witnessing how some cats adapt to a high carbohydrate diet, at least for a while. Other cats become obese, diabetic and arthritic. You should transition to a no-grain or very-low-grain dry cat food like PetGuard and Organix (Castor & Pollux), hiding small quantities in various places for them to find while you are away at work. Feed them a good quality canned cat food (a tablespoon each) before you got to work, as soon as you come home and an hour before bedtime. Remove all remaining dry food as soon as you get in from work. Good canned cat food brands include Natura's Evo (also dry and grain-free), PetGuard and Evanger's. Consider raw cat foods, too. For more details, visit FelineNutritionEducationSociety.org.
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