Ever had a cat that would overeat?

[gritsar]

I never have, not in all the years I've owned cats and I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't have at least one cat. I've always just kept their bowl full and they free feed and maintain a healthy weight.
Then we rescued KiKi, the siamese. She was emaciated when we got her. She had been abandoned with a large litter of kittens and undergone a spay surgery as soon as the kittens were weaned.
I've been keeping KiKi's bowl full and she's gained approx. a pound and a half a week in the three weeks we've had her. She's now a healthy eight pounds, nicely filled out with a little bit of a tummy.
But she wants her bowl filled all the time.
I've decided to stop filling her bowl the minute it's empty, but she's turned on the siamese dramatics. Anyone that's ever owned a siamese knows what I'm talking about.
Neither she nor my other cat would eat the BEST food available to us, but what I'm feeding them is good quality. The vet has already checked KiKi for worms and other problems and pronounced her healthy.
So, continue to free feed or learn to put up with the 'OH! I'm dying here!' routine?

 

[ChickenFanaticAB]

none of my three cats free feed, but I know people that do that, and I would say that most of the cats that I know that do are overweight. I would suggest you deal with her complaints and try to get her on a twice a day feeding schedule. Sounds like she is used to going hungry and even though she is definitely not hungry, she is eating all that is in front of her for fear of it going away. By this time she should be comfortable at your house and at first I'm sure she will fuss about not have food all the time, but she will quickly get used to eating twice a day and you can regulate how much she gets. Good work rescuing her and getting weight back on her though!

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

What a lucky cat!

We rescued this guy two summers ago. He weighed less than 3 lbs., one eye was swollen shut, vet said he might not make it.

I wouldn't say he overeats, but he's definitely developed a little paunch.

Can't say no to a kitty!

 

[ranchhand]

Woodrow wants to know why you would ask such a question!

He's a rescue, and eats non-stop. He's pushing 20 lbs. now.

The problem I have with taking up the food is that the other two rescues will starve, because they aren't overeaters.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Oh, I can but it means not being able to walk freely in my house. Empty dish means KiKi will throw herself at my feet and meowwwwww like she's on her last breath.

I had another rescue siamese that weighed 18 lbs., Danang; but he was an applehead siamese and they tend to be heavier. KiKi is a wedgehead like my Bekka. They should be long and lean, mean optional.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Oh, I can but it means not being able to walk freely in my house. Empty dish means KiKi will throw herself at my feet and meowwwwww like she's on her last breath.

As they say, dogs have masters; cats have staff...​

 

[SproutGirl]

Aw, Kiki is a lucky kitty. I think that if you put her on a regular feeding schedule, she will eventually get used to it, and be all the healthier for it.

I have a cat who whines for extra food at night in the summer time because here in MT, it doesn't get dark until around 10:30 during the summer. She seems to think she is starving because the day is longer. Sometimes I will sprinkle just a few pieces of cat food into her bowl to make her happy, you know, just about 5 little pieces. She is satisfied by the sound of the feeding, and the taste of the food, and she is right at her optimal weight.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I read an article online recently where they did a study on cat & human interactions. Cats can train their humans (or beings as we call them). To the human mind, the "food dish is empty!" cry is similiar to a human baby's cry. It irritates our subconsious, so we fill the dish to shut them up. Makes sense to me.

 

[gritsar]

A pic of KiKi taken this morning:

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Kiki is beautiful! If she were mine, I would give her anything she wants. Catnip served on a silver platter!