Hungry Cat

[nancylebov]

Ra (the Himalyan) here has shown a sharp sudden increase in appetite--there's a reasonable chance that he's got hyperthyroidism. The immediate problem is that I need to go to Balticon--Heather will probably come in once over the long weekend, but there isn't going to be anyone around most of the time to give him cold cuts or canned cat food.

I suspect that the dry catfood that's always available (Felidae) is too low-fat for the situation. He eats it enthusiastically, so I don't think his teeth are the problem. Either scarletj9 or suecochran suggested kitten chow. Any other suggestions or recommended kitten chow brands?

Comments

[clstal.livejournal.com]

The higher quality stuff will pack more calories and high quality 'stuff' into a smaller area. I feed my adult cat small servings of super-premium kitten chow (rather than larger servings of adult food). For a hyperthyroid cat you're looking to stabalize short-term I'd free-feed a super-premium kitten food, preferibly in a place only he can get to (but that's optomistic on my part :-) ).

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

He's the least athletic of the three cats, though at least he's become asserive enough (well before the recent problem) to defend his food.

I'm just going to put a hell of a lot out. If the other two stuff themselves,
it isn't the end of the world.

[clstal.livejournal.com]

Quite true!

[dcseain.livejournal.com]

I use Iams Kitten Food; it's 10% fat. Based on what clstal said, you may want to look into Eukanuba or Science Diet. I've not looked at any analyses of those.

[clstal.livejournal.com]

From my understanding of pet food premeium is Iams, SD, or Euk. Super-premeium is the smaller newer places: californial natural, Innova, blue buffalo, and the whole host of other ones.

Ideally we'd all get to feed our cats the highest protein, highest fat, *highest taurine* kibble available. Thankfully, major cat food mfgrs are realizing that cats need even more protein/fat/taurine than is already in their food and are gradually upping it.

If it's something you're concerned about, any addition of beef heart, liver, or fish to your cat's diet would be a plus (as well as any addl protein you care to add). Keep the cat's weight on the thin side till they get older then add a _few_ extra pounds as insurance. It's far better to control weight by portions than by feeding filler-food (anything diet and anything high fiber - cats are true carnevores and don't have much use for it).

Anyway - *enough of my rant*. :-)