Fat Kitties?

[lacy]

Are anyones cats getting fat On California Natural Chicken and Rice? Gosh I have one cat that weighed 10 lbs before the recall and now weighs close to 14! I know now, that I need to feed her less. Is anyone having this problem? My other cats seem to have stayed the same size.

[garypen]

Wet or Dry?

The dry is supposed to be under 400 kcal per cup, and the wet is only 910 kcal per kg. Not high at all.

How much are you feeding her?

[lacy]

She just eats dry. She wont touch anything canned or moist. I try everyday! Just the boys love the wet. I free feed them, but I dont feel like I overdo it. I guess it could be that she was on Nutro Weight management before this. Or that she really likes this food. Thats good that the calories arent high. I wasnt sure. Its just crazy how many pounds she has gained. How much do you feed?

[garypen]

My younger girl, Lucy, is a little chubby. But, she eats mostly wet food. She and Lucky split a quarter can of Merrick (eigth of a can each), twice a day. However, Lucky never finishes, and Lucy cleans his plate for him. So, I would say that Lucy eats 3/8 can, and Lucky eats 1/8 can each day.

Lucy will nibble on the CalNat dry in between wet meals. But, Lucky is the real dry food eater. I put out 1/4cup of CalNat for each, twice a day. But, since Lucky eats more, I'd say he eats 3/4 cup, and she eats 1/4 cup.

He weighs around 13lbs, maybe a little more, but very muscular. Lucy weighs around 9lbs. But, she is a very small cat, and that 9lbs is kinda chubby.

I just tried Innova Lite canned, and they both love it. So, I will use it despite it being made Menu, until Lucy loses that pudge. Then, I'll switch back to Merrick, unless Natura cans their own food by then. In that case, I will stay with a Natura canned food, probably CalNat wet.

I also just bought a bag of Innova Senior dry. It has approx the same calories and carbs as CalNat, but less fat, more fiber, and more protein. So, it may help Lucy lose a little weight, as well. But, I really bought it for 9 year old Lucky. You might want to try it for your fatties. There is also an Innova Reduced Fat dry. But, it has quite a bit more carbs. The Senior formula actually looks like a healthier way to lose weight.

[Davis]

Mine is losing weight on this food, although I can't say for sure that it's the food.  But there is definitely no weight gain for him.  I would actually like him to gain some weight.  He's not what I would call skinny, but he just doesn't have the mass that he use to have. He has always been a sturdy cat, but his body looks more gaunt these days and he's lighter.  I guess I have to face that he's getting older and is probably losing muscle.  Any suggestions on how I can get him to gain a few lbs?  He eats well and has not lost his appetite. 

[lacy]

I have no idea how to get a cat to gain weight! I have the opposite problem! Haha. My kitties just love food and beg for it ALL day. I feel like I do a good job not overfeeding. I might look into the Innova Senior to help Wendy lose weight. Thanks Garypen. Not sure how crazy she would go without the California Natural though! We'll see. I really just wish she would eat something besides dry food. My two other cats lOVE wet food. I try once or twice a day with Wendy. I even add treats and baby food. Believe it or not, she doesnt even like treats!! I bought Halo's freeze dried lamb treats and the other kitties couldnt resist, but Wendy...no way. Shes my little oddball.

[garypen]

Davis - Weight gain would be accomplished with a higher calorie food. Any of those high-protein foods should work, Wellness Core, Timberwolf Serengeti (although there may be a recall from Chenango? I can't remember), and, of course, Innova EVO. (Although, they apparently can pose other health risks due to such high protein and certain mineral levels.)

My little one seems to stay pretty plump eating Merrick canned in addition to CalNat dry. Their Turducken is alittle higher in kcal than the Pot Pie or Thankgiving Dinner. I assume it's due to the duck, which is higher in fat.

If your cat prefers dry, the Inovva Cat and Kitten formula is much higher in calories than CalNat - 537kcal/cup vs. 393. It doesn't list its carb level, but it appears to be under 20%, when calculating based on percentages of other ingredients. It just might do the trick for you!

Lacy - OTOH, you want the exact opposite of Davis. I just started using the Innova Senior dry. I cannot say if it will definitely shed those pounds. It's way too soon. But, the formula looks like it is well suited for it, possibly better than their Reduced Fat dry formula. You can read the particulars in my Innova Senior thread.

[Geff]

Without actual weighing him, Sylvester seems to be losing a little weight on Cal Nat C& Rice dry. My sister thought so also. He'll get officially weighed in August.

Last summer, at the urging of a teenaged pet food store clerk I changed Sylvester from Royal Canin SC Dry indoor to same as the above Senior. He very quickly gained about 2 pounds & his vet put him back on indoor.

[Davis]

Hmmm, interesting.  Thanks Gary.  I'm sure the higher calories would help my cat to gain, but there's also that "why mess with a good thing" hesitation.  He hasn't seemed to feel this good in a long time.  He used to eat the Innova.  I took so much time weighing all the different factors of the different formulas.  Decisions, decisions.  I think I'll stick with this a while longer and see what happens.  If he doesn't continue to lose weight, he'll be fine.  If he does, then I'll have to make some adjustments.  What I really want is to get him on mostly wet food. 

How is your eye, Geff?

[Mary K]

Davis, How about giving your kitty a little ice-cream now and then!   

[PetFoodTracker]

I got my cat Woody to gain some much needed weight by giving him some half-and-half every day.  He does fine with dairy, and lets it sit out a few hours before he drinks it (which someone said helps with the lactic acid)

[garypen]

I was also thinking of vegetable oil. That's not bad for cats is it? I would imagine it would make their coats nice an shiny too.

[Cindy Nevarez]

Years ago (before people started depending on commercial pet food), it was a common and accepted thing to give kitties cream.

[Davis]

Mary, ice cream is one of those things I cannot keep in the house.  If I do, I will go crazy and eat it constantly.  I do make homemade sometimes, but not very often.  I really have to discipline myself to control my ice cream intake.  I'm sure my cat would love it though, but I might be a little concerned about the sugar...which is fine, because that leaves more for me.   But the next time I have some in the house, I will try it.

Gary, the oil is a really great idea, but I'm not sure about vegetable oil.  I'm thinking maybe something like salmon oil would be better.  What do you think?

PetFoodTracker and Cindy, I think you are on the right track.  This might work really well.  No sugar, and I could keep a small carton in the frig pretty easily.  I think I might even see if they have a lactaid variety that has the lactose broken down, which would be easy for him to digest.  Or sour cream is another idea, since the cultures break it down too.  Dairy is the one thing he will eat...he seems to hate all other wet things.  I give him plain yogurt every day, but this does not have as many calories.

Thanks everyone! I hope someone does not come along and scream at us for suggesting dairy, since it's not a part of their adult diet in the wild.

[Cindy Nevarez]

Maybe....but I hear that outside cats always show up at milking times!