Help Chunky Kitty Change his Diet with the Least Stress
December 16, 2024 5:31 PM Subscribe
Vet prescribed Bear a weight-loss diet that is completely different from what he's used to eating. Need tips for easing him into it without making him completely miserable. Based on past experience I'm tempted to just refuse to diet him, but figured we would give it one more try, with your expert advice!
Current food: Free feed big bowl of regular kibble. He's a grazer.
New diet: 2/3 cup of prescription kibble, plus 3.5 small cans (!) prescription wet food, per day. (To be reduced over time as he slims down.) (I double checked the amount with the vet. They're concerned he get enough nutrients at first.)
1. What would a good schedule look like for that combo of wet and dry? (I work, so no midday meals).
2. How would you transition it?
I'm giving myself six months to get him "adjusted" and over being miserable (not to lose the weight, but to get him OK with the journey), or I'm sh-t canning the whole diet idea. Mental health (his) is important! Last time we tried this he was miserable for the entire two years we tried it for. He never did adjust. Hopefully your advice will help it go better this time!
Current food: Free feed big bowl of regular kibble. He's a grazer.
New diet: 2/3 cup of prescription kibble, plus 3.5 small cans (!) prescription wet food, per day. (To be reduced over time as he slims down.) (I double checked the amount with the vet. They're concerned he get enough nutrients at first.)
1. What would a good schedule look like for that combo of wet and dry? (I work, so no midday meals).
2. How would you transition it?
I'm giving myself six months to get him "adjusted" and over being miserable (not to lose the weight, but to get him OK with the journey), or I'm sh-t canning the whole diet idea. Mental health (his) is important! Last time we tried this he was miserable for the entire two years we tried it for. He never did adjust. Hopefully your advice will help it go better this time!
Best answer: Tough to be a kitteh on a diet. We've been feeding a wet, raw diet for about 12 years and free fed until pretty recently when we got a similar talking to from our vet. Our cat has slimmed down about 2 lbs over the last eight months. Our two tactics for cat happiness: we increase satiety by mixing his (limited) wet food with water so hopefully his tummy feels more full. He gets one "treat" in between meals which is basically the same thing except frozen into a little popsicle which results in at least 30 minutes of licking pleasure.
If I was moving from a free feeder I think my starting point might be frozen mini meals in an auto feeder (so Bear was getting regular consistent access to food and it wasn't mediated by "when I bug my humans"). Cats love meatsicles.
Happy to share our recipe but your vet won't like it (vets in general frown heavily on feeding raw). We make and freeze cat food every 6 weeks or so. We've had very healthy cats - one of them is a ragdoll (which is looks like Bear may be too).
posted by arnicae at 6:16 PM on December 16 [1 favorite]
If I was moving from a free feeder I think my starting point might be frozen mini meals in an auto feeder (so Bear was getting regular consistent access to food and it wasn't mediated by "when I bug my humans"). Cats love meatsicles.
Happy to share our recipe but your vet won't like it (vets in general frown heavily on feeding raw). We make and freeze cat food every 6 weeks or so. We've had very healthy cats - one of them is a ragdoll (which is looks like Bear may be too).
posted by arnicae at 6:16 PM on December 16 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Use a feeder machine! The ones for wet food tend to be more mechanical but you can freeze the food or use the cold-packs in the feeder or both. Have the first meal be before you get up so it HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.
Although also probably plan ahead with fewer bigger meals than many meals (because otherwise you will set up new angst at every meal-removal).
posted by janell at 7:24 PM on December 16 [2 favorites]
Although also probably plan ahead with fewer bigger meals than many meals (because otherwise you will set up new angst at every meal-removal).
posted by janell at 7:24 PM on December 16 [2 favorites]
Best answer: We've successfully slimmed three cats. The biggest first step is getting on a food schedule rather than grazing -- or at least that's what we needed to do in a multi-cat household. We feed twice a day breakfast & dinner. It took maybe two weeks (at most) for new fat cats to acclimate to a schedule when we started taking plates away after mealtime. For the transitional period we'd offer a snack (second breakfast or lunch) but only a little bit. We kept track of weight with a vet/baby scale and weighed weekly to make sure we were reducing but not too drastically. We generally feed dry in the morning for speed/sanity and wet in the evening. A schedule also means we are feeding a specific and measured amount so it's easy to adjust up or down.
Our largest cat lad slimmed from 24lbs to a svelte 16. He's back up to 18ish and he's a large cat but a healthy weight. Huge pros from the slimming: he has more energy. Literally he would get winded with a small play session when he was at his chonkiest. Now he can play, chase, leap and generally go nuts and his cat person can do everything. He also manages very mighty jumps. Reduced weight is also reduced stress on joints which is good as his brother had hip joint issues which he is at risk for.
If you use a scale - treat train to the scale. Saves a lot of drama if the cat is enthusiastic about the scale.
Cat tax/reference photo - Sazerac (large orange) and Carson (tuxie). Saz was 24lbs & Carson 20ish. Pictured around 20 & 18 respectively.
posted by countrymod at 7:33 PM on December 16 [2 favorites]
Our largest cat lad slimmed from 24lbs to a svelte 16. He's back up to 18ish and he's a large cat but a healthy weight. Huge pros from the slimming: he has more energy. Literally he would get winded with a small play session when he was at his chonkiest. Now he can play, chase, leap and generally go nuts and his cat person can do everything. He also manages very mighty jumps. Reduced weight is also reduced stress on joints which is good as his brother had hip joint issues which he is at risk for.
If you use a scale - treat train to the scale. Saves a lot of drama if the cat is enthusiastic about the scale.
Cat tax/reference photo - Sazerac (large orange) and Carson (tuxie). Saz was 24lbs & Carson 20ish. Pictured around 20 & 18 respectively.
posted by countrymod at 7:33 PM on December 16 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Could you just try the food he likes now doled out in smaller portions via an automatic feeder? My cat uses an auto feeder and it works pretty well. She was very food obsessed and free feeding would not be an option for her at all.
I would look into the ones that are for wet food (note, not endorsing this one in particular) as you can control the portion size a bit more precisely than one with a hopper.
Maybe try that first with the food Bear likes before switching food entirely
posted by brookeb at 9:37 PM on December 16 [1 favorite]
I would look into the ones that are for wet food (note, not endorsing this one in particular) as you can control the portion size a bit more precisely than one with a hopper.
Maybe try that first with the food Bear likes before switching food entirely
posted by brookeb at 9:37 PM on December 16 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You might try putting some of the dry food into those food puzzle toys they sell for cats/dogs. If it works for him it will give him a bit of entertainment/mental stimulation while making that part of his daily meals last him a bit longer.
posted by mochi_cat at 10:56 PM on December 16
posted by mochi_cat at 10:56 PM on December 16
Best answer: Have successfully slimmed down two kitties who seemed to think not having a full food bowl at all times was the worst thing in the world.
Since you asked for a schedule: With our 20lb chonk of a foster cat, he was happiest with six meals a day (!) plus snacks. How I managed this was wet food mixed with water first thing in the morning and last thing at night, four small meals from an automatic feeder, and the rest of his kibbles in two mouse food toys that he had to find and bat around to dispense kibbles. Also an allotment for a few treats a day.
For our spoiled princess, who had spent 10 years of her life free feeding: also four meals from an automatic feeder. In the morning, a scoop of kibbles in a digger. In the evening, "food game" involving tossing her kibbles one at a time to chase. I always said "last one!" for the last kibble, which she eventually learned meant the game was over and no point begging for more. (She's only intermittently willing to eat wet food despite our best efforts).
I'll add that food insecurity seemed to be a stressor as much as hunger, so meals at the same time every day (to the minute) seemed to help them realize they didn't need to worry.
The weight loss food also helped with satiety even though I was initially reluctant due to the ingredient list.
Regarding transitioning, we honestly just switched over without any transition, although with new food kept an eye on their litter to make sure it wasn't causing digestive upset.
Also, although I realize this isn't what you're asking for: exercise was just as important as diet. One month, our foster actually gained weight, but I could tell it was muscle mass and he was able to walk longer without getting winded, so that was still progress.
Finally: I share the thought that mental health is also important. The balance was a bit different with the foster since the weight meant his arthritis caused more pain, but at one point the vet wanted us to decrease his food intake even more and I was not willing to do that. However, the increased exercise meant he still gradually lost weight.
posted by ersatzhuman at 7:03 AM on December 17
Since you asked for a schedule: With our 20lb chonk of a foster cat, he was happiest with six meals a day (!) plus snacks. How I managed this was wet food mixed with water first thing in the morning and last thing at night, four small meals from an automatic feeder, and the rest of his kibbles in two mouse food toys that he had to find and bat around to dispense kibbles. Also an allotment for a few treats a day.
For our spoiled princess, who had spent 10 years of her life free feeding: also four meals from an automatic feeder. In the morning, a scoop of kibbles in a digger. In the evening, "food game" involving tossing her kibbles one at a time to chase. I always said "last one!" for the last kibble, which she eventually learned meant the game was over and no point begging for more. (She's only intermittently willing to eat wet food despite our best efforts).
I'll add that food insecurity seemed to be a stressor as much as hunger, so meals at the same time every day (to the minute) seemed to help them realize they didn't need to worry.
The weight loss food also helped with satiety even though I was initially reluctant due to the ingredient list.
Regarding transitioning, we honestly just switched over without any transition, although with new food kept an eye on their litter to make sure it wasn't causing digestive upset.
Also, although I realize this isn't what you're asking for: exercise was just as important as diet. One month, our foster actually gained weight, but I could tell it was muscle mass and he was able to walk longer without getting winded, so that was still progress.
Finally: I share the thought that mental health is also important. The balance was a bit different with the foster since the weight meant his arthritis caused more pain, but at one point the vet wanted us to decrease his food intake even more and I was not willing to do that. However, the increased exercise meant he still gradually lost weight.
posted by ersatzhuman at 7:03 AM on December 17
Bear is very cute! Can you tell us more about his behavior when you tried this before? Does miserable mean he was begging for food all the time, or something else?
posted by amarynth at 7:55 AM on December 17 [1 favorite]
posted by amarynth at 7:55 AM on December 17 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I've slimmed down three cats and timed feeders are the best approach I can think of. You can make it so he gets fed a couple of times before you get home from work without you needing to be involved, then give him wet food at dinner time (my vet suggested including psyllium husk fibre to bulk it up and add insoluble fibre), then a meal before bed.
I use the CatIt Pixi Smart Feeder, and I just decreased it a bit every couple of weeks to get my cats down to what they needed to be eating to slim down and neither of them seemed to notice at all. It also eliminates them associating you with food and makes them obsessed with their feeder instead.
posted by urbanlenny at 11:52 AM on December 17
I use the CatIt Pixi Smart Feeder, and I just decreased it a bit every couple of weeks to get my cats down to what they needed to be eating to slim down and neither of them seemed to notice at all. It also eliminates them associating you with food and makes them obsessed with their feeder instead.
posted by urbanlenny at 11:52 AM on December 17
Best answer: Odd but maybe helpful mental health hack - we put large size dental cat food into our furbos. We did liberally toss “treats” in the form of extra kibble during the day. Might have helped give a few more tiny snacks and definitely helps me check in on starving cat if dinner is delayed.
Auto-feeders are great magic too but our chonker will actively injure himself to get at food so we stopped using.
Not mentioned - we also had to convert to a closed bedroom door in part to help with food schedule. Cats get fed at human alarm time and not cat alarm time. Overnight and early morning feedings that break routine only further encourage cat disruption and morning drama.
posted by countrymod at 6:22 PM on December 17
Auto-feeders are great magic too but our chonker will actively injure himself to get at food so we stopped using.
Not mentioned - we also had to convert to a closed bedroom door in part to help with food schedule. Cats get fed at human alarm time and not cat alarm time. Overnight and early morning feedings that break routine only further encourage cat disruption and morning drama.
posted by countrymod at 6:22 PM on December 17
« Older Dishwasher and icemaker suddenly not working | Feed me weird things (for the holidays) Newer »
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
As much as it sucks for humans, i found cats to generally be big fans of "second breakfast". I'd try a can first thing before you're even really awake yourself, then if he eats that leave him another half a can before you leave for work. Then a can when you get home, and a can before bed. If when you get home from work you see he's eaten all his breakfast, up second breakfast to a full can and scale back the bedtime snack to a half can.
If you can't entirely break his kibble habit, you can leave some available overnight for those midnight cravings.
Good luck!
(My credentials in case anyone cares? I've run a cat food analysis and rating website for almost a decade, although i'm woefully behind on updates at the moment. I've literally read thousands (if not tens of thousands) of cat food labels at this point... but the usual caveats apply. Not a vet, definitely not your vet, and YMMV.)
posted by cgg at 6:03 PM on December 16 [12 favorites]