Update on Ta's eating habits

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Karisa and Tasha(GA)

Karisa and Tasha(GA)

Member Since 2011
Gots a question for the LL peeps.

Ta has developed an annoying habit of not eating when we aren't home, and when we are the food has to be near us. This has been going on about a week. She eats ok, about 1/2 a can of FF when she's around us.

Any ideas? I'm trying different types of food to see if anything will be eaten when we're gone. (started that tonight)

So far no weight loss, but I'm at a loss as she has never done this before

Karisa

eta: i've checked the boards and haven't run across this
 
Re: Advice please Feeding question for Tasha

Have you changed your routine? Are you away more than previously? Stu and Alice both saved their food until we got home (and then dove into it). I always thought it was a deep seated reaction to having been on the street and never knowing when you would get more food, so better save it. Was Tasha a rescue?

Good luck with solving this new habit!

Ella
 
Re: Feeding question for Tasha

I initially had many issues transitioning from dry to wet, so I had to develop a ton of tricks to make sure he ate, that he ate enough, etc...

I know many people like the fortiflora, but I found that plain kraft parm cheese worked wonders. It was like bringing a moth to a flame. I would sprinkle it over his food, and he would clean his bowl at a rate that dyson would envy. I also used dried chicken, sprinkled all over. These both make him much more excited about food, and eager to stick his face in the bowl.

Those treats might serve as enticement for her to eat without company, especially if you start pulling away slowly, little by little, day by day, and come back intermittently as well, so she becomes comfortable with you there and not there. That way she doesn't strictly associate you leaving with treats in her food.
 
Re: Advice please Feeding question for Tasha

nope nothng in our routine has changed except dingbat ta. she all of the sudden decided she didnt want to eat alone. she is eating, just not as much, might that have something to do with being otj? don't know why she waited 2 weeks to change though. maybe she's tired of the ff i don't know. it's very frusterating grr_red
 
Re: Advice please Feeding question for Tasha

my cats never eat as much in warm weather. If she is eating enough to maintain her weight, then she is probably fine. Is she eating so little that you are concerned, or is it just not as much as she ate when she was on insulin?
 
Re: Advice please Feeding question for Tasha

How about putting on a radio at a low volume? You might want to start by putting the radio on when you're home and Tasha is eating when you're there. You can then try to put some distance between you, the radio, and Tasha and her food.
 
Re: Advice please Feeding question for Tasha

thanks for the advice. it doesn't seem to be noise related. just people related. she has never had this problem while on the ff until a week ago. she has always been very independent. maybe it is the weather. she is maintaining her weight so far, actually i think she may have gained, not sure because of our scale.

heck, she was sitting in here by the printer, i gave her her food and she ate some more. just a weird cat

karisa
 
Re: Advice please Feeding question for Tasha

it's odd that she just started this.. but I feel your pain.. both mine will not eat when I am gone.. I even leave out favorites (treats, etc) to no avail.. full plates after me being gone for 8 hours. Thankfully I have a flexible job, but it is critical Baby eat with insulin on board & she just wont :cry:
Good Luck.. I have tried everything.. even leaving tuna & it is untouched.
 
Re: Advice please Feeding question for Tasha

Well I tried different foods by merrick this time, and she eats the cowboy cookout great. the 96% beef is pretty good, but were sticking with the cowboy cookout for now. she ate all but a few bites of a small can last night which is more than she has eaten at once in a week or two.

geting a dental done on 6/8 wish them (vet) luck that she doesn't eat um alive!

Karisa

eta: her last sugars (5/9 i think) were pmbg:83, +3:82 doin great on that end
 
personally, since she's not on insulin and not losing weight, i wouldn't cater to it. just me, nothing wrong with you doing it, but i always figured if they are hungry they will eat. if you think she's sickly, then that's a different story. i think pets develop weirdo habits just like kids and i always tried to just ignore whatever the latest weirdo habit was in my kids.
 
Re: Advice please Feeding question for Tasha

Karisa and Tasha said:
nope nothng in our routine has changed except dingbat ta. she all of the sudden decided she didnt want to eat alone. she is eating, just not as much, might that have something to do with being otj? don't know why she waited 2 weeks to change though. maybe she's tired of the ff i don't know. it's very frusterating grr_red
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Gracie's eating habits have changed drastically since being OTJ, but started as her numbers got better. I don't know why it would happen after two weeks, but maybe it has something to do with all the attention she got, ie tests, feeding, shots, that she is missing now. It could also be that she just needs far less food now, as is the case with Gracie. She eats about half of what she used to, and has gained weight compared to maintaining or losing on twice the amount before.

Also, my wet food cats will not eat without me sitting with them. I started sitting with them to make sure they ate and to help them along, but now that they are doing well, they won't eat without me. I feed them in a closed bathroom(other cats) and if I leave the room, when I come back they are just staring at the door waiting for me. Then they'll eat. Maybe you intentionally or unintentionally paid more attention to her eating when she was on insulin, and now she expects it.
 
Julie, you crack me up!!! Anyone with kids knows exactly what you're saying, and what are cats but kids who never grow up?
 
seriously, i'm mean. ok, i'm not mean - i made what my kids would eat. but think of a cat in nature - if they're hungry you think they're gonna look at a mouse running by and say "nah, i'm in the mood for birdie nibbles instead." :lol: :lol:

but again, if there's a health reason you need them to eat on schedule, that becomes a different issue. i'm just saying "eat the dang mouse or do without." ;-)
 
julie1220 said:
personally, since she's not on insulin and not losing weight, i wouldn't cater to it. just me, nothing wrong with you doing it, but i always figured if they are hungry they will eat. if you think she's sickly, then that's a different story. i think pets develop weirdo habits just like kids and i always tried to just ignore whatever the latest weirdo habit was in my kids.
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Believe it or not, I have a couple civvies who would literally starve to death before they'd eat enough canned food for it to qualify as a meal. It drives me nuts, because I can't stand having any kibble in the house at all, and I fear for their health because they just plain won't touch canned. Years ago, I tried the "tough love" thing in trying to get them to eat canned to no avail. I tried all the tricks on Dr Lisa's site and then some. I tried all sorts of kitty-crack canned foods with the thought of transitioning them over to the "good stuff" once they got used to it...no luck! I even spent evening scooping kibbles into the canned food and serving them on a plate like little h'ors doerves...it was crazy!!! So, apparently how spoiled housecat version of cats are willing to do without if they don't wanna!
 
Trix I soooooooooooo completely agree with you! My civie will not eat & would develop fatty liver disease if I dint give in. Thankfully she isn't on dry but I cannot get her on raw like I want. Like you, I tried everything even putting a dot of raw in 2 temptations & refused. Cats cannot be left to chance not eating.
 
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