Free Kitty

[AndyRosse]

Tacori, about Madison eating the kitten food:

"You are correct that kittens and adult cats have different nutritional needs, and that it is important that kittens get the nourishment specifically found in kitten food.

A new kitten should be separated for awhile with its own food dish and litter box. You may find that by the time you''re ready to introduce the newcomer to your existing cat, they''ll each gravitate to their own food dish. If not, you might want to put the older cat''s dish in a high place so the youngster can''t get to it. If the older cat wants to sneak a bite of kitten food now and then, it certainly won''t hurt her (just be sure the kitten gets its own daily requirements.) The extra exercise the older cat will get by playing with the kitten should keep excess pounds off."

Just something I found from a website.

 

[Lorelei]

I wouldn''t worry too much Tacori, just try to keep Madison on whatever your vet suggested dietary wise as her stomach will need bland food to help recovery, so try if you can to stop her eating the kitten food for this reason. Apart from that, the kitten food is higher in protein and calories that a baby needs, it is also easier to digest. It is difficult I know to keep them to their own dishes, but the interchanging shouldn''t do much harm if they still eat mainly their own food. Madison warned the kitten off as she isn''t feeling as well as normal , but you will find them playing together in a few days!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 11/18/2005 8:25:33 PM
Author: Rascal49
Tacori, about Madison eating the kitten food:


''You are correct that kittens and adult cats have different nutritional needs, and that it is important that kittens get the nourishment specifically found in kitten food.


A new kitten should be separated for awhile with its own food dish and litter box. You may find that by the time you''re ready to introduce the newcomer to your existing cat, they''ll each gravitate to their own food dish. If not, you might want to put the older cat''s dish in a high place so the youngster can''t get to it. If the older cat wants to sneak a bite of kitten food now and then, it certainly won''t hurt her (just be sure the kitten gets its own daily requirements.) The extra exercise the older cat will get by playing with the kitten should keep excess pounds off.''


Just something I found from a website.

Thanks Rascal but this is exactly what I did. I do not want to keep Grayson seperate for the year that the vet said she should be on kitten food. I put Madison''s food high but NOW he can somehow climb up (it is actually amazing to watch). Grayson eats both foods so I am sure he is getting enough of the kitten food in his diet. He basically wants to eat everything. I haven''t seen Madison eat his food since she has been sick. I thought about setting them up on "meal times". Does anyone do this with their cats?

 

[AndyRosse]

I''ve also read that as long as Madison will be getting enough exercise, then just feed them both the kitten food. The only concern is that Madison will gain weight eating the kitten food, hence the exercise. But if she plays a lot with the kitten, then there might not be any problems

.

Have you discussed this with your vet?? I''m sure she or he has tons of ideas for you.

Also, maybe you could PM ecf8503. She''s a vet and maybe could give you some ideas.

 

[ecf8503]

Hey guys - sorry I haven''t had time to keep up with this thread, but I see Madison is / was sick! It does sound like things are on the mend, though, and I''m sure in a few days all will be ok.

What kind of food are you feeding the kitties - canned or dry or both? Dry food is MUCH higher in calories than canned food is - canned is mostly water. Believe it or not, research studies over the past few years have shown that canned food is actually better for them than dry! Canned food is closer to what Mother Nature intended them to eat: cats are carnivores, and canned food is about the closest thing to "dead mouse in a can" you can get! Cats also have a much higher base protein requirement than dogs or people - over 40% of their calories should come from protein. And cats don''t handle carbs well.

Light dry foods are about the worst thing, actually. They cut calories by cutting fat. Proportionally, the carbs are higher. Fats are good in that they help to regulate blood sugar and make them feel more satisfied (just like in people). Less fat means they hungrier faster and eat more because their blood sugar swings more wildly - interesting: cats who eat dry light food tend to not loose weight and more often tend to GAIN it!

We''ve been recommending all-canned diets to our patients for years now. Some cats (and some poeple) will do it, some won''t. Some cats love their dry, and won''t give it up (one of mine is that way - he''d starve before eating canned food!). And it''s also good for cats who like to eat - more volume of food can be given, with fewer calories.

The water content in canned food is wonderful - keeps their systems flushed out, just like in people. But you can''t tell a cat to drink - but you can make yourself drink water because you know it is good for you. We also recommend water fountains (find them in pet supply stores), as many cats like to play in the water or like to drink from the sink, etc. Dry food eaters drink more becuase there is no water in the food - canned food eaters get more water in the food, so are less likely to be seen at the water bowl.

Kitten food is higher in protein and fat than regular adult food - it has basically the same stuff, just in a more concentrated form. This is because kittens are growing and playing and have very high metabolic rates - they wear off their calories quickly. But their little tummies can''t hold much volume - hence the concentrated food for them.

Truth be told, a kitten will grow up just fine and will get all the nutrients it needs if it eats adult food and no kitten food - just kame sure he is getting enough of it. That may mean feeding the kitten more frequently, but it certainly won''t hurt, and as long as he gets enough, he''ll be fine.

Hope that helps - and best wishes for a speedy recovery!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Thank you so much for putting my mind at ease. Grayson eats a lot so I am not too worried about him not getting enough food. He already feels heavier in a week! I am considering changing their diet to can food after reading your post. Madison would be SOOOO happy. She loves can food. She shakes when she sees it because she is so excited (I think that''s why anyways).

 

[AndyRosse]

I find it very interesting how more and more vets are recommending wet food now. When I first brought Rascal home eight years ago, the vet recommended dry food only and thought very poorly of wet food. However, this past year, Rascal had some problems, and I found myself adding wet food to his diet. I had been planning to wean him back off it, but our new vet recommended keeping it as part of his diet for many of the reasons Ecf8503 mentioned. My only problem with feeding him wet food is that when he go away for even a night, I have to beg someone to come over and feed him the wet food. Plus, Rascal likes to nibble a little on the wet food and then go do something else. Then he will go back in about ten minutes to have some more... I think he figures the food is like his dry food, and he can eat whenever he pleases. He still hasn''t realized that the wet food disappears after a little bit.

But I have to say, two vets and one vet tech at the new vet saw Rascal''s shiny, soft coat and immediately all asked what I feed him

.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Just wanted to update you all. Madison is doing great. She is acting completely normal (though I think she has lost some weight and she is only 7.5 lbs to begin with). Grayson is growing so fast. His first vet visit we was 1.2 lb and last week at his second vet visit is is 2.4 lbs! He is getting huge. I also thought I would add a few more pictures because they are just too cute.
This one is blurry but look at his face!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

His favorite chew toy.

 

[Lorelei]

Thanks Tacori!

My how he''s grown, he looks so healthy and happy, you have done a great job with him and he will grow into a beautiful cat!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Grayson and Madison

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Grayson loves attacking Madison''s tail.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 12/3/2005 1:28:42 PM
Author: Lorelei
Thanks Tacori!

My how he''s grown, he looks so healthy and happy, you have done a great job with him and he will grow into a beautiful cat!

Thanks. We love him. He finally has grown into his head. I have so many more pictures but I won''t bore you all!

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 12/3/2005 1:38:11 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring

Date: 12/3/2005 1:28:42 PM
Author: Lorelei
Thanks Tacori!

My how he''s grown, he looks so healthy and happy, you have done a great job with him and he will grow into a beautiful cat!

Thanks. We love him. He finally has grown into his head. I have so many more pictures but I won''t bore you all!

I promise you , you cannot POSSIBLY bore ME with pictures of them

Bless them, Madison looks like she is keeping the little whippersnapper in his place, it is so wonderful to see that sad little guy happy

 

[HOUMedGal]

Tacori, they are beautiful!!! Grayson looks wonderful, so healthy and happy! That pic with Grayson getting after Maddie''s tail reminds me SO much of what goes on in my house with Lucy and Milo!! hehe!!! Poor Lucy is always getting her tail attacked!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Thanks, he does seem happy and for some reason they love laying on the threadmill. So strange. The other morning I heard a loud "plunk" so I jumped out of bed to see what was going in and found Grayson soaked. He fell in the toliet! He is so curious. I am guessing he will never make that mistake again.

 

[movie zombie]

has the day come yet that you say to yourself, "i can''t believe i didn''t want to keep this kitten?"? they are both adorable!

peace, movie zombie

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 12/3/2005 11:27:50 PM
Author: movie zombie
has the day come yet that you say to yourself, ''i can''t believe i didn''t want to keep this kitten?''? they are both adorable!


peace, movie zombie

haha, I think we said that on day 2. We are so in love with him. He loves to cuddle and was such a comfort when Madison was so sick. They both (all animals) give so much of themselves back to us I cannot imagine why people go petless. I am just so glad that 90% of the time they get along. I am sure Madison likes having a little friend.

 

[Kaleigh]

Grayson and Madison look great. I am so glad Madison is feeling better, and grayson is just adorable. Love that face!!!

 

[cnspotts]

The kitties are so adorable! My fav is the one of the little one chewing or sucking on it''s tail. My little guy is nearing 4 years now and still sucks on the tip of his tail every night at bed time and other times when he''s really happy (purring, sucking and kneading). The sloppy wet end used to really bug me but we''ve become acustom to it now.

 

[Blue824]

Date: 12/3/2005 10:55:39 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
Thanks, he does seem happy and for some reason they love laying on the threadmill. So strange. The other morning I heard a loud ''plunk'' so I jumped out of bed to see what was going in and found Grayson soaked. He fell in the toliet! He is so curious. I am guessing he will never make that mistake again.

HAHA! That''s great. None of mine have ever done that but I would''ve laughed so hard at them. Hopefully he has learned his lesson!!!

Madison is a beautiful cat, it is so cute to see Grayson playing with her! He is ADORABLE!!!!!!!

 

[AndyRosse]

Oh Grayson is absolutely adorable!

And I sure hope Madison is feeling better.

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Tacori...the pictures of Madison and Greyson are adorable!!! Thanks so much for the update!!!

As for the Christmas tree contest...I think Bunny is going to be a contender. We got the tree up last night and we heard, "Tink...tink tink....tink." I went into the room and there was Bunny playing with the ornaments at the bottom of the tree and she was already pulling off the bead-garland from the branches!!! I tried to take pix, but they came out blurry....

Anyone else have Christmas tree/kitty issues???

 

[Lorelei]

YES

Only kidding, mine have gone bonkers with the tree and one of ours has done his Christams tradition by selecting an ornament, pulling it off the tree and batting it around! He will keep that now for ages, he does it every year and it is too cute!

 

[AmberWaves]

Thios question isn''t about kitties and trees, but puppies and x-mas trees. Our dog is 1 year old, and a mini-wiener dog (avatar). He''s only about a foot tall, probably shorter (i''m going to have to measure at home tonight!), and we''re worried he''s going to topple the tree when we get it. Anyone else have this problem? He''s a bit of a pouncer, and WAS a bit of a chewer. He has since stopped the chewing (mostly, now it''s only his toys or one of my shoes if he''s not being paid attention to). I''m worried about it the tree will make him sick if he does get to it. My boyfriend wants to trim the lower branches, but as I pointed out, it doesn''t matter, he''s longer when he reaches (maybe a foot and a half or more), and could still do some damage. Any ideas?

 

[E B]

You have beautiful kitties! Grayson looks adorable, and I''m so glad they''re getting along.

 

[AndyRosse]

Date: 12/5/2005 12:28:08 PM
Author: AChiOAlumna

Anyone else have Christmas tree/kitty issues???

Oh geez, I certainly have my hands full with Rascal and our fake tree!

He loves to sit underneath it, which is fine, but he quickly starts chewing on the lower branches. So I honestly keep a plastic grocery bag in the tree between branches, so when he is chewing, I can easily grab it and scare him out from under the tree. I can yell at the top of my lungs and he won''t move. But crinkle a plastic bag at him, and he''s out of there. He gets better the longer the tree is up, but he sure is a pain in the butt!

 

[aphisiglovessae]

My fiance said he had a cat when he was little that would eat the tinsel off the bottom branches of the tree and it would end up in his poop or just hanging out of his butt. I know it sounds gross, but picture it in your mind and I swear you will laugh. I laughed for a good 5 minutes when he told me.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 12/5/2005 3:02:18 PM
Author: SanDiegoLady
OMG I love it.. wahh.. CUUUTE. What a sweet face.. now, if you were in San Diego.. I''d take it, I love kitties.. sweet baby!

Thanks, but we decided to keep in on day two. We are very happy with him.

 

[HOUMedGal]

Date: 12/6/2005 12:57:36 AM
Author: aphisiglovessae
My fiance said he had a cat when he was little that would eat the tinsel off the bottom branches of the tree and it would end up in his poop or just hanging out of his butt. I know it sounds gross, but picture it in your mind and I swear you will laugh. I laughed for a good 5 minutes when he told me.

HAHAHAHAHA! That''s hilarious...what a mental picture. I''d have to rename the kitty "Tinsel-Butt" or something after that!