Aa
Is the Honeymoon over?
I hope it's just a stage and the fact that he doesn't have any siblings his age to play with, he's going on 6 mo. now, Tommy, sweet little Tommy, is turning into a little terror. Maybe he's bored and it's time to let him start exploring the great outdoors...when it warms up a little, lol. It's still below freezing here in central Tx but supposed to warm up today. Yay!
First is the eating issue. He turns up his nose to all foods, dry or wet. He's lean and I don't want him to lose any wt. He's definitely not sick...just finicky. I am not a strong cat disciplinarian. Where do I find that Wellness food? Is it a dry food? Is it tasty? Do most cats like it? None of my other cats have had this issue...they will eat whatever I give them, without so much as a meooow. ^.^
Secondly, he has turned into a plant-attack cat. Most of my plants are too high for him to reach but I have several ivys in my bathroom and they have become the TARGET. I have tried to remember to keep the bathroom doors closed but sometimes I forget. He really keeps me on my toes. He's a scavenger and I think he really was rescued from a dumpster like I was told. He begs for all human food and will even jump up on me like a dog would. I have to put him in his room when we eat.
He acts up when I'm on the phone...sometimes I put him in his room for that. It seems I put him in his room a lot. He's driving me up the walls with this new behavior, agravates Aramis mercilessly. I can't believe the way I've gone on and on about him when the only real issues are eating and the plants....and eating the plants. Maybe we both have a bad case of "cabin-fever." Help!
First is the eating issue. He turns up his nose to all foods, dry or wet. He's lean and I don't want him to lose any wt. He's definitely not sick...just finicky. I am not a strong cat disciplinarian. Where do I find that Wellness food? Is it a dry food? Is it tasty? Do most cats like it? None of my other cats have had this issue...they will eat whatever I give them, without so much as a meooow. ^.^
Secondly, he has turned into a plant-attack cat. Most of my plants are too high for him to reach but I have several ivys in my bathroom and they have become the TARGET. I have tried to remember to keep the bathroom doors closed but sometimes I forget. He really keeps me on my toes. He's a scavenger and I think he really was rescued from a dumpster like I was told. He begs for all human food and will even jump up on me like a dog would. I have to put him in his room when we eat.
He acts up when I'm on the phone...sometimes I put him in his room for that. It seems I put him in his room a lot. He's driving me up the walls with this new behavior, agravates Aramis mercilessly. I can't believe the way I've gone on and on about him when the only real issues are eating and the plants....and eating the plants. Maybe we both have a bad case of "cabin-fever." Help!
Hi Jade, I think you are probably right about Tommy's metabolism, he is getting taller and longer, lean and lanky I guess is a good way to describe him, lol. I haven't tried the Wellness Dry but I will try to get some tomorrow. That Fancy Feast can get expensive. I used to buy it yrs ago 4/$1.00. It runs $.67 a can here.
I think the 57 was the glucose level the Vet checked. It only cost $15 for the test. The Vet checked him over real good and she said it would be worse for him to go a day without food than it would Tommy. Something about his liver failing or being damaged if he ever went without food for any length of time. The only thing I can do about his wt. would be to keep him in the house 24/7 and monitor every morsel food he takes in and realistically I can't do that. I will take up Tommy's food and not let Aramis devour the leftovers. That much I can do...also I think I will let Aramis stay outside more as it gets warmer. He'll get more exercise that way. ^-^
I think the 57 was the glucose level the Vet checked. It only cost $15 for the test. The Vet checked him over real good and she said it would be worse for him to go a day without food than it would Tommy. Something about his liver failing or being damaged if he ever went without food for any length of time. The only thing I can do about his wt. would be to keep him in the house 24/7 and monitor every morsel food he takes in and realistically I can't do that. I will take up Tommy's food and not let Aramis devour the leftovers. That much I can do...also I think I will let Aramis stay outside more as it gets warmer. He'll get more exercise that way. ^-^
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Hi Linda, happy to hear all is well with both Tommy and Aramis...health wise. I see Tommy is giving you some trouble with eating. Were you able to try the Wellness? Jade eats the Wellness dry but not a lot of it since I went to two cans of Fancy Feast (which I am not recommending) but the Wellness wet food looked good and wasn't over smelly (Jade just wouldn't eat it after the initial can).
I have Jades reports for both blood and urine. You said Aramis' number was 57 on the diabetes test. What test is done for the diabetes? Glucose? I don't know, lol....
You remember our Neighbor Cat behind us? That cat has been very skinny ever since I met her. It's only as she's gotten older, she seems to be filling out some. Tommy might just have a high metabolism.
I have Jades reports for both blood and urine. You said Aramis' number was 57 on the diabetes test. What test is done for the diabetes? Glucose? I don't know, lol....
You remember our Neighbor Cat behind us? That cat has been very skinny ever since I met her. It's only as she's gotten older, she seems to be filling out some. Tommy might just have a high metabolism.
You know, Nancy...I have the dry IAMS and he would have none of it. The other cats eat the Good Life Recipe dry and like it fine. I have a couple of other back ups I occasionally feed them, like IAMS and Deli something. I like to provide a variety so they don't have to be constantly eating the same food. A long time ago I gave my cats, not the cats I have now, Tender Vittles and I'm not so sure I shouldn't try it with Tommy. My husband bought those pouches of I think friskies....they're disgusting! Tommy wouldn't even try them.
I took Tommy and Aramis to the Vet today. Tommy is fine, got his Rabies shot and the Vet said he is perfectly healthy and growing. I had them check Aramis for Diabetes. I was sure he had it, but no his # was 57 which the Vet said was fine. He wasn't quite 15bs....last time he was 16. Vet said he was healthy too, no problems. I was relieved to hear that. I think I will try the dry food soaked in a little milk or 1/2 and 1/2. I just want Tommy to put on a little wt.... not get fat.
I took Tommy and Aramis to the Vet today. Tommy is fine, got his Rabies shot and the Vet said he is perfectly healthy and growing. I had them check Aramis for Diabetes. I was sure he had it, but no his # was 57 which the Vet said was fine. He wasn't quite 15bs....last time he was 16. Vet said he was healthy too, no problems. I was relieved to hear that. I think I will try the dry food soaked in a little milk or 1/2 and 1/2. I just want Tommy to put on a little wt.... not get fat.
I make dry food available to them but also feed canned. In a few cases, I have had fosters for whom canned food has been too rich and give them diarrhea, so I start them off on dry kibble that has been soaked in milk replacer, but that is just when they are still quite young for the month or so after they are first weaned. But if Tommy is being finicky, you might try that with the dry Iams.
Nancy, it's funny you say that...I was thinking of renaming him "Toddler Tommy"... :) ^-^ Do you ever give them dry food? Mine won't eat Iams dry. They like I think it's called Good Life but Tommy won't even eat that. Aramis is constantly eating the food that Tommy walks away from so now I have a very obese cat on my hands. I need to take him for a check-up to see if he's developed diabetes.
I'm afraid if I top Tommy's food with a little human food he will stop after eating the top. I am currently, because of the weather, mixing the dogs' food with chicken broth, but I realize that contains a lot of sodium so I can't do it long-term. I'd like to just wait him out...stand my ground and not give in to trying every single thing on the market, but he is a little thin and I worry that in the meantime he will lose wt. Opus has a very good idea of making the food "homemade" but I don't know if I can do that and get all the nutrients in it that he needs. I really just want him to eat what all the others eat. ^-^
I'm afraid if I top Tommy's food with a little human food he will stop after eating the top. I am currently, because of the weather, mixing the dogs' food with chicken broth, but I realize that contains a lot of sodium so I can't do it long-term. I'd like to just wait him out...stand my ground and not give in to trying every single thing on the market, but he is a little thin and I worry that in the meantime he will lose wt. Opus has a very good idea of making the food "homemade" but I don't know if I can do that and get all the nutrients in it that he needs. I really just want him to eat what all the others eat. ^-^
This is what I call the the kitten version of the "terrible twos" although most of the kittens I've fostered tend to hit it at a little bit earlier age (more around 3-4 months old). Trust me, it is worse when you have 8-10 of them hitting that phase all at the same time...LOL. Just lilke babies and toddlers, when kittens are very young, their focus is more on just basic survival....eating, growing, staying warm, etc. When they are old enough that those things become second nature, and they are secure in the knowledge that they are safe and warm and well fed, they turn to exploring their environment...a necessary evil of growing up....LOL. They get into everything, get picky about their food, etc. The good news is that they usually get over it....although my latest, the 2 year old snoeshoe (Chatty) is way too creative for her own good (or mine...LOL) and continually finds new ways to drive me crazy. And my 10 month old, Squeaky....aka Mr Monkey See Monkey DO....follows her lead. I've definitely cut back on the number of houseplants....some by choice, other because the pots have been overturned. My rationale is that cats are way more entertaining than house plants...LOL. As for the finicky eating, mine will only do that for a day or two at a time. If I don't give in, they will eat whatever I give them. Once in a while I will top their canned food breakfast with a bit of leftovers from last night's dinner and that usually gets them eating again.
Hey thanks, Opus...I think he did get a taste for human food before I got him. He just begs. I don't know if I can go the "homemade food diet"....but maybe. Tonight I had a salad and I didn't put him in his room but he started begging...I really never give in but I thought I'd teach him a lesson. Whe I was through eating I let him taste the bleu cheese dressing. I thought he would hate that but guess what? He loved it! Geeeez!
I re-read what I wrote earlier and I do think it sounded worse than it really is. He still climbs up in my lap and loves to snuggle. He really is just the sweetest. Aramis is getting used to Tommy pestering him, lol.
I know the plants can be put up out of his reach and I also know it's just a matter of time that I will have to let him go outside and explore a bit. He hasn't been allowed outside since I got him about 4 mo. ago. I think he will always be an inside cat. Like with Aramis, I have a real special connection with him ♥
I re-read what I wrote earlier and I do think it sounded worse than it really is. He still climbs up in my lap and loves to snuggle. He really is just the sweetest. Aramis is getting used to Tommy pestering him, lol.
I know the plants can be put up out of his reach and I also know it's just a matter of time that I will have to let him go outside and explore a bit. He hasn't been allowed outside since I got him about 4 mo. ago. I think he will always be an inside cat. Like with Aramis, I have a real special connection with him ♥
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as far as plants, he is needing something in his diet.....cats like to eat grass and during the winter houseplants are a good alternative, I have one that does that too so I hope someone can give advice....he won't eat cat grass(at least not the puny plants I grow)
as far as wellness cat food, its avail in wet and cans and you can buy it at any pet food store......but. Most if not all of the 'better' brands of food aren't that appealing....they don't have all the additives thats what makes them 'better' but it also lessens the taste appeal for one that is already finicky.
the problem with Tommy is he has gotten a taste of human food and loves it...........now the cat food isn't what he wants. CAN YOU BLAME HIM??
Same trouble I had with my Nemo, he was on a good brand of dry food (EVO) but still ended up with crystals b/c it was a dry food still.
and LInda for 6 months I tried every EVERY can food on the market, even ordered some in....there was NO WAY he was gonna eat any can food, and he HAD to be on a canned food for his bladder/crystal issues.
So I was forced to start making him a homemade diet. with real human grade meats. and the cat required supplements......little beggar loves it...
I buy pork loin roasts and slow cook it, add the supplements and freeze into pint sealers. I do this about once a month, the cost is LOWER than buying canned foods.
But its a huge commitment too. Nemo won't eat anything else, and Sami I'm still working on, he doesn't like my cooking yet.
good luck with the little devil, poor Aramis!!