Good cat feeding pattern

[Pipbin]

We have had our rescue cat for 1 1/2 weeks now.
She was abandoned and then rescued by the RSPCA. Therefore I don't know how old she is but their guess was 9 months to a year.

She tells me she is constantly hungry. Food that we give her is all eaten straight away. This evening I found her dragging her bag of dry food across the floor and she had bitten a hole in the side, she then tried to get into a packet of Ryvita that were in the kitchen.

Is this because she has always had to fight for food?

Is it worth measuring out her daily allowance of food in the morning and then giving it do her in smaller meals throughout the day?

She is the first cat that I have had as an adult, all the cats my folks had self regulated really.

[cozietoesie]

Her past has likely affected her attitude to food. If she's being given dry, how about putting it in foraging toys? You can make them yourself (loads of instructions on the net) or in the interim, buy some plastic kibble balls from the supermarket or a pet store.

Those should keep her happier and satisfy some of her hunting instinct which will likely have been energised by her time as a stray.

[cozietoesie]

\link{http://www.icatcare.org/advice/keeping-your-cat-happy/making-your-home-cat-friendly\Here's} a reputable article which covers that topic - but also some others which you might find useful if you haven't had a cat as an adult.

[cozietoesie]

You might also find \link{http://www.apbc.org.uk/system/files/private/advice_sheet_15_-_environmental_enrichments_games_for_cats.pdf\this} useful - particular the last page. International cat care are revising their literature I think (since they changed from FAB) and haven't got all their links up and running yet.

[Pipbin]

Thanks for those. I've just ordered a foraging toy for her.
I also think it might change when she is able to go outside.

[AwkwardSquad]

Hi OP. Our cat is a rescue as well, and begged for food constantly when she first arrived. We stuck to regular feeding times, no snacks when we were cooking, no feeding leftovers etc, and she eventually calmed down when she realised that the food was going to keep arriving. It took a while, though, and we have to stick to it or she starts demanding again.

She does love her food and she is overweight now although the vet agrees that we are not over feeding her! Watch out when she's let out; we're pretty sure ours steals from next door's cats.

[AwkwardSquad]

Ps she has a foraging ball and I also throw dried food for her to chase and find. One piece at a time! Good exercise.