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Original poster

Cats driving me nuts

68 replies

martysparty99 · 14/12/2020 10:31

Hi all, DW and kids wanted kittens and we kep putting it off for ages but when we moved house we decided it was time. (log story but I had a cat when I was a kid and treated it like a brother, always said id never have another etc) Anyway kids wanted to we got 2, originally it was going to be 1 but kids convinved us to get 2. Yes they were cute at first and they are now 1 yr old. We didnt realise how expensive they are. Now with all this working from home lark im here with them on my own and at times they drive me nuts.

Vet said they are overweight so we assumed we would have to restrict what they eat but everytime they come in they whine for food. We try shutting them out but then feel guilty if its raining etc. We ask the kids to help out with them but only happens we nag, of course they are kids and its obvious that was going to happen.
They come in leave paw prints everywhere, knock over stuff and break it.
Dont get me wrong I am an animal lover but I find it hard to bond with them.
I try to play with them when I can but when you have to try to work it gets a tad annoying.
Will it get better?, as to me its me of a chore to have them than just being pets.
I probably come across as a grumpy old git and maybe I am!
Any suggestions greatfully received!

OP posts:
Itstheprinciple · 14/12/2020 18:02

Yep, you've just described cats. Especially adolescent cats.

Have you wormed them recently? That's an awful lot of food.

QueenPaws · 14/12/2020 18:36

@Icanflyhigh if they're overweight definitely
Mine eats 4-6 a day but he is only 3.4kg and has constant access to dry food as well
He basically gets food whenever he wants as he needs the calories!

sanitygirl · 14/12/2020 18:44

8 packs of wet food a day is way too much! My 6 yr old cat has a wet pouch in the morning and about 35 grams of dry food (special light one for sterilised cats) late afternoon. She will beg for food from lunchtime onwards but I ignore her for as long as possible! She is still quite plump on that but she is the centre of our household and we adore her.

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Cats
Fluffycloudland77 · 14/12/2020 18:48

You don’t sound like a cat lover, having cats as an adult is totally different to having them when your a kid.

Either accept they need attention and playtime or re-home them.

dontgobaconmyheart · 14/12/2020 19:24

Plenty of good advice on adjusting their food here. They just sound like normal cats though OP. They're still going to be quite kitten like at 1 year old so it's certainly true they'll likely calm down as they age.

I wouldn't want a cat personally for the reasons you describe though, but am not a cat person so wouldn't have got them in the first place. Are you considering giving them up?

Wineinthegarden · 14/12/2020 19:31

Eight packs a day??? No wonder you think they are expensive!! That is far far too much food. Read the box for crying out loud - the recommended amount is on there!

Iwantmorechocolate · 14/12/2020 19:33

@martysparty99

they eat wainwights packs from pets at home. we try to stick to 2 packs for breakfast, 2 lunch, 2 tea and 2 bedtime. never seems enough
I bet they’re starving, then.
Iwantmorechocolate · 14/12/2020 19:35

Sorry, I thought you meant between them.

I think it’s empty food, though. Give good quality meat (cat food meat like Mac's) and it’ll fill them up for longer,

dementedpixie · 14/12/2020 20:05

Can you clarify if its 8 packs between 2 cats or 8 packs each?

JumpLeadsForTwo · 14/12/2020 20:11

Ours had only ever had 2 pouches a day with a small amount of dry. Always whinges for food, but he puts on weight if we give more. I think wainwright's is high protein content isn't it? If it isn't, then switch to one - we give natures menu, but would have no money if we were feeding 8 pouches/ day

dementedpixie · 14/12/2020 20:16

Wainwrights isn't a particularly bad food by the looks of it

EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide · 14/12/2020 20:23

Bloody hell they must be the size of tigers!
Our one year old cat is always eating but she only grazes, she's on dry food and she does pester for treats but she doesn't actually eat very much, she's nice and slim.

dementedpixie · 14/12/2020 20:34

Dry food is likely to be more calorific than wet food as wet food has a high moisture content. I give a mix of both

Sideorderofchips · 14/12/2020 20:40

My two have dried food available from morning whilst I'm at work. Then when I get in it's handful in each bowl of their biscuits again and that's it. They have several bowls of water around as well.

That's way too much wet food

Sideorderofchips · 14/12/2020 20:41

Also I buy their food off amazon (one is on a urinary diet food. Now that is expensive!) as its cheaper

Mangofandangoo · 14/12/2020 21:54

2 pouches per day + dry food should be enough for any cat OP

I know cats can be annoying and arseholes at times but please don't shut them out In the rain

dementedpixie · 14/12/2020 21:56

They arent having dry food though so would need more wet food

Original poster
martysparty99 · 15/12/2020 11:44

ok ok im a bad owner, maybe cats are not for me, ok ill take a running jump off a long pier!

As it is we just have to get on with it, sorry I do.

Ok so looks like we are overfeeding them, so we give two pouches for breakfast, one each.

We have fresh water each day, we leave dry food in a bowl but rarely gets touched, should we only put out sparingly?

So they eat their packs, if they out thats fine but then if its crap weather like now they are in and sat there begging for more.

I have to try to work and at the mo our DD is off school ill so trying to multitask, (a bloke trying to do that, cant be right!)

Yes I admit we should have done more research before we got 1 let alone 2, but pressure from family etc and Im a soft touch.

If they beg us constantly after eating their packs and there is dry food available, what else should we do before I head for that pier!?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 15/12/2020 11:51

Does anyone play with them? I wouldnt give extra food if they are still begging. What brand is the wet and dry food?

Maybe you could try a different dry food to see if they like an alternative. Or try a higher meat content wet food

Prestel · 15/12/2020 12:17

It sounds like they might be bored more than hungry, which will hopefully improve when the weather gets warmer and they go out more. In the meantime you could try something like a cat treat ball, as they seem to be very motivated by food. They might enjoy the puzzle of getting the treats out. Otherwise it's just a case of trying to encourage them to go off and play by throwing a ping pong ball, rolled up bit of tissue, that sort of thing. In extremis, most cats will usually stop bothering you for food if you give them a proper treat like a bit of cooked chicken or fish, just try to put out a bit less cat food to compensate if it's more than once or twice a week.
If you've never owned a cat before, two kittens is definitely a bit in at the deep end, but that's why you shouldn't despair, everyone finds kittens hard work and it will be worth it, your kids will have so many happy memories of growing up with cats.

Purplecatshopaholic · 15/12/2020 12:18

Of course they beg if you have given them extra food before. Don’t cave! Try dry food and wet food and try different kinds - cats are notoriously fussy buggers! They are defo overfed at the moment too. They are still young too and will calm down and sleep most of the time soon. Enjoy them - they are just being cats.

Original poster
martysparty99 · 15/12/2020 12:19

Yes we all play with them when we can, we use wainrights from pets at home and my wife recently got another called james wellbeloved grain free again from pets at home (Not lot in these packs) so perhaps doesnt fill them up enough. Also if the vet says they are too fat we need to restrict food dont we? Our girl cat is short haired and her tummy is so noticable. The boy is very fluffy so not so noticeable

OP posts:
orishan · 15/12/2020 12:21

8 packs a day seems like an extraordinary amount! Mine have 2 packs with some dried to snack on. Like adult food you do tend to get what you pay for so whiskers etc is much more digestible than hills or science plan. If they are constantly whining it sounds like they are bored and need attention. Do they scratching posts and toys etc and regular cuddles? Just because they are cats doesn't keen they don't want physical affection which is often why they are crying.

dementedpixie · 15/12/2020 12:25

I use thrive dry and encore dry food which have a high meat content. They have a mix of wet brands.

They get a pouch between them 2 or 3 times a day. One of mine prefers wet, the other prefers dry but will both eat some of each. They also like chopped cooked chicken as a snack

Thecherryontheverytop · 15/12/2020 12:30

My boy is 8kg, he's huge but not fat nor slim.he has half a pouch in the morning and a full pouch in the evening with access to dry food all day..he doesn't need more than that according to our vet.