Ugh. Put cat on a diet and now she's "supplementing with extras"

[TibetanTerrah]

Last year DM took the cat to the vet for a minor injury. Vet said the cat was overweight at 5kg, apparently she should be 4-4.5kg. We had both been guilty of being generous with the dreamies so stopped them completely and started weighing her food.

Her weight doesn't really seem to have dropped very much, I think she's around 4.8kg but I just weigh myself then weigh her in my arms, she hasn't been weighed at the vet. She screams for food sometimes in the day but DM says to ration it, and food is only available twice a day.

For 10 years shes always been a softy, and not a hunter at all. The last few weeks she seems to be making a point of catching things, bringing them in or if I'm outside just bringing them near me, looking me square in the eye and eating them.

I want to increase her food but DM doesn't. I'm 99% sure she's genuinely hungry when she cries for food, and 100% sure she kills these poor creatures while looking me in the eye to make a point!

I also dont think she's overweight regardless of what the vet said last year. She goes in at the waist and is very long. Wwyd?

Cats don't normally over eat, they're not greedy by nature.

Oh they most certainly do 🤣

Cats don't hunt because they're hungry or because they are telling you something.

Thats not totally true, certainly when they bring half dead stuff to you. It's how cat colonies work and they see us as part of the (very small) colony. Cats who can hunt will bring food for the young and teach them how to hunt. So when you don't chase and kill this prey they've brought you it reinforces their belief that you are stupid 😂

Ah now years ago I was told that they bring you dead-things because they see you as family and it's a gift . So we'd say "Thank You " and remove it to the bin.

But now it transpires that the cats think I'm completely inadequate (well I knew that ) and they're going for Entry Level Prey for me (sometimes it's not even a whole earthworm , might be half a wriggly treat)

I know they judge and the female cat is uber judgey

Last night they were hovering by the cat door , I opened the french door to let malecat in "Hello little boy d'you want dinner" , he sashayed in
She was on a garden chair "Hello Mrs , are you coming in for dinner"
She turned her away away from me (I'm sure she tutted )

Does she have good quality high meat content dry food?
I also give mine some cut chicken breast in between meals or some simmered cheap frozen white fish fillets from Sainsburys

So we'd say "Thank You " and remove it to the bin.

I did that for years. Guess that made me look even more stupid... 🤷🏼‍♀️

Ha! they think you're ungrateful and unreasonable

Yes she has a high meat content food apparently specifically for older, mostly indoor cats which she is. Normally she's inside all day, then we put her out for a wee before bed and she lets herself back in around 1am, but lately she's been coming in at more like 5am... god knows what she's been up to

DM and I have finally agreed to increase her food and so far today she has slept contentedly... normally between 3:30-4.30pm she starts pestering me - I call it MitherTime - so we'll see this afternoon if she's any better!

How is she now.

I have one slightly stocky cat and one with a very round tum. I had also thought cats were supposed to self regulate so we just let them free feed with dry food (plus wet 2 x daily), but at 10 or 11 months they went from slender to stocky in one case and porky in the other.

We are now weighing food and trying to keep to the recommended amount but the porker absolutely supplements. Not often with wildlife (too much effort) - instead he goes bin fishing around the neighbourhood and brings back leftovers - bread, chicken bits, pastry items. We confiscate things when we see them, but have absolutely no idea what he eats in addition to the bits he brings back. He's certainly not getting any less round.

Sorry OP but the image of her staring at you while eating is too funny. "Put me on a diet, will you human?" I've got a lifelong fatty here. She's a genuinely big cat but also fat. She did have to fend for herself the first year of her life though. I find she harasses slightly less if I split her meals into more smaller portions. It's a daily battle though. My other cat is slim and always has been.

Oh bless her, hope she’s happier now. She’s gorgeous.

And as for Leroy - how could anyone say no to that face?!