How to stop my mother overfeeding my cat

[CatFeeder]

My mother lives with us (DH, DD11 and I). We have two cats. They are fed twice a day - half a pouch of wet food and crunchies. DM feeds one of them (the one who hangs around her - the other one tends to wander more) two plates of treats a day.

These usually consist of some chicken, some Dreamies, one of those Lick-e-Lix cat yoghurt things, and a chewy stick thing (can’t remember what they’re called). So that’s four portions of treats, twice a day.

The cat is getting fat - predictably. I have begged and implored DM to stop, explained it’s bad for the cat’s health. We’ve fallen out so many times over this. She’s recently cut it down to one treat plate a day…but went back to two today ‘because it’s Easter’. I’m at my wits end.

The rest of us are usually out at work/school during the day, so can’t stop her.

How do I get her to stop, before she does any more damage to my poor cat’s health?!

My cats have 1 pouch each for breakfast and 1 at teatime each - interspersed with some crunchies during the day - they are not fat! Sounds as though you are not giving them enough food?

Why Is she doing it? Is she starting to lose her grip a little, or is it fully deliberate? You don't say how old she is.

I agree that’s a lot of treats and personally I wouldn’t be buying all those treats which hopefully would stop your DM feeding them, unless she is able to go out and buy the treats herself.

However, I must ask, what are the crunchies that you are feeding your cats? Are they good quality dried food or something like Go Cat as this would also put weight on your cat?

Could the cat go outside during the day instead? Maybe give one less pouch of food yourself.

Keep them in a box and take the box to work
..

This is what I was wondering too as my cats get a pouch each twice a day but also have a good quality dried food down all day.

I would stop buying the treats, and just feed a bit more food at mealtimes.

She buys the treats herself. I don’t give my cats treats at all really as I know they’ll have had so many from DM.

the crunchies are Scrumbles or IAMS depending on what the shop has in / on offer

Both cats go out / have a cat flap and free access to the garden

We don’t buy the treats herself- DM does

Guidelines are 2-4 pouches of cat food per cat per day (cat weight and specific food depending), so it sounds like you aren't feeding them nearly enough. This will be why the cat is asking for food, and why your mum is feeding them. If you up their meal sizes to the recommended levels, they'll probably stop pestering your mum for food, and she won't need to keep giving them treats.

The cats were getting a full pouch each, twice a day, but we have reduced their portions as they’re getting so much ‘extra’ and were leaving food in their bowls to go manky as they weren’t hungry enough because of all the treats. The one that wanders more still gets one treat plate from DM, and the other one who hangs around more was getting two treat plates until recently (and today’s ’special occasion’ with it being Easter…..)

Your mum is bang out of order.

I've neighbours who 'treat' my DCat1 too and who will not be told. I don't give my DCats any treats at all.

Can you say that you'll be forced to rehome DCat or failing that, your mum if she doesn't stop?

Show her a scary video of obese cats really struggling with moving around, breathing, grooming and toileting etc. She's unintentionally cruel, but cruel all the same.

Good luck!

Weigh out some cat kibble and tell her to "treat" the cat only from that box. She gets the warm fuzzy feeling from feeding the cat, the cat has proper cat food.

Once you have established that routine be honest about deciding if the fat is from overfeeding or the calorific treats, and adjust the amount accordingly.

You can get specialised weight loss kibble too.

I would cut down on treats and feed them more at mealtimes, it sounds like they are not getting enough decent food and are being given too much junk.

I have an elderly cat (13+) who weighs 3kg and I feel like it's an uphill struggle to get her to maintain or gain any weight at all. She is a 'grazer' and has no teeth now so I feed her 5 small meals a day plus 2 cat yoghurts. She still doesn't gain weight.

Those guidelines are based on the cats not getting any other food though - these cats also get dry food so won’t need anything like four pouches a day.