Experts in cat nutrition in the forum, please help.

[merlin12]

I give Merlin wet morning and night, since I´m at work during the day, I leave out a few grains of dry to keep him entertained. It was RC before and I don´t think it is any good so I´ve switched to Orijen which he hasn´t taken to. I´m trying to be firm and not put back the RC and I keep giving him the Orijen. My question is can he survive well on 2 cans a day? he know goes protesting all the way when I go and feed him, letting me know it´s about time. I don´t want him to go hungry but I just want him to have a better nutrition.

[hobbs2004]

Originally Posted by merlin12

I give Merlin wet morning and night, since I´m at work during the day, I leave out a few grains of dry to keep him entertained. It was RC before and I don´t think it is any good so I´ve switched to Orijen which he hasn´t taken to. I´m trying to be firm and not put back the RC and I keep giving him the Orijen. My question is can he survive well on 2 cans a day? he know goes protesting all the way when I go and feed him, letting me know it´s about time. I don´t want him to go hungry but I just want him to have a better nutrition.

It really depends on what the 2 tins of wet are (complete vs complementary, good quality vs supermarket), whether they are 100g tins or 200g etc and what the feeding rec is. So, it could be that he gets enough nutrition from those two tins or they might be wholly inadequate.

Considering how much you have tried perhaps you should just cut your losses for a while and feed him what he will eat. If that means putting down a little RC dry, so be it. It is not as though you cannot say that you haven't tried. He is apparently more headstrong than you are! Once both of you have relaxed, perhaps try again with just one thing that you would really like him to eat. For now, just let it be.

[Paddypaws]

How about mixing the RC which he loves with a little of the Orijen and see if he hoovers it all up while he is at it? I actually mix it in a small tub and let it 'marinade' so the good stuff gets the same pong as the animal digest on the bad stuff!

[merlin12]

Hobbs, I have tried. I just worry about his weight about the future. I want to have him with me as long as possible and happy and healthy but the problem is that the wet isnt good either, Gourmet a la cart, applaws and schesir. He has refused anything else. I just wanted atleast one of them to be quality.

Paddy, I´ve tried mixing. He just picks every single grain and leaves what he doesnt like. He knows exactly what he wants. It´s just that he seems much more anxious at meal times, which make me think he is hungry.

[hobbs2004]

Originally Posted by merlin12

It´s just that he seems much more anxious at meal times, which make me think he is hungry.

Okay, playing devil's advocate now, could he be getting anxious because of the constant food changes?

[merlin12]

No, I mean anxious since he doesn´t have his RC, he used to walk eargerly beside me before when I was going to feed him, now he seems hungry so he hurries me for his food (as he doesn´t eat the orijen). That is what I meant by anxious. He loves the crappy wet food he is getting now. He has settled to it. But well if nothing more can be done...I´ll surrender.

[hobbs2004]

I don't know what other people think but personally I would give both of you a break. Then in a few months time see whether you can tempt him to eat something else but instead of buying all of the good foods and testing them all on him, decide one you would like him to eat and very very slowly (one spoonful or even less) introduce it. That would be my advice.

[spid]

^^^^^^^^^ what she said!

[hobbs2004]

Originally Posted by spid

^^^^^^^^^ what she said!

Phew, not just me then

[merlin12]

I assure you both that he isnt being tortured. He is one really happy and spoilt cat but the vet in the shelter I volunteer in has adviced he doen't gain more weight and that is why Im trying a better dry food. His wet food is stable now and for some strange reason he loves it. But i'll go back to RC then, I just dont know of more ways of controlling his weight. He is very playfull and active.r