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Question:

Alright– I have three cats all which came into the household at different times. My first I got as a kitten. He was a timid kitten and never really played as much as the two other cats. During a time period, my roommate left and I was not home a lot and Krybaby seemed to be very lonely. I know this may sound terrible, but he has never been out of the house except when he was checked out by the vet and got his shots. He is unneutered. I have never had a problem with him spraying, and the only mishaps he has had has been when he felt like his litter box was not pristine and he would poop on the floor. A friend of mine moved and left me her friendly Birman, Bear–a neutered male. Both Bear and Krybaby get along wonderfully. However since my roommate moved out a year ago Krybaby has eaten less and less. He basically nibbles at his dry food and eats a half a can of Fancy Feast at night (mainly he likes to lick the gravy of any wet cat food). Just recently I adopted an unspayed stray cat named Zoe. She is still a kitten and the vet says not yet 5 months old (I will be getting her spayed). She is a rambuctious kitten and eats like a horse– more so than the other cats. Krybaby likes her well enough as much as he likes anything new– and Bear adores her. My problem is that I have to guard both Bears and Krybaby’s food– and it just seems like Krybaby is getting thinner and thinner while the kitten is porking up. I feed them twice a day by leaving out food in three bowls (all which has disappeared by the time I get home from work– which I think is mostly Zoe). Bear has lost some weight which he needed to do in the first place, but I am concerend about Krybaby. How can I get him to fatten up and to eat more than what he already does? He is not wormy nor has any parasites– it just seems like his appetite is less than what it should be. Chris

Response:

>How can I get him to fatten up and to eat more than what he already does? He >is not wormy nor has any parasites– it just seems like his appetite is less >than what it should be.

I can only tell you what I would do in this case. You say he has not worms, etc. Are you assuming this or has he been to the vet recently. Because I would take him to the vet for a thorough check-up maybe including bloodwork. See what your vet recommends. They may want a stool sample as well. If you can eliminate physical illness as a cause that’s good. Cat’s eating habits do change especially in response to a new and/or stressful situation and a new cat would certainly qualify. I’d make sure to give lots of attention to this cat and maybe try feeding him in a separate room so the others can’t get to his food. This will mean leaving the time to stay with him while he eats. I’d think this should be done 2 times maybe even 3 times per day. Ask the vet how often. Also, feeding kitten food to help him put some weight back on might be a good idea but I’d probably ask the vet about that too just to be sure. Good luck. Anna

Response:

Alright– I have three cats all which came into the household at different times. My first I got as a kitten. He was a timid kitten and never really played as much as the two other cats. During a time period, my roommate left and I was not home a lot and Krybaby seemed to be very lonely. I know this may sound terrible, but he has never been out of the house except when he was checked out by the vet and got his shots. He is unneutered. I have never had a problem with him spraying, and the only mishaps he has had has been when he felt like his litter box was not pristine and he would poop on the floor. A friend of mine moved and left me her friendly Birman, Bear–a neutered male. Both Bear and Krybaby get along wonderfully. However since my roommate moved out a year ago Krybaby has eaten less and less. He basically nibbles at his dry food and eats a half a can of Fancy Feast at night (mainly he likes to lick the gravy of any wet cat food). Just recently I adopted an unspayed stray cat named Zoe. She is still a kitten and the vet says not yet 5 months old (I will be getting her spayed). She is a rambuctious kitten and eats like a horse– more so than the other cats. Krybaby likes her well enough as much as he likes anything new– and Bear adores her. My problem is that I have to guard both Bears and Krybaby’s food– and it just seems like Krybaby is getting thinner and thinner while the kitten is porking up. I feed them twice a day by leaving out food in three bowls (all which has disappeared by the time I get home from work– which I think is mostly Zoe). Bear has lost some weight which he needed to do in the first place, but I am concerend about Krybaby. How can I get him to fatten up and to eat more than what he already does? He is not wormy nor has any parasites– it just seems like his appetite is less than what it should be. Chris

Response:

>How can I get him to fatten up and to eat more than what he already does? He >is not wormy nor has any parasites– it just seems like his appetite is less >than what it should be.

I can only tell you what I would do in this case. You say he has not worms, etc. Are you assuming this or has he been to the vet recently. Because I would take him to the vet for a thorough check-up maybe including bloodwork. See what your vet recommends. They may want a stool sample as well. If you can eliminate physical illness as a cause that’s good. Cat’s eating habits do change especially in response to a new and/or stressful situation and a new cat would certainly qualify. I’d make sure to give lots of attention to this cat and maybe try feeding him in a separate room so the others can’t get to his food. This will mean leaving the time to stay with him while he eats. I’d think this should be done 2 times maybe even 3 times per day. Ask the vet how often. Also, feeding kitten food to help him put some weight back on might be a good idea but I’d probably ask the vet about that too just to be sure. Good luck. Anna

Response:

Alright– I have three cats all which came into the household at different times. My first I got as a kitten. He was a timid kitten and never really played as much as the two other cats. During a time period, my roommate left and I was not home a lot and Krybaby seemed to be very lonely. I know this may sound terrible, but he has never been out of the house except when he was checked out by the vet and got his shots. He is unneutered. I have never had a problem with him spraying, and the only mishaps he has had has been when he felt like his litter box was not pristine and he would poop on the floor. A friend of mine moved and left me her friendly Birman, Bear–a neutered male. Both Bear and Krybaby get along wonderfully. However since my roommate moved out a year ago Krybaby has eaten less and less. He basically nibbles at his dry food and eats a half a can of Fancy Feast at night (mainly he likes to lick the gravy of any wet cat food). Just recently I adopted an unspayed stray cat named Zoe. She is still a kitten and the vet says not yet 5 months old (I will be getting her spayed). She is a rambuctious kitten and eats like a horse– more so than the other cats. Krybaby likes her well enough as much as he likes anything new– and Bear adores her. My problem is that I have to guard both Bears and Krybaby’s food– and it just seems like Krybaby is getting thinner and thinner while the kitten is porking up. I feed them twice a day by leaving out food in three bowls (all which has disappeared by the time I get home from work– which I think is mostly Zoe). Bear has lost some weight which he needed to do in the first place, but I am concerend about Krybaby. How can I get him to fatten up and to eat more than what he already does? He is not wormy nor has any parasites– it just seems like his appetite is less than what it should be. Chris

Response:

>How can I get him to fatten up and to eat more than what he already does? He >is not wormy nor has any parasites– it just seems like his appetite is less >than what it should be.

I can only tell you what I would do in this case. You say he has not worms, etc. Are you assuming this or has he been to the vet recently. Because I would take him to the vet for a thorough check-up maybe including bloodwork. See what your vet recommends. They may want a stool sample as well. If you can eliminate physical illness as a cause that’s good. Cat’s eating habits do change especially in response to a new and/or stressful situation and a new cat would certainly qualify. I’d make sure to give lots of attention to this cat and maybe try feeding him in a separate room so the others can’t get to his food. This will mean leaving the time to stay with him while he eats. I’d think this should be done 2 times maybe even 3 times per day. Ask the vet how often. Also, feeding kitten food to help him put some weight back on might be a good idea but I’d probably ask the vet about that too just to be sure. Good luck. Anna

Response: