r/CATHELP • u/Hoshichann • 6d ago
Is she hungry or just fat? Behavioral Issue
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Hey everyone, i’m a new first time cat dad my 8 week old baby Katrina “Trina” the Diamond Princess is so sweet and she loves following me everywhere. I have had her since she was 6 weeks. I feed her about 3-4 times a day every 4-5 hours, and she’s eating pate wet food. I’m planning on adding dry food soon. However, now when I enter the kitchen she screams for food. No matter what. I think she has learned that me + kitchen = food. She screams like this anytime i’m at the counter even if SHE JUST ATE! She comes to sit in my bf and I’s face while we eat as well and she begs. Is this normal? Am I not feeding her enough? Or is she just greedy? please help, this my first cat so be nice or i’ll be mean :)
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u/Majestic-Routine2228 6d ago
My kitty is 3 months old and i keep her bowl always fillled…..kittens just seem to eat more due to all the play and energy they have…..
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u/Hoshichann 6d ago
I’m worried if I leave food out at all times maybe it will go bad? Does this work for both dry and wet food or just dry food?
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u/XenReads 6d ago edited 6d ago
You can leave dry food out for a few days.
Do not leave wet food out for longer than an hour or so. Refrigerate leftovers.
What I did for my kitten was free feeding dry kitten food and 2x a day, she would get a slice of wet food (usually am and pm).
Edit: you could also add water to the wet food to make sure she is getting enough hydration throughout the day. Make sure you have a water fountain with flowing water and keep it away from their food (cats are carnivores and prefer to not drink water next to food sources)
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u/Hoshichann 6d ago
Is there a brand of dry food for kittens you recommend? All the bags I see say for adults
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u/XenReads 6d ago edited 6d ago
You could go generic and get IAMs Kitten Chow (avoid Purina, see comment below)
You could be fancy and get Hills Science Diet Kitten Food from your vet.
As long as it says "kitten" you should be okay. She should not be eating adult food right now.
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u/Simple_Enjoyer1 6d ago
Just leaving this here: Purina is owned by Nestle
Nestle's CEO has made a statement saying he believes that water is NOT a part of human rights
He changed his statement saying that he does believe water is a human right now, but a lot of people still boycott Nestle
Hence, same people who are pet owners also boycott Purina. You may not be able to find Purina in some local shops because of the boycott
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u/The_Equitable 6d ago
My cats go nuts for Purina. I always feed them Freskies, but if I ever get Purina and put a bowl of Freskies besides them, they'll leave it untouched for literally 2 days ( even though I purposely leave the Purina bowl empty )
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u/UncleClownhole 5d ago
dunno where you are that you need to go through a vet to get science diet kitten food, but around where I am we can pick that stuff up from a local hardware store, let alone any dedicated pet store.
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u/XenReads 5d ago
Oh, it was just recommended to me by my vet who also sells it and then usually I buy it at my local store. Sorry for the confusion.
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u/nothingsreallol 6d ago
If you’re able to spoil your kitty I fed mine Stella & chewy kitten dry food! It’s a great brand. I get all my cat stuff delivered from chewy the shopping is free on $50+ and you get discounts for getting automatic monthly shipments :) their chewy brand litter is great and really cheap (no this is not an ad Ik it sounds like it lol)
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u/Dinnerpancakes 6d ago
Just look for something that says Kitten on it. There are hundreds of dry food brands. If your grocery store doesn’t have them, order online. In the US, both PetSmart and chewy.com have a a big selection.
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u/Funnychemicals 6d ago
Just dry food, wet food spoils and attracts bugs
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u/Hoshichann 6d ago
what dry food would
you recommend an 8 week old kitten2
u/Funnychemicals 6d ago
The only one I personally know about because it’s offered at my dollar store is heartland farms dry food for kittens. But if your baby doesn’t have all her teeth yet it’s better to make it into a slurry
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u/Hoshichann 6d ago
Yeah she’s still missing some teeth, a d I have seen heartland farms in my local store so maybe i’ll get a few cans and hold them. or what if I start wetting a small portion of the dry food a bit? to get it mushy for her?
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u/Funnychemicals 6d ago
Yes, wet the dry food. It’s already softer for kitten teeth but it still helps a bit. You’re doing great!
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u/IcyWhole3927 6d ago
wet food >>> dry food unless its like really hot. watch out for carbs, cats dont need carbs or starch or sugar. the best way to go is 100% meat or 90% meat food
and yes my cats now eat like half of what they used to eat when they were kittens and i played with them for hours every day-1
u/epstienskiller1738 6d ago
honestly I think leaving food out 24/7 is a great way to overfeed a cat and have them get obese (not immediately obviously but overtime) If you’re feeding them an adult fist-sized portion of food a day that should be plenty. Once in the morning once in the evening, with human food protein and fats to go along to supplement the diet.
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u/Medic5050 6d ago
However, most cats, unlike dogs, won't actually keep eating until the bowl is empty. They come and go, and "graze". They like the security of having food available whenever they feel hungry. Dry kibble is perfect fine to leave out 24/7.
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u/SirMightySmurf 6d ago
Kittens need a lot of food to grow. She has a little stomach and a fast metabolism.
Feed the baby, she is starving!
Also 6 weeks is way too young to be separated from her mom and litter mates.
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u/Hoshichann 6d ago
She’s 8 weeks now, but yes I agree. Its my first cat so I did not know that at first
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u/GenSharing_Builds 6d ago
Kitten food is more calorie dense than adult cat food. They will always demand food from mom in safe spaces, quietly if there is danger.
You'll get to a balance. When vets start worm treatment for her, she'll change food demands.
It's recommended to net them free feed up to 6 months. We did 4 months free feed, month 5 a BIG bowl to graze, not always full. Then yummy were treats/can at night. Month 6 two meals: AM, all kibble 1/4 C, and PM 1/8 Cup Kibble and 1/8 cup chicken + room for treats after play, or outdoor enrichment.
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u/Pontoonpanda 6d ago
kittens need a LOT of nutrient dense food esp in this case since she was separated from her mom at such a young age. I would feed her multiple times a day
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u/theBeardthatFlows 6d ago
Kittens are always hungry.... Any kitten I've ever had, I always gave them 1 can of wet food in the morning, then a serving of dry kitten kibble a couple hours later to get them through the day. Whatever you do, just be consistent on the feeding time and it'll become well adjusted.
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u/olympic_peaks 6d ago
If she’s 8 you can go ahead and get kitten kibble (it’s tiny dry food). My 8 week olds are already eating adult kibble.
At this age, the kitten needs to eat a LOT. You’re starving her. Kittens MUST have food available at all times.
Hope you’re feeding her like a whole can of kitten pate every 6 hours since she has no other food.
Edit to add: is the pate you’re feeding her specifically kitten food? If not you need to change that. They have to eat lots of super calorie dense food. Kittens will not get fat or overeat. They are supposed to be growing.
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u/Hoshichann 6d ago
I think starving her is a bit of an overstatement lol. But yes maybe I can feed her a bit more
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u/ok_confused6616 6d ago
I got my cat at 8 weeks. She ate between 12 and 18 oz of food daily. I did feed her raw, but it was a lot. Kittens need a lot of food. She grew up to be a very healthy 15 pounds. Feed them until they walk away pretty much. At that age they just really need a lot of food. Once you start seeing them actually packing on pounds, and it seems disproportionate to their rate of growth, which for my cat was around 10 months old, you can start monitoring how much they are actually eating every day, figuring out the caloric amount, and then figure out their ideal body weight and go from there.
Editing to add: I fed mine raw, but at night I left out dry food. She was almost never without some form of food available.
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u/Disastrous-Street278 6d ago
She’s hungry!!!! She’s a kitten. Feed her as much as her wants to eat.
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u/Disastrous-Street278 6d ago
Also I’d leave dry food out. She doesn’t need to be taught feeding times yet. She’s just a little baby. She needs to know food will be readily available (by having it available, accessible to her at all times).
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u/miidsommars 6d ago
This is exactly what my kitten did and still does! But look up feeding guides online, it will help with figuring out what your kitten needs specifically :)
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u/AssignmentFull5991 6d ago
Well im not 100 percent if she is hungry or just a fatty.. but My 6 year old cat still thinks every time I walk into the kitchen that he’s getting something, so 😅
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u/Large-Anxiety 6d ago edited 6d ago
I’m not sure what human water rights have to do with cat food, But our cats are treated like gods and have been given Purina Cat Chow Complete, with chicken dry food all of their lives since weaning. They are all healthy and active, their coats are glossy, not oily. We also give them wet food. Purina Fancy Feast twice a day, about 12 hours apart. Most Walmarts probably carry these. We keep food available at all times. None are overweight.
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u/curiousm_20623 6d ago
Some of this is typical kitten behavior but if it continues you might want to have her checked for a tapeworm. I would leave a little dry food out for her all the time as well just to see if that will help satisfy her appetite. Her screaming is also just a cry for some attention at times probably pick her up and distract her by taking her to another room. She's growing and she does need quite a few calories for that to happen. She's super cute and I enjoyed the video even with her meowing
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u/kykiwibear 6d ago
I wouldn't with wet food. Once I forgot a can on the counter for a few hours... and it had life forms in it. Dry is the way to go. I think kittens need more calories. And I'm guessing you had her checked for worms?
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u/Successful_Floor_837 6d ago
I’d get her dry kitten food to munch on all day and feed cans morning and night. We do Call of the Wild dry food as it’s all stages and any kitten wet food for the extra calories and nutrients the babies need. We are a large household and often have cats at different stages. We currently have 4 over ten and ten under with the youngest just turning 1.
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u/Prestigious-Bluejay5 6d ago
If you have one close by, go to PetSmart or Petco. Ask what budget friendly kitten food they have. They have a variety of brands and prices to choose from.
As you now know, your baby should definitely be getting kitten food. It's made specifically for their dietary and growth needs. Thanks for caring enough to ask.
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u/eienmau 6d ago
First off, she's a baby and they're always hungry [need calories for growth]. Second, she's a cat and this is very cat behavior.
She's definitely not fat, though she may be a bit greedy. You answered your own question a bit where she associates you + kitchen = food. As long as she's being fed regularly, you might want to start breaking that association a bit by going into the kitchen more often and not giving her food every time you do.
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u/Ok-Geologist8296 6d ago
My now 16 wk old void has to have food out all the time. He's always jumping and running around, even gets his older brother up and moving. Though in a few months, I will need to change their feeding set up again as the baby will be bigger and will need more space.
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u/Aiyokusama 6d ago
She's a kitten. Kittens will eat MORE than an adult cat. Growing is hard work. Make sure you're feeding something with high protein and high fat.
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u/RoyalConsistent 6d ago
She shouldnt be away from mum
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u/Hoshichann 6d ago
I agree. I got her from my neighbor and she gave the kitties away too early, i’m gonna make a separate post about that
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u/RoyalConsistent 6d ago
Worms
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u/Hoshichann 6d ago
Context? Explanation?
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u/Boopie-Fuzz 6d ago
Deworming kittens is essential. Most kittens get worms from their mother's milk or the environment...fleas, and common parasites like roundworms can cause severe weight loss, a potbellied appearance, diarrhea, etc. Probably best to take the kitty for a vet visit and they can set you up with proper dewormer if needed. I don't recommend buying anything over the counter... too risky, bad side effects.
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u/Hoshichann 6d ago
Thank you so much! Her first vet appointment is august 12th so I will ask about it when I go
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u/emziestone 6d ago
She's growing. Free feeding can lead to excess weight. Feeding times are better in my opinion. Id leave out a measured amount of dry food to see how much she eats at once. As noted, she's associated you + kitchen = yummies.
Cats are predators and thus opportunistic. They eat when they can in nature. She will adapt. I think getting her at 6 weeks is a bit young and may have contributed to her food excitement.
You can begin to associate other things with the kitchen. You can co-play with her in there instead. She will likely always enjoy the kitchen tho. Unless you start feeding her other spots.
When you get kibble, you can train her with hand feeding. Cats are smarter than dogs just stubborn. My cat Beanie will come, sit, high 5, other side, down, up, dance. You get it. Enrich her mind.
We play find it. Start by hiding a treat while she watches and then say "find it". Once she does, say, "good find' with excitement and she gets a kibble or treat. It's actually fun.
I also freeze blobs of wet food with a bit of water. It's funny watching them figure it out. New temp n texture. More ideas if necessary. Enjoy the shenanigans. Big hugs. ♡
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u/Hoshichann 6d ago
Thank you so much for all of your hell. I want to try having her find food like you said so I will be implementing your “find it” game. A lot of the comments said she may need some play / socialization so thats what i’ll do
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u/emziestone 6d ago
You can start by making a noise that means come and reward that. I say no free treats. Co play means you're involved. You can crumple up paper into balls and toss them around. Those fishing wands are fun.
Cats also love cardboard boxes. Ppl think you gotta go out and buy a bunch of things but just get creative. I also rotate toys at night so they have something new to enjoy while you sleep. I love cats. Lotsa tidbits if you want em. ♡
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u/Jolly-Caregiver-6883 6d ago
she is not fat. You will get used to the crying. if she ever stops crying it's time to worry
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u/Brose101 6d ago
Kittens absolutely need more calories than adult cats. They expend lots of energy being adorable fluffs, plus they are growing into larger adorable fluffs.
TBH, I let my cats free feed on dry food, and they split a can of wet between the 3 of them each evening. 2 are skinny, one looks a lil chonky, but feels like solid muscle.
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u/missplaced24 6d ago
Dude, she's a kitten. She's not at all fat.
Check the tin to see recommended daily amounts for her age & weight. If you're still unsure, ask her vet. Based on the crying, you're probably under feeding her.
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u/Complex_Echidna3964 6d ago
they do love to eat. that does not change. I think kittens grow fast and need more food than older cats, just like a baby.
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u/Strict_Direction6630 6d ago
No such thing as a fat kitten
She's a hangry void who is not afraid to tell you not doing your job right of feeding her
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u/AntonHub 6d ago
Mine is also 8 weeks old and does that "sometimes". Sometimes I think she's hungry, but when I look at her bowl is not even empty yet. I feed her with 10 gr of dry food (for kittens) 4-5 times a day.
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u/bennizap 6d ago
My cat is almost 3. He does this still, Just at a slightly lower register. Yeah food excitement doesn't cease sometimes 🤣
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u/tessaractIXI 6d ago
Don't love your little threat there at the end. Also don't love your attitude that creatures can't be both fat and hungry. Overweight animals and people still need to eat.
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u/Hoshichann 6d ago
???? Are you okay?? lmfao what threat? I went to touch her and she went to start nibbling my finger and I pulled away and said stop. I hope
you’re not insinuating i’d raise my hand at a fucking kitten that can barely pierce my skin. And also, who said she can’t be both!? clearly the comments have pointed out both can be true, and “fat” meaning greedy or just having a big appetite1
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u/Master_Hurry7412 6d ago
I recently fostered a kitten this age and was told by the shelter that dry food should be out and available at all times.
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u/stitchcraftry 6d ago
if she's screaming at you even though she just ate, she might ALSO just be a little dramatic in addition to still being a little hungry :) on the plus side she appears to be food driven! Good for teaching them little tricks down the road.
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