My "middle aged", domestic shorthair, neutered, male tuxedo cat was quite overweight (18 pounds) on a diet of just kibble. We read that canned food was much healthier, so we switched to Chicken Soup for the Cat's Soul and 9 Lives' Super Supper because of the all meat, no grain benefits. He lost 2 pounds at a good rate (over 3-4 months), but now he literally meows ALL the time for the food. He is driving us nuts!! We feed him a little over one can of food per day, spread out in quarter can amounts throughout the day. What do yo think? We are close to putting him up for adoption because all this food fixation yowling is stressing us out! Help!

Hi Ruthie,

I'm glad to hear that your cat has begun to lose some weight. He may not be so happy now, but in the end he will be happier and healthier.

It sounds as though he is not getting enough to eat. Looking at the feeding guidelines on some of the canned foods we carry they recommend feeding one can per 6 - 8lbs of body weight. Based on that he should be getting two cans of food per day, if he is only eating the canned food. Grain free foods are a great way to go. Cats are carnivores and do not require grains in their diets. Also, grains are a source of carbohydrates, which can cause weight gain. Canned food is good for cats, especially if they are not drinking enough water. If your cat is getting enough water you may want to add a high quality grain free dry food to his diet along with the canned food. You would then need to cut back on the amount of canned food you are feeding. There are many good ones on the market today. Many animals on grain free diets lose the fat and gain muscle mass.

If you are feeding any "Lite" foods they are usually higher in fiber and cause the food to move through the body at a faster rate. This can also cause the animal to be hungry at times.

You may want to try increasing the amount of food you are feeding and see if that satisfies your cat's appetite. Feeding too little can cause a slow-down in their metabolism and they will not drop the weight as quickly.

I hope this information is helpful to you. Please stop in to any of our locations and speak with any of our Team Members for more information and specific food recommendations.

I wish your cat continued success with his weight loss and hope that his meowing decreases.

"The Chuck"
Chuck & Don's Pet Food Outlet