Kitten with insatiable appetite

loveisdivine

We recently found a kitten at the bottom of our garden. Decided to keep him cos we know the rescues are full to the brim and we have 2 anyway so the more the merrier!

He's had 2 rounds of parazole wormer so far, as per vets instructions. He's also been checked by the vets and started vaccinations, he's in really good health. Not even fleas or anything. To be honest we think he was dumped not too long before he found us.

We started off feeding the same as the other 2 but his tummy didn't like it, so we switched to Natures Menu kitten and poops are now firmer and only going maybe twice a day, instead of 4 or 5!

He gets roughly 300g a day, spaced out between 6 meals. This is more food than the pack recommends but even so, his appetite in insatiable! He wolfes the food in seconds and if he hears the other cats feeders open he sprints from whatever room he's in to try and get a mouthful. He also constantly cries for food when we are in the kitchen. Obviously he associates the kitchen with being fed, but he might have only just finished a meal and he's already pining for more.

We use the microchip feeders so he can only get into them when the other cats are eating. But it's becoming quite an issue. The other 2 are put off eating because he always dives in and gets in the way.

We've started feeding them seperately and shutting the kitten out of the kitchen while they eat, but they like to go back for leftovers later on and he inevitably tries to steal some.

Should we be giving him more food? He's already eating more than the feeding guidelines, but is obviously still hungry. He's 2kg at last weigh in and vet estimates around 14-15 weeks.

SillyMangoX

I have a similar-ish age kitten and he's the same, he'd eat us out of house and home. At that age, I don't like to restrict feeding too much as their bodies go through growth spurts at different stages, and they're also very active all the time so their calorie needs will vary greatly from day to day. My guy gets 1-2 pouches of James Wellbeloved wet food spaced out through the day. I also leave a bowl of dry food down all the time for him to munch at as he needs. Some days he'll hardly eat a think, other days he'll polish off the bowl and come meowing for more. When he reaches 9-12 months I'll start to restrict feeding a bit more because free feeding isn't the best for weight, but for younger animals I tend not to go by the recommendations on the pack because that's all they are - recommendations!
Maybe some dry food to nibble between meals will help sate his appetite?

boomerang

Parazole is great for young kittens to start out on as it's a gentle wormer, but it's not the most effective out there. I would suggest you now worm him with Milbemax, OP. Once a month until he's six months, and every three months thereafter.

mymo

I'd up the feeding, he may be more active, larger frame, etc, than the average. So long as he's not visibly fat, don't worry too much about what he's eating.
Also I used parole for young kittens, but switch to drontal or another brand as they get bigger, over 12 weeks I'd give a tablet, 2kg is a good weight.

Ms Doubtfire1

at that age he's a growing boy and WILL eat you out of house and home like all animals at that'teenage' age.
It will settle in time. Enjoy him and thank you so much for giving him a home.

loveisdivine

Thanks for the tips. We'll start giving him a bit more and see if that calms it a little. You should see him sprint from the other side of the house when he hears one of the bowls open!

kathleen37

OP, How are your other two doing? All good? (Sorry I can't remember their names. Hoping you're all enjoying the new house)

loveisdivine

The other 2 are doing really well. Ripley (who had all the problems) has fluoxetine once a day now and is so much better. She's still sensitive to touch/over stimulation, which is fine, but she no longer paces around compulsively or cries for hours for no reason. She's a much happier cat thankfully. Also, since the kitten came along, she's had a burst ofplayful energy and acually enjoys playing with toys and stuff at the minute.

Bunk absolutely adores the kitten. He's always been a snuggly cat, but with Ripleys issues he never got more than a playful chase from her. The kitten loves to snuggle with bunk, they groom each other and sleep together in the cat beds. It's adorable!

So a happy dynamic all round at the moment.

kathleen37

Lovely pictures - so glad they're all doing so well!