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Squirrel's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: British Short Hair
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Fife, UK
Posts: 1,944
18-10-2011, 08:36 AM   #1

Will power and the 'I Won't!!!!!!!!!'


OK...

So, on Sunday I picked up one of those dry feed play balls for Cloud as I sometimes feel that any way to get her exercising is a good thing!

Thing is, since then, following the instructions to not feed her any other way (well, wet food excluded, cause that just wouldn't work!), she's had about half of the dry food I'd normally feed her...

I've been operating on the lines of 'she'll eat if she's hungry' and she does, but... The last thing she needs is to go on a diet!

Has anyone got experience of these? How long is it safe to go on with her like this before conceding defeat?

She's still getting her wet food - was complaining to me earlier as this mornings offering was tuna, but she has now had that... Just, it's not enough on its own...

Any thoughts?



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Catsey Senior
 
Cats owned: Tiger and Lester
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Inverness, Scotland
Posts: 349
18-10-2011, 10:40 AM   #2

Re: Will power and the 'I Won't!!!!!!!!!'


I think if she doesn't actually need to use the ball, then it's a nice to have. If she doesn't need to lose any weight then I'd feed her without the ball, the last thing you want is her losing weight she doesn't need to.



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angieh's Avatar
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Cats owned: Magnificent moggies
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Location: Hampshire, UK
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18-10-2011, 11:36 AM   #3

Re: Will power and the 'I Won't!!!!!!!!!'


I bought a treat ball for Pip (not sure it's quite the same thing) and I generally put a dozen or so Dreamies in the ball for him to play with as he will. Sometimes he works at it until they are all gone, sometimes he just loses interest after a while (and sometimes the treats get stuck). I haven't altered his normal food though. Last time he was at the vet for his annual check up, the vet called him "Mr Consistency" as his weight was exactly the same as last year.



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dandysmom's Avatar
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Cats owned: Leia: blue torbie
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Washington, DC, USA
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18-10-2011, 03:44 PM   #4

Re: Will power and the 'I Won't!!!!!!!!!'


Is there any special reason you want her on dry also? I'm personally wary of it because of cystitis possibilities. Maybe you can out-stubborn her ... I have never been able to do so, all of my cats "Won't!" power has always been greater than my will power. Good luck!



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Squirrel's Avatar
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Cats owned: British Short Hair
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Location: Fife, UK
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18-10-2011, 07:07 PM   #5

Re: Will power and the 'I Won't!!!!!!!!!'


Thanks for the responses...

Pauline... I can understand that reasoning, and I might give in and go that way some point. Thing is, if she's refusing to use the ball when she doesn't need it, and I give in, what does that tell her for when she does need it?

Angie... Yeah, she's got something similar with treats. She's usually quite willing to play with it, as long as there is something exciting inside. Dry food just doesn't quite do it, apparently!

Eileen... TBH it's a mix of different things. Main reason is that the vet said that it was good for her teeth to eat a certain amount of dry food. I do try to make sure it's a good quality dry, but... *shrugs*



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Shelley123's Avatar
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Cats owned: NA
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Location: Preston UK
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18-10-2011, 08:23 PM   #6

Re: Will power and the 'I Won't!!!!!!!!!'


Katy, why might she need to use the ball to eat ?



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Squirrel's Avatar
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Cats owned: British Short Hair
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18-10-2011, 08:47 PM   #7

Re: Will power and the 'I Won't!!!!!!!!!'


As in if she doesn't take enough exercise as she gets older, being a house cat... I'm not saying it'll happen, just that it isn't impossible either.



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dandysmom's Avatar
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Cats owned: Leia: blue torbie
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18-10-2011, 09:02 PM   #8

Re: Will power and the 'I Won't!!!!!!!!!'


Some cats are like some people; they're not that into exercise. Leia never has been.



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Shelley123's Avatar
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18-10-2011, 09:55 PM   #9

Re: Will power and the 'I Won't!!!!!!!!!'


Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
As in if she doesn't take enough exercise as she gets older, being a house cat... I'm not saying it'll happen, just that it isn't impossible either.
right i understand Katy.
I'd be inclined to give half her biscuit allowance in the ball and the other half in her dish as usual. If she doesn't play with it on occasions then i'd give her all her food in the dish.
Have you tried rabbit fur mice to get her to play, even fat jerry likes these , also catnip can sometimes get them to play or maybe a kitty teaser.



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