Hi, I’m Amanda! Read my introduction to learn more about me and Blue, my fluffy fire point Himalayan-Persian cat.
The way we’ve fed Blue has evolved over the years. Growing up with cats who always grazed gave me the impression that they all could be fed this way as long as it was consistent. This way, we’d never have to deal with early morning wake-up calls or be summoned to the empty bowls with quick-fire meows. As long as the bowl was never empty, life was simple for Blue and us. Over-indulging was a hungry cat’s game anyway, right?
Wrong. She ate everything. Always. Not only were we topping up the bowl more often than we should be, but we were also not regulating how much she was eating, the bottom of the bowl was constantly visible! In her defense, she was a very active cat so we figured she must be burning more so the amount she was consuming was justifiable in our eyes. Little did we know we were doing more harm than good.
Blue was always a big, beautiful cat but our lack of scheduled meals and proper measuring had hit a tipping point and her weight started to exceed the breed norms. We knew we had to make a change if we wanted a full and healthy life for her. With the help of our vet, we crafted a whole new way of feeding Blue with new food, schedule, and portion sizes.
Meal Scheduling
Switching from a continuous, never-ending bowl of food to limited portions and two set feeding times proved to be Blue’s biggest challenge. Based on her goal weight, her kibble was measured and provided in the morning and evening. We aimed for a 12-hour rotation to keep things simple. Adjusting to the new schedule took some time. As you would expect, Blue was more vocal and sought attention at every turn. With a little time and patience, she settled into the new routine.
Types of Food
Although kibble is Blue’s primary meal source, we’ve chosen to work wet food into her rotation as another way to help her stay hydrated and offer more diversity in flavor. If she were to choose for herself though, it would be wet food all day, every day. It’s eaten immediately when she’s served, where the kibble is nibbled on throughout the day, keeping her tummy satisfied until her next meal. Look at her self-regulating and rationing! If she were interested in treats, we’d offer her those as well but Blue’s never been keen on anything store-bought. Shredded chicken or a cat-size slab of steak seems to be the only treat she’ll go for on occasion.
Progress Update
We’ve come a long way from early days of feeding Blue and we’re happy with her progress thus far. She’s our little furry inspiration for a healthier lifestyle! We will continue with the program we are on now and beyond her finding her way back to a normal manageable weight. Since she struggles with mobility and joint pain is sadly a part of her reality, we hope our efforts ease these conditions in the long run.
