What food is best for Ralph??

[berties mum]

He's the same weight as Mr Bertie then!!  Same here - big bones, big head, not much of a tummy and the vet has no worries at present, as he's only just turned three and he really doesn't eat much, but obviously I'll have to keep an eye on it as he gets older as he could be a biiiiiiiiig cat!!!  Bertie and Ralphie would get on so well.  Bert loves to headbutt my laptop when it's in use, lie on the keys and try and slide his paws under it to keep them warm.   I remember when him and Tilda were seven weeks old, I took a laptop home from work to get a big document done in peace, and returned from the kitchen to find my document gone, and two kittens curled up on the keyboard - sigh.

[jetcleo]

Hiya berties mum you are welcome to him at the moment, i'm trying to get some stuff done for work but he keeps walking across the laptop so i have to keep rechecking it.  It'll be ok me in a meeting tomorrow, don't think they'd accept the excuse that my cat walked over the computer!!! 

He weighed 5.7kg last time he went to the vet but he does have a big bone structure and doesn't really have a big tummy. 

[berties mum]

How much does he weigh, Jetcleo?  And when you're finished with him, can I have him?  I want to give him a big cuddle every time I see him 

[Millys Mum]

Laser pen and ping pong balls are great, even better if you have laminate flooring!

Ralph is a handsome fellow, im getting jealous of all these piccies im seeing.

I think id go with a pouch twice a day and 1 handful of biccies and see how he is on that.

He sounds like the typical stray who has landed on his feet. My george was neutered and that was it, he moved in, stopped going out as much and developed a love affair with the sofa 
He got a bit porky so i maintained him at that, he was happy for the time he had left, food was number1 above the sofa 

[Desley (booktigger)]

I know that feeling well - a lazer toy might help too.

[jetcleo]

Thanks Desley, unfortunately his Da bird is no more as well so he's been a little in active lately  I will have to order him ANOTHER one to help him with his exercise.  I was hoping that when he started going out he'd be active  but he goes out has a wander round the garden for half an hour then comes back in and goes to sleep!!!!!  What a life he leads! 

[Desley (booktigger)]

SM, it is a fallacy that dry food helps teeth, you are best off using things like Logic Gel, Plaque off or chicken wings/necks.
JC - I wouldnt use Dentabits, they are treats and will be fattening, plus little nutrients. The fact he was entire tilll that age means he will have a bigger bone structure, 5.7 may not be that bad, and it might be more worthwhile just making sure he doesn't put any one (it is a nightmare to get cats to lose excess weight, much easier to maintain it in the first place)

[jetcleo]

They think Ralph is about 5 years old but as he was a stray they're not sure. Until March of this year he was an entire Tom cat

[jetcleo]

Thanks everyone, i can't get a photo of him standing up as he just runs into the camera, he weighs 5.7kg, one vet said he wasn't really overweight he was a large cat (bone structure) but i should keep an eye on him and make sure he didn't put any more weight on. He watched him walk on the floor and said he was just a bruiser!!!!! Another couple of vets at the same practice said he was overweight!!!  I think i'm just going to be careful with his food, will try him on denabits from whiskas to see if they help his teeth and will stick to wet food a bit more.

Thanks 

[swampmaxmum]

How old is Ralph, the handsome devil? Dry food's going to be better for his toofies if they are getting grotty, but wet food is less fattening, unless he gets through lots of it. Maybe James Wellbeloved can send you a measuring cup for his dry and your vet can suggest how much nosh he should have? I've found that the manufacturer's feeding guidelines on the side of packets of food tend to be a bit overgenerous btw.

[Desley (booktigger)]

Can't quite tell if he is overweight off that pic, but if a vet has said it, I Would take their advice, they can see and feel them, whereas we can't. I would go with more wet food, and reduce his dry food intake, maybe measure it out, or just give one handful a day.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Oh isnt he hunkey and ummmmmmmmm maybe he should be a bit careful how much he eats, but not a lot 

[jetcleo]

Hopefully his piccy should be attached

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

How heavy is he and lets se his picture so we can judge 

It doesnt sound like he is getting too much food, dependent on his size.

[jetcleo]

Hiya, he only has a handful of biscuits twice a day sorry not sure how much in grams, so not many really.

Sometimes he has just biscuits at each meal, others he has two pouches (one morning and one night) and sometimes its biscuits morning and pouch at night

[Millys Mum]

i thought i'd try feeding him more dry food (James Wellbeloved) than pouch food to see if that helps a bit.

Classic error    biscuits are calorie concentrated, if you read the bag and then weigh out the amount they need its not alot, especially as alot of manufacturers put a higher amount down.

Can you feel his ribs? Does he have a waist when you look down from above?

How many pouches is he currently having and how much JWB?

[Team Svartalfheims]

Wet food will fill him up with less calories. You could try a light wet food that's lower in calories (ie Hills light) and adding a bit of extra water to it will help him to feel full faster as well. Hope this helps

[jetcleo]

Ok so i've had Ralph for 2 months and have been told by the vet twice now that he is overweight.  He is a big cat but he is really active and doesn't eat that much at home, whether someone else is feeding him i dont know.  Anyway he was a stray before i got him and his teeth are not in the best condition, i thought i'd try feeding him more dry food (James Wellbeloved) than pouch food to see if that helps a bit.

What should i be feeding him, is he ok to have biscuits twice a day or does he need wet food?  Sorry i don't really know what's best.