New Luck Owner

[Sam]

It sounds like Layla is progressing on her own terms, which is just fine, IMHO. I am a bit concerned about her diet though, unless you are adding a supplement or feeding her whole raw (bone in) chicken, otherwise I wonder if she is getting enough calcium and other nutrients?

She finally ate a can of natures variety last night, she is not touching her dry food. I will slowly push the natures variety and add liver only once a day... Does that sound like a good plan?

 

[SV Dad]

Sam, these cats can be finicky for no reason at all that I can determine. They have food mood swings all the time. I always have dry food available for grazing. And they all graze when they fell like it. Bottom line, if they are hungry, they will eat whatever is reasonable that is around.
Next Thanksgiving... will be a real challenge when it comes time to carve a turkey or ham. You have no idea what that will be like. Defend your meat!

 

[Sam]

Thanks RD, I guess we ll have to wait and see how next Thanksgiving will go with her being bigger and running the house

 

[Patti]

Any commercially prepared cat food should have the proper supplements. You can also purchase supplements to add to the meat if you intend to feed her primarily raw.

 

[Nitro]

Sam, my SV wasn't eating any of his dry food when I got him home either. I found that by soaking it in water for a couple of seconds (and then draining it out of the kibble) he was much more apt to eat it.

 

[Sam]

I can't thank you all for the great advice. Layla slept on the bed last night and I actually was able to pet her for a while even though she is back behind the water fountain in the master bedroom this morning. Next Saturday will be two weeks that she has been home and in qurantine. Do I just open the master bedroom doors to let her roam next week? I rather not cause a major set back after all of our progress.

 

[WitchyWoman]

G'day Sam, Sounds like keeping her in the bedroom for another week, and then reevaluate, is a good idea. She's coming round for sure, but appears that she needs more time to bond without the distractions of a whole house to explore.

 

[Amanda]

Sam, I like Nitro's suggestion. Also, I mixed dry kibble in equal parts wet food (the breeder had them on Royal Canin kitten dry + Evo kitten). I'd let it sit a couple minutes before giving it to them when they were really little.

When I started transitioning them to raw, I cut up pieces of chicken thighs or beef into little, tiny bites, then mixed that in with the kibble + wet combo. I slowly reduced the amount of wet and kibble as time went on. Now, they devour a cut-up chicken thigh + heart or liver each (or the equivalent in other meats) at each meal.

I'm so happy to hear Layla is doing well. You must love that she's sleeping on the bed. Cappy sleeps at my feet. When he's sound asleep, I can pet him and he'll purr for several minutes at a time. He'll even crawl up to snuggle with me if he's good and dazed. When he wakes up in the morning, he turns back into the "cool dude" and quickly acts like nothing happened.

 

[Sam]

Sam, I like Nitro's suggestion. Also, I mixed dry kibble in equal parts wet food (the breeder had them on Royal Canin kitten dry + Evo kitten). I'd let it sit a couple minutes before giving it to them when they were really little.

When I started transitioning them to raw, I cut up pieces of chicken thighs or beef into little, tiny bites, then mixed that in with the kibble + wet combo. I slowly reduced the amount of wet and kibble as time went on. Now, they devour a cut-up chicken thigh + heart or liver each (or the equivalent in other meats) at each meal.

I'm so happy to hear Layla is doing well. You must love that she's sleeping on the bed. Cappy sleeps at my feet. When he's sound asleep, I can pet him and he'll purr for several minutes at a time. He'll even crawl up to snuggle with me if he's good and dazed. When he wakes up in the morning, he turns back into the "cool dude" and quickly acts like nothing happened.

LOL about the morning comment... well that is how Layla is acting today. Its really frustrating that she has not eaten all day, I gave her chicken in the morning and this afternoon and she wouldnt eat it.. had to go to to the office and came back and couldnt find her and found her hidden again under the dresser in the closet.... I made some liver now and put it in front of the dresser and hoping she will come out, so far in the 10 days we have had her she has gone from progress to a step back over and over. I have never had a pet that was this shy and didnt eat, the eating part is what worries me specialy knowing this is the most important time of her life to just eat tons of food. I dont get the hidding thing either, she sleeps in bed at night but during the day she hides under every narrow space she can find... One day at time I guess

 

[Sam]

Sam, my SV wasn't eating any of his dry food when I got him home either. I found that by soaking it in water for a couple of seconds (and then draining it out of the kibble) he was much more apt to eat it.

Hi Nitro

Do you leave the kibble out at all times or do you put it down for 30 mintues and then take it away?