HELP! Parent bought Buddy some sub-par food and he hasn't eaten in 2 days! (eating, feline) - - City-Data Forum

Draconiator · 12-12-2009, 09:23 PM

And it pisses me off because I told Mom about it, SHE COULDN'T CARE LESS! She just said "tough, he'll have to deal with it"

And dad says "He'll eat"....WHEN? I know because I made some little distinct lumps in his bowl that I can recognize immediately (kind of like building a tiny sandcastle of sorts, closest analogy I can come up with)2 days ago....and they're still there. Buddy is starving. I have no idea what to do other than confront them tomorrow about it. But how do I go about it?

The food is this ShurFine value brand crap. Hell, I sometimes eat their products for humans, but Buddy clearly hates his food, and parents won't give a **** about it! He won't even play anymore...

How do I fix this! BudBud doesn't deserve this....

=^..^= · 12-12-2009, 09:39 PM

Can you use some of your allowance to buy better food for him?

Keeper · 12-13-2009, 08:32 AM

I doubt he is going to starve himself although he may put up a good front for a few days. If he goes outside he is probably eating other things. I volunteer at the animal shelter and have seen multiple cats brought in and none refused food for more than a day or two.

Ask your parents what you can do to get Buddy the food he likes! Maybe you can offer to do a specific chore for extra money.

beachmouse · 12-13-2009, 08:45 AM

Cats are perfectly capable of going on hunger strikes. Which can be fatal in a worst case scenario because it can make their liver fail. I've known a couple people who have lost their cats from this.

I don't want to cause too much alarm, but do want people to know 'don't worry' isn't always the best way to approach it.

Feline Hepatic Lipidosis - Fatty Liver Disease in Cats

Draconiator · 12-13-2009, 11:18 AM

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my parents, but sometimes the things they do make me so angry...Last time they did this, it was almost TOO late when they took Milo (no longer with us) to the vet. Another 3 hours and he would have been gone. He lived with us a few more years.

I'm just being stupid apparently. Showed Mom my post and got yelled at because of it. If you don't look at the pet thing though, they're otherwise awesome parents...but...

PantherPride · 12-13-2009, 12:15 PM

Like I said don't show them ANYTHING!

You'll just get in trouble.

People find the truth to be insulting or ridiculous

In no way am I bashing your parents outside of pets. I can only go by what you say. What you are dealing with here is quite common. People buy pets for the kids because its normal and endearing but in many ways kids and pets don't mix. A cat can live over 30 on a proper diet. Most "pets for the kids or indoor/outdoor cats" don't see age 3 or 5.

How old are you?

If you are older it will be sooner until you can get pets.

Ohiogirl81 · 12-13-2009, 01:37 PM

Well, my childhood indoor/outdoor cat -- adopted "for the kids," no less -- lived to be 21 but that's neither here nor there, especially since the OP didn't mention anything about it.

Draconiator, Buddy probably doesn't like the food he's being offered. Cats can be frustratingly stubborn creatures sometimes. And they're not too fond of sudden changes, either.

Is it possible to take a previous poster's advice of purchasing some cat food with your own money? That seems to be the best way around it: Your cat would get some good food, and you'd be showing your parents that you're capable and responsible for caring for your pet.

Good luck -- with Buddy, and with your parents!

PS -- You're not stupid.

Lola4 · 12-13-2009, 02:32 PM

It can be DEADLY for a cat to go without food for 48 hours. Cats CAN and WILL often hold out until death.

www.catinfo.org

Draconiator · 12-13-2009, 07:42 PM

Hmmm...That is weird, My brother and his wife have 3 cats, and they like that exact kind of food. Anyway, I know it's kind of bad for them, but I just had to do something, so I gave him some milk.

Oh, I'm 30, and am one of those unfortunate few who still lives at home....but I'm planning to move as soon as I get on my feet financially. More stuff, but that's another forum. Couple forums really.

Again, I love my parents, they're awesome people if you don't bring up this issue. I'll try to get some food tomorrow too.

So, now that I know my bro's cats eats the exact same thing...how do I wean him off of that stuff and onto this ShurFIne stuff? I'm feeling a bit better after visiting bro, but I'm still not 100% yet.

beachmouse · 12-13-2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draconiator

Hmmm...That is weird, My brother and his wife have 3 cats, and they like that exact kind of food. Anyway, I know it's kind of bad for them, but I just had to do something, so I gave him some milk.

Be careful with too much milk, as most cats are lactose-intolerant and it'll give them the runs if you let them have too much of it. (a tablespoon or licking out the ice cream bowl is generally fine for most cats, but don't give a huge dish)

As for feline likes and dislikes, some cats are just insanely picky about their food, and what they like may or may not be what's 100% nutritionally optimal for them. There are any number of cats out there that would indeed hunger strike until liver failure over the brands Panther Pride recommends because they just don't like them, but who will go 18-20 years on a diet largely of Fancy Feast, which is the kitty version of letting them eat a McDonald's Happy Meal every day.

To introduce new food to a skeptical cat, start out by mixing some of the new kibble into the old crunchies and see how the cat reacts. If he only eats the old stuff and carefully leaves behind the new food, then you might have a problem.