Need some advice on my abandoned munchkin kitty...

[joeybee12]

The problem is the little guy is missing quite a few teeth on his left side. Sadly, it could be age, but with his back leg problems, I think he was treated very badly prior to me finding him. I give him a lot of wet in the morning and evening, and leave out dry...friskies has small pieces...but he doesn't really eat that because of his teeth...he will take a little, but not enough. I need to find something that I can leave out during the day that is soft but also will keep so he can pick at that while I'm gone. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Betty88]

1. My toothless boy loves his dry food

go figure... Sam lost most of he teeth when he was very young, he was a sick little kitten when I found him. If he is getting a can in the morning and one at night he may not need much dry at all. There are some moist foods, I just have not used them. If you have a good pet store ask them or a vet. Also lots of help on line with a little googling. Sorry I can't recommend a brand but I bet you can find something.

good luck

[joeybee12]

2. Thanks...I still haven't taken him to the vet, have talked to the vet about

him, but the vet said to keep letting him recover for a bit. I recall those dog food commercials where the dry stuff is mixed with water and makes gravy...I think if I did that with any dry stuff it would just get soggy.

[Bertha Venation]

3. I remember a food called Tender Vittles

It's like the soft variety of cat treats. I wonder if they still make any cat food like that?

Or, Kitten Chow. The pieces are so small that he might be able to swallow them without chewing.

That's all I can think of. Good luck, and thank you for caring for the munchkin.

[joeybee12]

4. Thanks...yeah, I haven't heard of tender vittles in a long time!

The kitten food is a good idea, too.

[backwoodsbob]

6. tender vittles

it's like the cat version of kibbles and bits..should work

[Crystal Clarity]

5. I don't know if this will help but...

My 18 year old cat has dental problems. She manages to get some dry into her but not much and it's a slow process. She also gets a can of wetfood in the morning and one at night, but the dog ends up eating most of it.

So needless to day, I began worrying about her getting enough nutrients in her diet. Then one day while de-boning meat from a chicken I had roasted earlier, I thought, why-not try her with some of that? She loved it, so I set aside a container full of it in the fridge and fed her some throughout the week. BTW although the stuff should remain refrigerated, I'm sure leaving portion out for him to pick at throughout the day while you're gone should be ok.

From that point on, her menu grew to include other people-food things. Once a week, I'll cook up burger meat, fish, chicken or even occasionally turkey and add a small amount of greens like spinach. Sort of a homemade type of catfood. When I asked my vet about it, he said it was ok to do and was even the one to suggest adding the greens.

At any rate, this seems to work well as a supplement to her regular catfood and if for whatever reason I don't get around to making a batch of the homemade, I keep canned chicken, turkey and tuna on hand. As a special treat she sometimes gets canned Alaskan Red Salmon! But she's not spoiled at all! ;-)

Another thing I do is provide her with small amounts of lactose free milk. I got that idea from the "Whiskas" brand. They sell something they call "Catmilk" and I used to buy it until one day I actually sat down to check out the ingredients. The only thing I see that distinguishes their expensive (and preservative laden) stuff from regular milk is the fact that it's 98% lactose free. I need to check with my vet on this, but I think it's because of lactose that people are cautioned not give cats regular milk. She seems to digest the lactose free kind just fine but I'm careful not to give her much of it until I check w/my vet. She's got an appointment for her shots in August. I'll ask him then.

At any rate, I hope some of these ideas help with your new little munchkin. I've said it before, but I'll say it again... Thank you SO much for rescuing him!!! :yourock:

[joeybee12]

11. I'd be interested to know about the lactose free milk...

...that would give the little guy more nutrition than just water. That's also interesting about giving her spinach!

Thanks for the tips!

[backwoodsbob]

7. the ironic part is

he looks so much like morris the 9 lives cat from the original commercials :)

[joeybee12]

10. Yeah, that face does...

...but he's a little guy...bred to be small...I think Morris was a big old tom.

[Kali]

8. my cats have all their teeth and they rarely chew dry food

maybe he just doesn't like what you are giving him, not to mention you are already feeding him twice a day - and he is small and older - he may just be full!

[joeybee12]

9. I thought maybe he's full...but he is always yelling for food as soon as I get

home and in the morning...seems like he's going a long time without eating.

[madinmaryland]

12. Our Sonia, has none of the little front top teeth and is missing one

I-tooth on opposite sides of her mouth. one on top the other on the bottom. Weird, but the vet said she is fine. She mostly eats wet food (well demands it) and will nibble on some dry food occasionally.

She is at least seven years old.

[joeybee12]

13. Yeah, this little guy will eat it, but not enough, I think...

...I just got back from the store and bought some kitten chow because the pieces are smaller and I'll see what he does with that.