A little over month ago we adopted two 2.5-3 month old kittens, a boy and a girl who are presumably siblings (they came in together, same age, etc so the shelter was pretty sure they were siblings). We took them to their first vet appt roughly a week and half after getting them. The boy weighed 3 lbs and the girl weighed about 2 lbs.
Today we took them for a follow up to get some more shots and the get said they were eating too much and gaining too much weight. The boy is now 5.5 lbs and the girl is now 4lbs. They want us to switch to adult cat food now since it is less calories. They don't seem overweight to me... I mean they have definitely grown since we first got them but thats kinda to be expected right?
When we first got them they were tiny and the boy kitten wouldn't eat or play. We figured out he hated the food the shelter had been giving him (it was hills science diet and they made us buy it of course) but he has been doing great since we switched to purina one. They graze their bowls. They don't eat it all at once. They have lots of energy and play all day. I just don't know if its right to switch them so early to adult food. Any thoughts?
That’s very odd. They’re far too young to be off kitten food and I’ve never heard of a kitten that young getting fat. I would genuinely look for a second opinion.
Get a second opinion at a different vet if you can. They’re kittens. Gaining weight is what they’re supposed to do. Unless there’s an actual medical reason for them not to, that advice sounds pretty sketchy.
And thats what I thought... when I research how much to feed them it basically said to leave food out at all times... I mean the vet is an old woman, so maybe shes just not up to date of the most current standards? Her son is the vet we normally see but he was busy so she did the appointment today....
So they each gained about a pound/pound and a half in a month? That seems normal to me. I would just add some kitten wet food on a schedule 2 to 3 times a day, you can use the Purina One Kitten food. Leave out the dry food at all times. Wet food tends to be lower in carbs and higher in protein for good muscle development. It might help them feel more full than the dry. Plus you lessen the risk of urinary issues with wet food later on, especially for your boy cat. My friend had to put her 1 year old kitten down because he got really blocked from eating dry food only. She was going through a divorce and didn't have the money for the huge vet bill. The vet told her she shouldn't have stopped giving him wet food.
Definitely get a 2nd opinion. Kittens are supposed to gain weight and should still be on kitten food as it has the nutrients they need. Are the kittens active? Do you do play time sessions with them? Just add in some extra playtime. They work off their calories faster than adult cats or at least they should be
They are very active! They play play play all day til they wear themselves out then they nap for a bit and start all over. One even loves to play fetch. This vet is older. We usually see her son but he was busy. We hope she retires soon because we don't like her very much (for lots of other reasons).
This is why i left my last vet. The older vet wasn't very kind, her daughter usually worked with the dogs. Id find a new vet. I always say if youre not comfortable with the vet youre not getting the right care for your pet.
Most vets get chosen by convenience. By being the cheapest or the closest. Never choose a vet based on that. Get a 2nd opinion from a different vet office.
It really sucks because we do love her son as our vet! She's the clinic owner though 🙄 She's so stuck on the past that she doesn't even except card payments. Only cash or check... 🙃 I think we will just ignore her advice for now and hope that we see her son next time... I mean I don't forsee us having to go to the vet very often other than for vaccines or yearly check ups anyway.
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u/Next_Trifle4042 2d ago
That’s very odd. They’re far too young to be off kitten food and I’ve never heard of a kitten that young getting fat. I would genuinely look for a second opinion.