That's a clever idea, Bev. We may need to try it out, although as soon as it's warm enough we will be getting Folly's clipped.

Peppy got clipped. she was cute in her lion cut.

I had an old boss who got her long haired cats lion cuts every summer. It was awesome!

they liked them but didn't eat it all. I don't like wasting food. I wish I had a pig.

Any wet food still in the dish half an hour after I put it down gets saved for the next meal. Their dishes are small enough to fit in a Ziplock sandwich baggie. I make the exception that if there are signs one of the cats is flat our refusing to eat something, it goes in the trash on the grounds that there could be something wrong (Seriously, on the odd occassion that Sammie turns up her nose at meat, it is time to either burn the food or get her to the vet) with it and/or has some ingredient that does not work for the sensitive tummy of Harvey.

Zenkitty, is there any possibility that your cats stopped eating those foods after a certain amount because they were satisfied? After looking at the ingredients lists for some of the Soulistic and Tiki varieties, I would expect Harvey, who weighs in at 10.5-11 pounds and is a reasonably active senior cat, to be satisfied with 1/4-1/3 of a 5.5oz can twice daily. This level of quality yields satiety at portions half the size required for satiety with Hill's. I am not familiar with Soulistic, but Tiki is one of those brands that I have looked at and would buy if I could find any varieties with no fish, chicken, or beef.

Zenkitty, is there any possibility that your cats stopped eating those foods after a certain amount because they were satisfied?

Oh, yeah, they only eat a little at a time -- a few bites, leave it, and come back in a bit for more. (I think it's a cat thing -- I've seen how some cats eat wild-caught prey, they eat a little and then hide the rest for later. Lions gorge, domestic cats don't unless they're really hungry.) The soft food stays in the bowls for a little while, waiting for them. They don't really like it when it's given again, unless I warm it up. The waste happens when I give them more than they'll eat at once, and then don't "rescue" it in time to keep it fresh. It's not them, it's me.

The only food they've ever straight-up refused to eat was Newman's Own. Don't know why. I took their advice and threw it out. I don't agree at all with the "they'll eat it when they get hungry enough!" philosophy. I've got two rescues; they're not gonna go hungry ever again, certainly not over 0.80$ worth of cat food.

After looking at the ingredients lists for some of the Soulistic and Tiki varieties, I would expect Harvey, who weighs in at 10.5-11 pounds and is a reasonably active senior cat, to be satisfied with 1/4-1/3 of a 5.5oz can twice daily.

I'll second this. With the quality foods, Finn (who is a food vacuum) doesn't actually need a whole lot. I'm trying to wean Eddie off the kibble he had from the shelter, which feels a bit like trying to wean a child who is used to Fruity Pebbles onto a diet of free-range chicken, whole grain bread and kale.

Thank you all for the suggestions re. Finn's matts! Bev, I will definitely give the letter opener a try before I subject him to the trim. His natural summer coat is plush but not long, and he doesn't have an undercoat. Basically, his coat consistency/behavior fits that of an Angora or Van. I suspect that he's got a good deal of one or the other in his ancestry.

Anyhow, he doesn't seem too traumatized, and enjoyed his morning brushing as usual.

One time, due to emergency circumstances, Darby had a bag of dog frootloops, aka Beneful. It took about a month to get her back to any king of regular feeding. Including a five day hunger strike.

Tiki is one of those brands that I have looked at and would buy if I could find any varieties with no fish, chicken, or beef.

What meat do you feed them?

Tiki makes one that's duck, but I think it's got chicken mixed with it.