Can my cat's feeding schedule cause weight gain and anal gland issues?

Question

Hi, I have 2 questions, been listening to a certain famous cat behaviorist on youtube on behavior n cat care n 1 thing he says is cats shouldnt go more than 8 hours without eating so working 2nd shift i feed my 3 in the a.m, right before i go to work n right before bed (all are indoors) well, she has gone from 11 to 15 lbs. Is he right n is it ok just to feed at 10am then midnight when i get home ? Also shes had impacted anal glands b4 what causes it to get that way n anythng to help prevent it. Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Longhair | Female | 4 years and 5 months old | 15 lbs

Vanessa Yeager DVM MPH · Accepted Answer

Hello and thank you for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! First question: It really does not matter when she eats but a matter of how much (how many calories per day). Eating twice a day is better than once a day so Misty does not get too hungry during the day and she can have a better blood glucose balance during the day. If you request a consult with me, we can go over calculating how many calories Misty should have in a day based on what food you are feeding her. A 4 pound increase in weight in a cat is like a human gaining 40 pounds. Second question: Anal gland impaction can be caused by the anal sacs not emptying their contents normal and regularly. Typically, both dogs and cats express their anal glands when they defecate. If the diet does not contain a lot of fiber or the animals is dehydrated this can cause a back up and can lead to impaction. Sometimes animals are genetically predisposed for this problem. Sometimes owner may have to express their cat's or dog's anal glands manually every few weeks to prevent an impaction from happening. Adding extra fiber to the diet can help (plain canned pumpkin works very well). I hope I have helped answer your question and if you wanted to chat further about the calories and food, I look forward to 'meeting' with you during a consult. Best wishes and thanks again!

Can my cat's feeding schedule cause weight gain and anal gland issues?

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