[DiG iT]

I got my cat from a shelter about a year ago, she's always been an inside cat and she's pretty good at going in the box and things of that matter. But here lately she's been acting strange like wanting to eat off of my plate and very moody. She just had kittens and I have always fed her Iams dried cat food, but she acts like she is still hungry, what should I do?

[mspikem]

In the past, the research has leaned toward dry food, but now it is 10 to one in favor of canned. And you can't just keep giving them the same food forever. try this linkhttp://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=libraryand look under nutrition. Lots of interesting stuff on this site

[Robert G]

during birth or even a few weeks after birth cats tend to be more moody and in need of more nutrition for one she has been feeding kittens and still is probably so all her nutrition has went there that's why during birth and after birth for a few weeks cats need to eat kitten food cause it has more nutrition in it more fats protein and minerals vitamins so on also you may want to try a food that has a rice base instead of a corn base cause corn is mainly used as a filler there is not much nutrition in corn at all especially after being cooked and processed for the dry food, rice is more filling and more digestible and holds many minerals in it through the whole process meaning your kittens and mother cat would be getting more out of it leaving them less hungry as for stealing your food that's a problems that is best dealt with a swat either a fly swatter of a bottle of water works well also as a attitude adjustment

[Mer]

Does she have free choice food or do you limit her? Put out as much dry food as she wants. You can find indoor formula's that are low fat (pro pac is good).She just had kittens, so she's using a lot more energy to feed and look after her babies now. Which is probably making her more hungry.Spaying would probably help the moodiness too. I'm surprised a shelter would adopt out an animal that wasn't fixed.

[mozzykat]

Cats who have just had kittens and pregnant cats need 3 meals a day to replace the nutrients taken by the babies. Kittens take a lot out of the mum, so mother cats need more food. Are you giving her milk also? Maybe try giving tin food once a day and leaving a plentiful supply of biscuits, so she wont get hungry. She will know how much she needs. I have had experience with quite a few cats having litters, as i have a lot of cats and have saved quite a few as well, i found this was the best way. Good luck with the babies.