sure, but sometimes in the case of kittens "the owner" is its mother and "decide to overfeed them" is the kitten was the only one of its litter so it gets all the milk

[+] MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz -38 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (4 children)

Ok.

Doesn't change that the health of an animal kept as a pet, is the responsibility of the respective human.

Edit: are you downvoters assuming I'm suggesting you separate the kitten and mother? I'm not.

Kittens and mother cats should go essentially untouched by humans for several weeks after birth.

After that, just don't continue to allow the kitten to overeat and it'll be fine.

[–] Droechai@piefed.blahaj.zone 33 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

I dont think its ever a good idea to restrict a pet animal babys access to its mothers milk without advice from a vet

[–] carotte@lemmy.blahaj.zone 15 points 4 weeks ago

yea, once the kitten is weaned, feeding becomes your responsibility and you shouldn’t overfeed it.

but when it’s the mother… honestly i don’t think it’s a health risk for the kitten for it to be a bit plump during the first few weeks of its life. i’m not a veterinarian tho, so if i’m wrong feel free to correct me

[–] RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world 14 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

No, I'm suggesting you can't read.

[–] RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world 13 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

...what pet, exactly? The post very clearly says "at work"?

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

Eh, I have a cat I can free feed and one that needs measurements (and is on a diet as is, fatty).

With dogs you're probably right but with cats, they do seem to decide (or at least not "decide" but are sorted into two camps naturally, if you reaaaaally have to be pedantic about it.)

[–] MentalEdge@sopuli.xyz 1 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

That's rare.

Being predators cats have a hunger drive that kicks in early to make them look for food before they're too weak to hunt. In nature, cats are usually always a little hungry. Hence, if the food is palatable, most cats will eat constantly and end up eating more than they need by at least some margin.

It's not an active decision by the animal, but rather the hunger drive, which can vary quite a lot between individuals.

This is complicated by the fact that cats are picky, to the point they can outright refuse to eat something they aren't used to, or just eat less of it.

My cat would never stop eating his favorite treat (freeze dried meats), the same cat eats a little too much kibble if I let him, and no wet food at all no matter how hungry he is. This kind of thing, you might argue is a decision.

[–] Slowy@lemmy.world 6 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s as much a decision as it is for many humans. There is some evidence that, for some actions, what we think of as choices may just be retroactive mental explanations for bodily urges which we are in the process of initiating before we get the conscious “idea” to do so.

But individual tendencies and habits formed earlier in life are definitely contributors as well. Both my cats free feed and are lean, but both were raised on scheduled individual feedings for years before I adopted them.

[–] Zkuld@lemmy.world 5 points 4 weeks ago

great username

[–] LordMayor@piefed.social 0 points 4 weeks ago

Maybe that’s a sign that the cat is not healthy.