Feeding a Rescue Cat from a Hoarding Situation

A ten-year-old rescue from a hoarding situation who's underweight and food-aggressive — that's a cat with a complicated history around food, and getting the nutrition right matters a lot here. Cats are obligate carnivores, and a senior who's been underfed likely has depleted muscle mass and may have early kidney stress from chronic dehydration. Wet food is non-negotiable in this case. Before I point you toward anything specific: is your tabby male or female, and has a vet checked them over since you got them? Any bloodwork flagging kidney values, anaemia, or anything else I should know about?

That vomiting from eating too fast is really common in cats from food-insecure backgrounds — her brain is still running survival mode even though the threat is gone. The low red blood cells are worth keeping an eye on; iron and taurine from quality animal protein will help there. What are you currently feeding her, and how many times a day?

Felix is doing the bare minimum — it's high in cereals and gelling agents, low in actual meat, and the calorie density isn't where you need it for a cat trying to regain weight. For a senior rescue in her situation, you want something calorie-dense, high in real animal protein, and with as few fillers as possible. I'd switch her to Animonda Carny Adult — it's typically around 70–75% meat content with no grain, significantly more protein and fat than Felix, and it comes in small cans which makes portion control easier. For the gulping, use a flat wide plate rather than a bowl and scatter the food in a thin layer — it physically slows them down better than puzzle feeders for cats who are still anxious around food.

Yes, three to four smaller meals a day is actually better for her on multiple fronts — it helps with the vomiting, keeps her blood sugar stable, and reduces the intensity of each feeding so she may start to relax around food over time. With Animonda Carny at around 85 kcal per 100g, you can target roughly 250–300 kcal a day total while she's rebuilding, then reassess with your vet in six to eight weeks. Keep the portions small and spread them out rather than giving two big meals.

Given the slightly low red blood cells, a small amount of plain cooked chicken liver once or twice a week is a good natural source of iron and B vitamins — don't overdo it as too much liver causes vitamin A toxicity, but a teaspoon-sized portion is fine. Beyond that, if her kidney values stay stable at the next check, no supplements are needed if you're feeding quality wet food. If the anaemia doesn't resolve in a couple of months, your vet may suggest a B12 supplement — but hold off on that until you have the next bloodwork. The food upgrade alone will make the biggest difference right now.