How can I prevent one kitten from eating her sisters' food?

Question

I have two kittens, let's call them Little and Big. Both have been pronounced "slightly chubby" by the vet. I've put them on a twice-a-day feeding schedule and have been giving them less food, per the vet's recommendation. They eat Science Diet Kitten dry and Wellness Kitten wet. My problem is that Little always eats more food and in fact eats Big's food. This morning, for example, I put out two cans of Wellness wet in separate dishes. Big, who eats less in a setting, ate 1/3 and went away. Little proceeded to eat her entire bowl and then cleaned off Big's portion. I'm not sure how I can get them each to eat the appropriate amount of food, even if I separate their food stations and leave food out for a set amount of time. I'm worried that if I clear the bowls after a certain amount of time, Big won't end up eating enough. Help!

Regarding their current food: I've been advised to not switch their food until they have reached the one year mark (Little is 5 mos. Big is close to 7). After one year, I do plan to switch to Wellness or Innova dry. Basically the idea is "why switch if it's working," in other words, they like it and have no digestive problems. Thank you for the advice so far!

Answer 1

Get them off the dry food.

Science Diet is some of the worst crap on the market, and dry food isn't good for cats anyway.

Vet's don't get much on nutrition in medical school, and almost nothing about the unique nutritional needs of cats. The few who have studied up on feline nutrition would advise you to avoid dry food (and the ones that know how to read a pet food label wouldn't sell Science Diet!)

Read this and learn how to properly feed your kitties:

http://www.catinfo.org

If you're feeding them properly they won't overeat and one won't steal all the other one's food.

Answer 2

Mini, that is a problem for sure and I haven't a clue as to how to solve it. I have a new cat and he likes to eat a little here, a little there and a little later. I am used to feeding my cats twice a day and having them gobble it up and then not expect more till the next meal. So I have to adjust a little and the new cat has to adjust a little and that's the way life goes.

If your kittens seem to be gaining too much weight I would drop the Science Diet or any other food that is 2/3 corn. Read the labels on the bags. Corn is used to fatten slaughter animals and that is not your objective in feeding the kittens.

Look at Eagle Pack, Blue, Solid Gold, Natural Balance, Nature's Variety, Nature's Logic etc. You will see from the label that the first two ingredients in these foods is a high quality meat protein and the third will be a filler like brown rice, millet, pea etc. - grains that are much less fattening than corn. Wellness is a good canned food, Natural Balance has good canned too. Nature's Variety and Nature's Logic have good canned too. They are solid meat like the Wellness and not a lot of fillers like peas, carrots, etc. which my cats always leave on their plates after they have eaten all the meat.!

Answer 3

As far as them being on the 'slightly cubby' side, I'd say cut down on the wet food, or take it away completely. I don't prefer or reccomend feeding wet food to cats -or- dogs. What goes in wet, often comes out wet. Plus, it is bad for their teeth. Dry food helps keep their teeth clean, and is better for your pet and less fattening. Science Diet is a very good brand, BTW =)

As far as making sure Little doesn't eat Big's food - seperate them the best you can. Try putting one in your bathroom, and the other in the kitchen. Once Little's food is gone, take her bowl away. If Big only eats some of it, pick it up, and then offer it to her again in 30 minutes or an hour. Make sure Little is put away somewhere. Leave it down for a few minutes and if she doesn't eat it, then oh well. She'll soon learn that the food won't be down there forever, and to eat it while it's available.

Answer 4

Let Little eat first. After she's finished, put her somewhere where she can't interfere with Big's meal time. Then, let Big eat. Maybe it's the distraction of another cat near her. If Big doesn't eat all the food set out, hide it during Little's next meal, but set it out for Big. NEVER change the food, let Big know that unless she eats what is in front of her, she will get hungry. My dad does that with our dog; if he doesn't eat it all, he doesn't get more food. It stays there until it's all gone. Of course, if Big's food starts to go stale, change it! You don't want Big to get stomache problems as well. If you must, ask the vet for some sort of gravy or such that you can add to Big's diet, so long as it's low-fat. Maybe then the food will appeal to Big?
I hope this advice has been of use! Good luck with Little and Big! =3

Answer 5

I personally do not support iams because they test on animals and have been caught on hidden cameras treating these poor testing animals very cruelly. As for purina one it's alright for cats, there are more pricey cat foods out there as well that may have higher levels of proteins and other nutrients but if that is working well for your cats then keep on feeding it. We feed our cats whiskas dry meaty selections. It is not super pricey and our cats have the healthiest coats and teeth. We just got a spca cat who had horrible dry skin and was shedding badly and within a week of eating the whiskas we feed her dry skin is now 100% gone and her fur is super shiny so it's gotta be the food. Also not all vets agree on what is good and what is not so good so don't go strictly by her word on it. If it is working for your cats then keep it up.

Answer 6

Kittens are like kids. They pudge out and then they shoot up. I've never heard of a kitten being pronounced overweight before they are finished growing. These babies may be destined to be big cats. Just like people their appetite can vary. The smaller one may not be able to consume her ration at one time and the other may actually want more. Other than keeping them in separate area with their food bowls (that would be really sad for them), I don't know what your solution is.

I don't expect to get Best Answer here, so I'm just going to give you my best advice. I have a cat who is 20 and a cat who is 21. I have several in their teens. I have always kept dry food down and available at all times, for them to nibble at whenever they chose. I feed the canned food in the morning and again at bedtime. My cats are big cats, but none of them have been pronounced overweight. I really don't understand the sudden fascination society has with scales for humans or animals. for the record, I'm quite thin and I eat like a horse. Different people and different animals have different metabolisms and some just require more food.

Answer 7

When Big is done the 1/3, pick the dish up & put it somewhere where Little can't get to it (top of the fridge). Then put it back down in front of Big when she's on her own.

Answer 8

Keep them seperated when feeding!
Good luck with let's say, "Llittle and Big"!