I have an 8 month old kitten and a 2 year old cat, they get along great and love eachother. But when I feed them, the 8 month old will push the other out of the way and wont let her eat. It doesnt matter when the other one goes to eat, or if i put seperate dishes out. Whenever the 2 yr old goes by the food dish, the little one runs in front of her and will put her head in the dish. I don't know how to stop it I have tried a number of things (squirt gun, loud noises, seperate dishes) I am wondering why she does this and how I can get her to stop, my older cat is losing weight! Thanks!
2006-12-03 15:03:44 · 18 answers · asked by valleygirl1828 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
This might sound really dumb, but I don't see the answer in your question. An eight month old cat needs more food than a two year old cat. Also, the eight month old cat should be being fed a kitten type of food, with extra proteins, fats and vitamins. Kittens who are fed regular cat food require quite a bit more because they are still growing. In order to make up for what their body needs, they will eat a lot more of the regular cat food, than a cat two or three times its size that is already an adult. Your kitten could just plain be hungry. It has nothing to do with the amount, and everything to do with an adequate amount of nutrition.
Kittens who are still growing need a lot more of everything than a cat that is full grown. You may be confusing the difference in size with the nutritional needs. The older cat doesn't need as much food as a kitten.
I am not going to start recommending brands of food, but get yourself a kitten kind of food for the little one. Feed it according to directions. The kitten should be getting both canned and dry food. The dry food should be available at all times and the wet food fed two to three times a day.
Ask your vet and he will tell you. It is just like growing kids. They can empty a refridgerator really fast and that is because they are growing and need the food.
Hope this helped you sort things out.
2006-12-03 16:54:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Definitely try separating them in different rooms for feeding in this case. Also, DO NOT do like "lovemycats0" suggested 7 years ago and leave food out all the time for your cat. Just follow the feeding instructions on the food you buy. Some cats can regulate and graze correctly if food is left out but most will just gorge themselves and become obese. Do you really want your cat to be a fat *** and unhealthy because you didn't follow the feeding guidelines on the food? It's simple.
2014-01-27 07:50:48 · answer #2 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure about cats, but I know in dogs it a dominance issue. Usually the head of the pack eats first and those lower on the scale eat last. Maybe the little kitty is testing its hierarchy.
Get her to stop by making sure the older one eats first. Is there a higher spot that the kitten can't reach that the older one can? Make sure the kitten can see that so she knows she has to wait for her meal.
2006-12-03 23:18:22 · answer #3 · answered by moobiemuffin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here are a few ideas for you:
Try leaving out lots of food in both, or even three, dishes
Try putting your younger cat in the bathroom or holding her and letting your older cat eat first
Try putting your older cat in the bathroom or another closed room so she can eat in peace.
I don't know why the younger one does this either, it may be some kind of dominance issue, which is why I suggested holding the younger while the older eats-of course the main thing is just to make sure the older one gets enough food.
best wishes,
cryllie
2006-12-03 23:11:21 · answer #4 · answered by cryllie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Feed them in separate rooms. At the very least, see to it that you feed the older cat BY HIMSELF in one room without the kitten being there. Close the door to ensure that the kitten does not come in. This way you'll be certain that the older cat is eating his share.
2006-12-04 06:48:03 · answer #5 · answered by Phoebhart 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT THEM IN DIFFERENT ROOMS TO EAT FOR A WHILE . IF IT WAS THE OLDER ONE DOING THIS I WOULD HAVE SAID THAT THE OLDER CAT WAS JELOUSE . BUT YOU SAID THE LITTLE ONE WAS DOING THIS SO WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE THE LITTLE ONE SEES THE OTHER CAT EATING AND WHEN THEY ARE VERY LITTLE AND BEING WITH THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ,THEY HAVE A THING ABOUT GETTING TO EAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PUSH ALL THE OTHER CATS TO GET FOOD SO THIS LITTLE ONE IS GOING THROUGH THIS . I HAVE HAD CATS AND KITTENS WHERE THERE IS A RUNT AND EVEN THE MOTHER WILL PUSH THIS ONE AWAY AND NOT LET THE RUNT EAT . I HAD TO WATCH AND MAKE THE OTHERS ONES MOVE OVER SO THE RUNT COULD EAT , MAYBE THIS ONE WAS A RUNT AND USE TO PUSHING TO EAT , BUT PUT YOUR TWO YEAR OLD IN A SPOT BY ITS SELF UNTILL THE LITTLE ONE GETS USE TO IT AND THE TWO YEAR OLD HAS TO EAT ALSO
2006-12-03 23:25:18 · answer #6 · answered by janice a 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
put a seperate secret bowl in another room, when the 2 year old is eating, shut the door so the other one cant get in.
2006-12-03 23:13:34 · answer #7 · answered by keran_guy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Feed the older one in a separate room, with the door shut. While you do that cuddle the kitten and give it lots of attention.
2006-12-03 23:12:25 · answer #8 · answered by eilishaa 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Separate them and give them food alot of it. Put one dish with water in the kitchen....let that cat eat....and one outside with water and let that cat eat! problem solved!
2006-12-03 23:12:37 · answer #9 · answered by Rachel T. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the same thing happened to a friend of mine, she put them in seperate rooms when she fed them, then slowly started to increase the amout of meals she fed them together. for like 3 weeks she did all the meals apart. then for a week she did one meal and then the next week she did two meals, etc. try it... it worked for her.
good luck, i love cats....
and if she losing ALOT of weight it might be a kidney infection... you should take her to the vet if she gets super skinny.
2006-12-03 23:07:45 · answer #10 · answered by clair j 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋