My 6-m old kitten eats all of his food (we give him LOTS) and won't let big sis cat (6-yr) eat- help!?

Question

He also prefers the adult weight loss/hairball care chow to his own kitten chow (both Iams brand). He won't let his big sis eat, and she's such a submissive cat that she just lets him. Part of prob might be he has claws and she doesn't (she came to us that way). He doesn't seem to be using his claws to make her vacate the food bowls, and I've got the bowls at opposite ends of the room. Other than separation can I do anything? They usually get along fine and play-wrestle and sleep together and groom one another, it's just this food thing!

Answer 1

Put them in separate rooms while you feed them

Answer 2

The food has instinctively become a territorial issue. Your adult is not accustomed to fighting over food because there was no competition in the home until now. This could eventually turn into resentment, marking in the house, etc...and should be handled before a new behavioral problem arises in the home. I would purposely let my young cat play outside and then feed the adults. I would suggest that you feed them in seperate rooms where the adult cat can relax and the younger cat can no longer use food as a means of territory and competition.

I would also plead with you to read the labels on your dry food to ensure there is no by-product of any kind in the food.

Answer 3

Honestly, I think you'll have to separate them, at least for the time being. I've got three cats and the two youngest tend to do the same thing. We've learned to put the two youngest in the utility room (where their bowls are) and then feed the oldest out in the kitchen.

Also, try to feed the kitten first, then the oldest. That's seemed to work with ours.

Answer 4

Is the male actually stealing the female's food or just preventing her from eating it? If he's preventing her from eating, feed them separately and I think your female will eat when she gets hungry enough. She won't starve. If he's stealing it, he needs to be reeducated. Pick him up and firmly say "no" right in his face, then firmly put him on the floor. You could also try a squirt bottle. Check with the vet first, but probably at 6 months he's old enough to be on adult food and if they're both eating the same thing, that may solve the problem. Good luck to you.

Answer 5

Well you dont want to give him lots of food, in the end it might create health prob. I say hes old enough to give him adult food. I had to do that with my kitten cause he would eat the adult food, while my adult cat would eat the kitten food. I think I switched out when my kitten was around 4-5 months old. Try putting food in his bowl first, give him water and everything. Then put food in her bowl and give her water. If you use adult food on him, then he wont need to eat hers.

Answer 6

If sis is hungry the little guy won't be a problem....food is a strong motivater. She will grab him by the neck and there will be a fight and that will be that. Separation is the only thing, to ease your fears. I have the same with small dogs and there is no reason for it, the smaller one growls and the bigger one backs away and grabs snacks here and there.

Answer 7

Put one in another room to eat at meals until he matures. He doesnt have to eat kitten chow. If he wants adult cat food, let him.

Answer 8

We have this problem too - one vacuum kitty and another that takes ages to eat. We trained the slow eater to get his cat food on top of the desk and we feed the other cat underneath it - don't let him eat from on top.

Answer 9

Seperation is the easiest..... I had a similar problem, Everytime I saw the one do it to the other I would move it away or hold it for a little bit. I just kept getting in the way, finally it stopped. Patience.

Answer 10

Feed them both the same food, preferrably the kitten food b/c he needs the extra nutrition. If he feels like she isn't getting something better then him, then he may back off