Our vet just put my cats on low-calorie food and a diet. I have to split a cup of food between them. They have always eaten together. I feed them once a day. Is it better to keep doing that, knowing the bigger and more "piggy" cat will eat most of the food (as he's always done)?
Or should I break it up to twice a day? Does it make a difference. I guess I'd like suggestions on how to feed the cats and get them to lose weight without separating them, ensuring the one cat doesn't hog it all.
2007-02-26 13:32:26 · 30 answers · asked by in_my_opinion 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
Ah, the eternal problem of The Pig and The Nibbler!
Feeding at least twice per day is bettter, and if you're able, breaking it up into even more meals is even better than that.
I was in the same situation. I fed both girls kibble, and ended up jumping through incredible hoops to ensure Sophie got enough food and that Poppy didn't scarf it all down. At one point, Sophie was eating in the bathtub - but that's another story.
I have a better plan for you - the same one that is working for me. Switch them to a good quality canned food.
Trying to control portions of dry food is painful, as you know. And the bad news is that low calorie kibble is even HIGHER in carbs than the regular stuff. So in effect, you're making the situation worse.
Surprisingly, many vets are not at all well versed in cat nutrition. Hard to believe, but true.
If you switch to a good quality, grainless (or nearly) canned food diet, you can feed them both reasonable quantities and not have to worry about your little hog.
Like I said, this is what I'm doing, and I can now feed them side by side and not have to worry about Sophie not getting enough. AND Poppy is losing weight.
Below are links to several articles on cat nutrition, and on obesity in cats. Enjoy!
2007-02-27 00:59:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, I will probably get thumbs downs on this, but, all my animals can eat all day if they want. I have Dry Dog food and Cat food out all the time with fresh water. Then a few times a day, they get some good can food or table scraps. What happens they stop at the dry food and get a few crunchies and munch (Similar to people, just not a candy bar). They actually not eat as much and stay trim and active. Only go to the vet once a year for shots and checkup. I could give the shots, but, my Vet not expensive and he give them a good look over, always with approval. Says they looking good and he hope he not see me until next year. :-p
I will add that the first answer may be your Best Answer, many times when animals are raised only getting food 1-2 times a day they can become Gluttons as they know they not eat again until the next feed time. I start mine from a pup and kitten as I mentioned, so, they know they not have to fight or pig down as the food is always there.
2007-02-26 13:46:20 · answer #2 · answered by Snaglefritz 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had a cat named Piggysue because she ate like a pig. It didn't matter what you put down she scarfed it up. I don't know what kind of food your vet has your cats on but we where told to buy Royal Canine for Cats. The bags come in different packages for Indoor Cat, Outside Cat, Over Weight, Hairball etc. We got the one for Overweight & Hairball & mixed them together. Piggysue weighted 18lbs when we put her on this diet and with in a month she had lost 2lbs.
She was so pretty. Her coat went from a dull color to a shiney lustery look. She also had a lot of dander an this took it away. Something to think about. If you want to feed the other cat 1st, lock Piggy in a room and give the other cat at head start. Then let your little Piggy out to join in the meal
2007-02-26 14:04:04 · answer #3 · answered by unstablegramy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I find that giving 4 small meals daily helps overweight cats better than 1 or 2 times daily. This way, both cats can eat their own portion and none will be leftover for the other to pig out on. Feeding them frequently can help keep their blood sugar on level, and prevent gorging one big meal a day, which can often result in vomiting.
2007-02-26 14:36:40 · answer #4 · answered by Kimmie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suggest you feed them seperatley, in 2 different bowls. I would go with three times a day. I feed my cats 1/4 cup in the morning, 1/4 cup in the afternoon, and 1/4 cup at night. I don't leave all the food out because if I do Oreo will eat all of it and Mystique won't get any. This has been working really well for me and my bigger one is losing weight.
2007-02-26 14:00:21 · answer #5 · answered by Sabrina 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to feed them at least twice a day. Our pets are very much like humans. If you only eat once a day, your metabolism slows day because it knows that the calories you take in will have to last the whole day....thus you don't burn the calories and gain weight.
Your cats may very well be overweigt because of their eating pattern and not necessarily the food.
If you feed two or three times of day, their metabolism will stay active throughout the day burning the calories they take in and helping them to lose weight.
I hope this makes sense...I think it will really help.
2007-02-27 03:39:30 · answer #6 · answered by PAWS 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have an overweight (24 lbs.) Siamese cat (JuJu) and other normal weight cats. I asked the vet just the other week what to do about his eating habits and still be able to manage the other cats eating. Feeding reduced fat diet cat food failed as JuJu doesn't like it and will not eat. It was suggested to have a box built with an access lid to put food in and a hole large enough for the other cats to enter but not my Siamese. Allow them to continue eating as they want but this will allow me to monitor my Siamese cat's intake. My cats do not like the idea of a box so I am going to try to modify a "Rubbermaid" clear container in the same manner. I am hoping they will accept a box they can see through and otherwise allow me to limit the intake of my Siamese. Whether you feed once or twice a day this should work. I typically feed my cats morning and evening. Good luck with your cat(s). Gotta love them!
2007-02-26 15:14:38 · answer #7 · answered by Siamie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He needs to get the big E... that's right, exercise! Get an interactive toy, like a feather wand, and get him to play at least half an hour a day. Cut the morning meal down to 1/3 cup for awhile, and don't give him any treats, no matter how much he begs! There are also cat foods specifically for weight loss. Good luck!
2016-03-29 02:19:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Feed them separately, twice a day. Once a day is ok, if the food is there all day to pick at, but few animals are happy to eat once a day. This is especially true of domestic animals. If you want them to be skinnier, twice - three times a day. The calories will be used more evenly through out the day.
2007-02-26 14:10:16 · answer #9 · answered by Noota Oolah 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you feed your cats put them in different rooms when you feed them and try to continue feeding them once a day if they continue to gain weight take them back to the vet and ask if they could give them somthing new
2007-02-26 13:57:39 · answer #10 · answered by attentjo8 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋