This week’s question is from Catster reader Barbara. Barbara writes:
Hello, Sarah! I have three adult cats and just adopted an eight-week-old kitten. My cats used to have their dry food sitting out all day, and now that we added a kitten they are eating each other’s food. The kitten is eating the adult food and the adults are eating the kitten food. What are your suggestions?
Being a foster mom, I totally sympathize with this question. Feeding time is a frenzy with multiple cats, and it’s easy to just fill a giant bowl and let them have at it! For a good portion of the year, I have kittens who need to be fed their awesome wet meats and cats who need to be fed their nonfat, biodynamic, cage-free, naturally-fallen-from-the-vine kibbles.
Also, if the bowl ever goes empty, my adult cat Rory will binge and purge (repeatedly) when I refill it. There is plenty to be said about what feeding habits are best, and I think you should tailor your cat’s dietary needs with your budget. I am an artist and all about the low-cost solution!
Aside from the suggestions in the song, you might also try elevating adult food to a table or counter that the kittens cannot reach. Perhaps feed the kittens in the bathtub. I like to do that if they are very small and haven’t learned to keep their paws out of the wet meats. Instead of cleaning the floor, I just take a shower!
This Week’s Lyrics:
Segregate the KittiesBy Sarah Donner
If you have a kitten who wants to eat foodYou’ve got a grown cat who wants it tooTry feeding them inside separate rooms
Put kitten kibble inside a crateOpen the door, only halfwayJust big enough so kitten can fitYou might need to jury-rig it
Separate the dishes, you could elevate the foodFor your overweight kitty, that’s what I would doIt’s hard to be consistent and to separateBut to keep your kitties healthyYou’ve got to segregate
It’s hard to say no to the ones that we loveEspecially the ones who are covered in fuzzBut fen-phen and Slimfast are not options
Wet food or dry food, talk to your vet(That’s another song, so I won’t get into it)Controlled portions are your best bet
Separate the dishes, you could elevate the foodFor your overweight kitty, that’s what I would doIt’s hard to be consistent and to separateBut to keep your kitties healthyYou’ve got to segregate
Sources: I went commando on this one.
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