Could this harm the cats?

My skinniest cat is getting skinnier thanks to the other cats eating his portion of food. He's a grazer, but if I leave his food sitting out, it will be long gone by the time he decides to have more.

I'm thinking maybe I could get a cardboard box and cut a hole just big enough for him to fit through, but too small for the fatties, and put his food in there. I worry, though, that the fat ones would get stuck or otherwise hurt trying to get through. So, what do you smart people think? Bad idea?

I think you need to get your skinny kitty used to being fed elsewhere. Put him in a room on his own when you put out their meals, and leave him on his own for an hour or so. That way you can be sure he's getting time to eat as much as he wants and at his own pace. Maybe serve some yummy tinned food at the same time - something he wants to eat immediately.

You'll find if you make a cardboard box with a small hole, the fatties will still find a way in

Unfortunately, the cats are already restricted to one room (when I get around to cleaning it will be one room and a hallway. Not fair to them at all, but it's stuck that way for now).

The skinny kitty is also a nervous wreck and will panic and not eat if left by himself in the bathroom.

One alternative I can think of: I know of a dry food he likes and the others don't. But with time, the fatties might start eating it too and decide they like it.

Can you remove the other cats at feeding time?

You will eventually have to do some moving around of cats if this little guy is to get enough food.

it wont harm the cats, but youll need to weigh down the box by leaving the flaps out flat on the floor with books or the like on them. lots of people use boxes to prevent other cats or dogs from getting into food. the sturdier the box, the better.

By any chance, can the skinny cat jump higher or into a spot the bigger cats can't?

Go to scheduled feedings and "protect" the skinny one while eating to keep the others out. You've got to train the others that it's not okay to eat the skinny one's food. Promptly pick up the food when finished eating. If you're home and your skinny one asks for food, put it down for him and stand there while he eats to keep the others out. When he's finished, put it up and out of their reach. (I have one that's a grazer and one that will inhale anything anywhere!)

Also, you might want to try a Feliway plug in to help your skinny one not be so stressed.

Originally Posted by stephanietx

You've got to train the others that it's not okay to eat the skinny one's food.

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Good luck on that. You cannot train a cat not to eat cat food - it's all the same to them and unless the other cat eating growls/hisses/smacks/threatens death to protect their food no other cat will stay away. Even that doesn't deter some..


I'm having the same issue with my kittens' food. They're too young still to only be fed when the adult cats are - they get hungry much sooner. Locking feral born skittish kittens in a bathroom will not make them eat.. Neither will adult cats clawing at the door to get in.
I was going to try getting a large pvc elbow to go on a large box for them today, but with DH's grandfather being admitted for a suspected stroke any plans for today were shot.

If you use a box start off with the smallest hole you can. Even cats that look like their butts should keep them out can find a way to cram themselves through a hole that looks too small. There's also the cats that will chew at the box to make any hole larger.


With an adult cat you should be able to do 3 meals a day and sit in on them. Give skinny cat a slightly larger portion - though this is easier with wet since many cats scarf dry down quickly.

So there is no chance that the fat cats could get stuck/choked/seriously hurt trying to get through a small hole in a box??? The whole point of this is to be able to leave the food unsupervised....if I have to watch to make sure nobody gets hurt, it defeats the purpose.

Originally Posted by darlili

By any chance, can the skinny cat jump higher or into a spot the bigger cats can't?

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Yes, but the others would definitely harm themselves trying to get to it!

Originally Posted by stephanietx

Go to scheduled feedings and "protect" the skinny one while eating to keep the others out.

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Originally Posted by strange_wings

With an adult cat you should be able to do 3 meals a day and sit in on them. Give skinny cat a slightly larger portion

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This is what I do, and it is a royal pain (there's also an issue with the RX food cat wanting the regular food and the regular food cats wanting the RX food. I leave the room for a minute and when I get back everyone has switched dishes). I just don't have the time to sit there until skinny kitty finishes....he grazes a little at a time.

a permanent solution is to put a cat flap that requires a "collar key" in the door to a closet, room or even a storage cabinet, with your skinny cat having the only key. if a door isnt an option, put the flap in the side of a wooden crate - you could use a wooden toy box with a hinged lid to make it easy to put the food in. if your skinny cat cant or wont wear a collar, there are cat flaps available that can be programmed to work only with a microchip. http://www.pet-porte.co.uk/

We have successfully trained our younger, greedy cat to NOT eat our other cat's food, so it can be done. It takes lots of patience, dilligence, and consistency. Now instead of immediately going for the other cat's food, she sits and watches her finish eating and waits, or she walks away. We still try not to leave it out, though, just to avoid the temptation.

Originally Posted by stephanietx

We have successfully trained our younger, greedy cat to NOT eat our other cat's food, so it can be done. It takes lots of patience, dilligence, and consistency. Now instead of immediately going for the other cat's food, she sits and watches her finish eating and waits, or she walks away. We still try not to leave it out, though, just to avoid the temptation.

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Oh, mine will behave themselves if I'm watching (most cats will) but the second my back is turned they're into stuff - whether it be another cat's food or mine. All of mine came from stray or questionable backgrounds, probably having to go hungry a lot. To top it off, if one cat thinks he's excluded or gets too hungry he attacks/bullies the other cats.


The suggestion of the keyed entry may work. I hope the OPs other cats are not like mine - I know Tomas would be smart enough to wait and squeeze in with another cat. Just try getting through any door in this house without him squeezing in while you're in mid-step.