One cat on a diet...sort of

I have two female cats about 6 years old, Pansy and Tulip. Tulip is a chubby cat so the vet put her on a diet. It's working great, she's slowly but steadily losing weight. I have automatic feeders for each of them and I think that's helped alot. The feeders have a spot for ice packs underneath which I change twice a day to keep the wet food cool.

The problem I'm having is that Tulip is now eating out of Pansy's feeder. Pansy likes to graze on her food and will only eat dry food. Tulip gets a mixture of wet and dry so there's no chance Pansy will eat her food. Tulip scarfs down her food as soon as it's available to her (then she whines for more). I have Pansy's food up high and it used to work great because Tulip was too chubby to jump up and eat Pansy's food

However, since my boyfriend and I moved into our new house, Tulip has been running up and down the stairs and becoming more fit...which is great...except that now she can jump on the table and eat Pansy's food. And she does, I've caught her a few times

So this makes it difficult to keep Tulip on a diet and I also wonder if Pansy is getting any food. Should I worry about this or just assume that Pansy will learn that if she wants her food, she's going to have to eat it as soon as it's available?

Thanks!

You may have to start schedule feeding to prevent Tulip from eating Pansy's food.

I like their names. I had a black tortie named Pansy as a girl.

That is great you are seeing a difference in Tulip but not so great if she is going to pack it back on by eating Pansy's food. I agree with otto on the schedule. That can help keep Tulip from eating Pansy's food if Pansy's eats it all first. Smaller more frequent meals and putting Pansy's food on the opposite side of the house from Tulips so it can take Tulip longer to get to it after she eats hers.

I hope you get it all figured out. Sounds like Tulip is a spunky girl.

Thanks for the advice. I'm not sure how scheduled feedings will work since Pansy won't just sit and eat all her food at once, she's more of a grazer. I'm also gone at work from 7-5:30 everyday so that's why I got the automatic feeders in the first place. I'll give it a try though.

I think I'll also try moving the big tupperware container from under the table. I had it there so Pansy could jump on the table...apparently that's what's helping Tulip get up there though I think Pansy's a better jumper so maybe she can get up to her food with out it.

Thanks again!!