How to get one to eat more, and the other to eat less?

Draco

NOT Malfoy!
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2011
Messages
8,721
Purraise
2,780
Location
LawnGuyLand, NY
Hi all,

Monet has finally lost all the weight he needed, he's a perfect 13 lbs cat according to the vet.. nice and lean (as he was 15.5 lbs earlier)..this is mainly because Cassie would eat all the dry food before he would. I want to make sure he does not lose any more and start maintaining his weight.

Now Cassie could loose a few lbs (she's 11.5 lbs, vet said she's at her very max and should lose 2 lbs or so). 

Right now, they each get half a can of Soulistic or Trader Joe's in the morning.. vet recommended 1/4 cup of dry (I feed Buffalo Blue Wilderness mixed with Kirkland from Costco) for Cassie's weight loss, so they get that after they eat their wet. And in the evenings, they get half can each of Soulisic or Trader Joes.

I'd love to get Monet to eat more dry to maintain his weight. But here's the trouble.. Cassie eats them all before Monet gets in the mood to eat them. Monet won't eat them as soon as I put it down, he'd take his time and eats it when he wants to. But he never gets a nibble because of Cassie. I used to give them a cup between them, separate bowls, and Monet would get in a few bites, but Cassie would eat 95% of it, causing her weight gain.

I don't want to put more than 1/4 cup down because I don't want Cassie to eat any more than that. She LOVES her dry and always begs for them.

I thought about separating them so Monet could eat, but I really don't want to do that to them. it's unfair and I don't want them to think separating is punishment. Plus, Monet might not eat the food after several hours anyways.

I thought about giving up dry food entirely, but Cassie's 10 months and still could use the nutrition.. and I want Monet to eat a little more.

I've been feeding morsels of raw chicken to Monet every other day as treats.. Cassie doesn't know what to do with them, so one less food for her.

Does anyone have any suggestions?
 
Last edited:

ducman69

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 18, 2010
Messages
3,232
Purraise
47
Location
Texas
This has come up before, and I believe the only way to separate cats automatically without physically locking them in different rooms was to use an electronic pet door with a "smart-collar". 

These have small chips on them that are coded to open a cat door, but not open if the animal is not wearing the smart-collar.  This way you train them to use their appropriate spot to get food, while ensuring that the other cat does not have access (great if a particular cat needs access to prescription food too). 

If there were huge differences in physical size, then the low-tech solution of a small opening would keep the big cat out (works for keeping senior cats away from kitten food).   Not going to work in your case though. 
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

Draco

NOT Malfoy!
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2011
Messages
8,721
Purraise
2,780
Location
LawnGuyLand, NY
This has come up before, and I believe the only way to separate cats automatically without physically locking them in different rooms was to use an electronic pet door with a "smart-collar". 

These have small chips on them that are coded to open a cat door, but not open if the animal is not wearing the smart-collar.  This way you train them to use their appropriate spot to get food, while ensuring that the other cat does not have access (great if a particular cat needs access to prescription food too). 

If there were huge differences in physical size, then the low-tech solution of a small opening would keep the big cat out (works for keeping senior cats away from kitten food).   Not going to work in your case though. 
No, I don't think my apartment managers would appreciate me cutting holes in their doors, lol. good suggestion though
 

ducman69

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 18, 2010
Messages
3,232
Purraise
47
Location
Texas
The big problem I think is expense.   As you could mount the pet door into any kind of barrier, even an oversized plastic box or a tall baby/doggy gate.    Last I checked I think the cheapest electronic doors were like $50 a pop.   Chaching!!!

But speaking of baby gates, with certainty my cats can't get over it, but I can pick em up and lift em over it and they can still see out.   So perhaps that would be a simpler option for you, even if it is still hands on.  

I paid $80 for this one (just linking to Amazon to show what it is):
But with certainty I can say a 42" tall gate is tall enough, as long as the top ledge is too narrow that they would be comfortable jumping on it, and then down to the other side, which it is on that one. 
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

Draco

NOT Malfoy!
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2011
Messages
8,721
Purraise
2,780
Location
LawnGuyLand, NY
I don't think I want to use baby gates. for both expense and the inconvience it would be for me, lol. my apartment is really small, so getting another box to host food would make me crazy!!
 

xocats

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Mar 26, 2005
Messages
20,608
Purraise
16
Cats are the most tenacious creatures on the planet.
I have searched for a solution to this dilemma forever.
If you find a way to do this without having to feed them in separate rooms....
you would become my hero. :worship: :lol3:

Congratulations on achieving a weight loss with at least one of your sweetie pies. :clap:
 

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
16,390
Purraise
7,127
Location
Arizona
Cats are the most tenacious creatures on the planet.
I have searched for a solution to this dilemma forever.
If you find a way to do this without having to feed them in separate rooms....
you would become my hero.


Congratulations on achieving a weight loss with at least one of your sweetie pies.
  I'm dealing with the same problem.  One "skin and bones" and one "porker".  I tried using a doorjam to wedge a closet door open just enough for the skinny guy to get inside, and put his kibble in there, but sure enough, the porker was able to push the door open further
  It was hysterical to watch him maneuver his way in!!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #8

Draco

NOT Malfoy!
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2011
Messages
8,721
Purraise
2,780
Location
LawnGuyLand, NY
  I'm dealing with the same problem.  One "skin and bones" and one "porker".  I tried using a doorjam to wedge a closet door open just enough for the skinny guy to get inside, and put his kibble in there, but sure enough, the porker was able to push the door open further
  It was hysterical to watch him maneuver his way in!!

lol. thats a great idea too! It wouldn't work with mine since Monet is a bigger cat, and Cassie is smaller, but fatter.. lol
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

Draco

NOT Malfoy!
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2011
Messages
8,721
Purraise
2,780
Location
LawnGuyLand, NY
I think I figured out a solution that worked (for tonight at least.. lol)

Since Monet refused his wet food (as usual), I placed a handful of dry in front of him. He eagerly ate. Of course, Cassie wants dry.. so I fed her one or two kibbles at a time and played little games with her until Monet ate his full

then I decided when its dry food feeding time, it's up to Monet, and they each get 1/4 dry each. I will keep Cassie entertained and give little bits to her at a time until Monet is done.

I can't recall the last time Monet actually ate dry, at least enough to sustain him, lol
 
Last edited:

feralvr

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
18,474
Purraise
689
Location
Northwest Indiana
:yeah:   I'm dealing with the same problem.  One "skin and bones" and one "porker".  I tried using a doorjam to wedge a closet door open just enough for the skinny guy to get inside, and put his kibble in there, but sure enough, the porker was able to push the door open further :lol3:   It was hysterical to watch him maneuver his way in!!
:lol3: Sally - that is hysterical !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All of my cat's are in pretty good weight and eat up there meals. If I feel someone needs extra calories - I will just try to give that kitty an extra meal during the day - when the other's are sleeping :lol3:... usually doesn't work. OR I will offer that skinny cat a more calorie densed packed food like EVO wet or NOW wet. and offer them an ounce more than the other's get. BUT it is really tricky when you have a skinny kitty and a fat kitty.... not easy to manage feeding's. Much luck with Monet and Cassie - sound's like you have a good plan :D
 
Last edited:

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
16,390
Purraise
7,127
Location
Arizona
I think I figured out a solution that worked (for tonight at least.. lol)

Since Monet refused his wet food (as usual), I placed a handful of dry in front of him. He eagerly ate. Of course, Cassie wants dry.. so I fed her one or two kibbles at a time and played little games with her until Monet ate his full

then I decided when its dry food feeding time, it's up to Monet, and they each get 1/4 dry each. I will keep Cassie entertained and give little bits to her at a time until Monet is done.

I can't recall the last time Monet actually ate dry, at least enough to sustain him, lol
Great idea.  For our porker (Darko, BTW) at treat time, I always throw his treats the farthest away so he has to really run and jump for them.  Plus Stinkpot tries to outrun him, so he REALLY his to hustle if he wants any
  This way, he gets his exercise and has fun too. 

As far as Cassie goes, I was thinking last night as I was setting out the food here....since she's smaller, yet fatter...can she jump as high as Monet?  If not, you could put his food up high somewhere she can't reach (top of the fridge?).  I know here Stinkpot can jump onto the shelf above the hangers in the closet, but Sir Porker cannot! (actually, none of the others can )
 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #12

Draco

NOT Malfoy!
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2011
Messages
8,721
Purraise
2,780
Location
LawnGuyLand, NY
Great idea.  For our porker (Darko, BTW) at treat time, I always throw his treats the farthest away so he has to really run and jump for them.  Plus Stinkpot tries to outrun him, so he REALLY his to hustle if he wants any
  This way, he gets his exercise and has fun too. 

As far as Cassie goes, I was thinking last night as I was setting out the food here....since she's smaller, yet fatter...can she jump as high as Monet?  If not, you could put his food up high somewhere she can't reach (top of the fridge?).  I know here Stinkpot can jump onto the shelf above the hangers in the closet, but Sir Porker cannot! (actually, none of the others can )
 
If Cassie wants her food, she WILL jump high. She has jumped on top of the cabinets in the kitchen because Monet used to store his treats there, lol
 

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
16,390
Purraise
7,127
Location
Arizona
She's probably getting on top of the cabinets by first jumping on the counters.  Is there any place (like the top of a bookcase, say) that she could not get to without assistance that Monet can reach?  Just a thought, although it appears you have already solved the problem, as long as you are home.
 
Top