How to get one of two cats to lose weight?

I have two male indoor cats and they're not cooperating with my weight loss strategies for them thus far. The younger one (Prowl, 3 years old, 33'' from nose to tip of tail, built like a tiger, destructive, chews on things, breaks things accidentally, wouldn't hurt a fly) is only slightly overweight while the older one (Sylvester, 6 years old, 26, championship napper, complete bully, good health, too fat to groom certain areas, knocks stuff off tables if he's grumpy) is definitely obese. I started to limit their food, but I'll admit I have no idea what I'm doing. Their food (generic grocery brand, right now I'm too poor for the good stuff) says to give around 3/4 cup - 1 cup each to cats that are 12+ lbs, so I've been giving them a little less than 1.5 cups between them, hoping for a slow but steady weight loss. Neither will eat wet food or meat so switching away from dry food isn't really an option. I've bought every toy imaginable but Sylvester ignores them and Prowler will play with it until it breaks.
Anyways, after nearly two months, Prowler is down half a pound and Sylvester is up a pound. Syl is fiercely guarding the food and if I try to separate them and feed them at "meal times" Prowl panics since he's separated from Sylvester and Sylvester will gulp the food down as fast as he can and throw it up later. I can't feed them even ten feet apart since Syl will just follow Prowl between the bowls and keep him from eating. He's not violent, Prowl is just a wimp.

I don't know what to do. Syl is very unhealthy right now and the vet has checked to make sure its not caused by a disease. He needs to lose 5+ lbs before he gets sick, but I'm afraid to limit the food too much for Prowl's sake. Prowl only needs to lose a pound or so to be healthy. Prowl had urinary problems a year or two ago, but he's fine on any food for now. I think it was due to stress at that time. 

Does anyone have any tips on how to deal with obese alpha cats? Or on a cheap food that helps with weight loss? I know I can put a little food in a Kong wobbler and Prowl will be the only one with access, but unless I keep it stocked 24-7 he will literally keep knocking it over when its empty until it breaks. He's broken three thus far. 

I don't have any advice, just chiming in to sympathize with what you're going through since I'm in a similar position.  My Swanie, who is a large cat just in general, needs to lose weight (he is 25 pounds last I weighed) and Cindy who is going through Chemo and under 7 pounds needs to gain weight.

I think wet food is better than dry for losing.  I've also heard the better brands of dry they eat less of than the cheap dry, so the cost difference isn't as painful. I don't know about that from experience.  Fancy Feast canned I can usually get at Petsmart or the supermarket for around 55 cents, which is one of the few that Cindy will eat.  I'll be interested to see what kind of advice you get, because I could use some as well

Tenille  -  What you are looking for is a food with lower carbohydrates. The first thing to do is check all the labels on the food you can afford, find the one with the least carbs, and then look at the ones that are 10% more expensive.   There are articles at the top of the page and a lot of them can give you more specific advice.  Welcome to TCS

Misty  -  You have one that needs to reduce and one that needs to gain?  Can you feed them in different rooms?  That would make it easier to give them each the diet they need.

Tenille, the only way you are going to get Syl to lose weight is to get him to eat less.  Believe me, I know. I have one who needed to lose 4 lbs, one who needed to gain, and 2 who were perfect.  I was free feeding and tried reducing the amount of food I put out, tried buying high protein/low carb food, even bought presciption weight loss food.  Nothing worked until I quick free feeding.  So, 2 years later, my little piggy has now lost 2 of those 4 lbs, and would probably have lost all 4 except I took my sweet time figuring out that I couldn't continue doing what I was doing.

First I pulled up all the kibble and only put it out 3 times a day.  Once they got used to that, then I started replacing one meal per day with wet food.  It took less than one week and they were all eating canned food, which is so much healthier than kibble, and because it is higher is protein and lower in carbs (or can be!), they seemingly are more full and don't beg for food. 

Now mine are eating raw food, and I have my little kitchen scale, so every meal is weighed based on which cat is getting what, and my Darko is looking pretty svelte these days!    Plus he's jumping up on things he's never been on before

Misty, when feeding, can you get a "slow feeder" for your pudgy one, to slow him down while the other one continues to eat?  Would that help?  By "slow feeder", I mean a bowl with a ball type thing affixed in the center that slows them down when they eat.  With my fast eater, I also smoosh his food down into his dish so he really has to work at it get it all, even though it's raw (it's ground up, so easy to smoosh ).  Then when he finishes and want's to get his sister's, I just herd him away.  First lesson I learned was never, ever leave them unattended when they are eating or he will finish everyone else's food

Cheap dry food really packs on the pounds . It's all carbs, and mainly indigestible carbs. Any way you can give them some canned food? Even cheap grocery store brand canned foods are way higher in protein and lower in carbs than dry foods, which can help heavier cats to feel more satisfied. And the water fills them up so they don't eat as much naturally. Most adult indoor cats need about one 5.5-ounce can a day. . .if you feed a brand that costs about 35-40 cents a can (9 Lives, most grocery-store brands, Grreat Choice, etc.), well, it definitely costs more than super cheap dry food, but you might end up saving on vet bills (the extra water can help with urinary issues). Even half canned/half dry might help keep Sylvester more satisfied.

I don't want to hijack this thread anymore than I already have, but:

Catspaw6:  I don't have set places I feed them (except the night time free feed).  I do feed them in different areas if they happen to be in different areas when it's time to eat, but sometimes if they think it's time to eat, they'll both come at me together. I've been giving Swanie less and have convinced (I hope) DH into doing the same thing if he feeds during the day.  We're pretty much catering to Cindy and if Swanie is around we can't bear to not give him something too. 

Mrsgreenjeens: It's not so much that he eats too fast, as he eats too much, and we are huge enablers.  I feed them wet food at least 3 times a day, sometimes more.  I give them about 1 ounce each feeding.  It's the dry food that is the culprit and until recently I just haven't been able to convince DH (who is home during the day) not to just dump dry food in the bowls if they come after him.  He will fill the bowls to the top, whereas I measure out 1/2 cup to split between the two, before I go to bed at night.  Swanie has been on his diet, which is cutting back on the dry food and DH giving him wet if he comes begging, for about a week.  He's already more energetic, if for no other reason than to try to convince me he's starving and I should put food in the bowls. 

Misty8723 said:

Mrsgreenjeens:   we are huge enablers.

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Yep...that right there is the problem   Especially DH if he is filling the bowls to the brim with kibble during the day , AND if neither one of you aren't waiting until they are hungry enough to come to you together when they think it's time to eat, as you mentioned to Catspaw66.  Now I can certainly appreciate why Cindy is getting TLC right now , and I also understand why when Cindy is getting something, you don't want to make Swannie feel left out (got the same issue here ), but DH has GOT to change his ways or Swannie is never going to really lose much.   How about if when Cindy gets some kibble, you or DH tosses Swannie one or two kibble pieces and make him run for them?  Make it a game and give him some exercise at the same time!  That's what I do with Darko, and he loves it.  He waits in his "position" at treat time 'cause he never knows which direction I'm going to toss the treat. could be down the hall, or into the L/R, so he waits at that "intersection".   

mrsgreenjeens said:

Yep...that right there is the problem

  Especially DH if he is filling the bowls to the brim with kibble during the day

, AND if neither one of you aren't waiting until they are hungry enough to come to you together when they think it's time to eat, as you mentioned to Catspaw66.  Now I can certainly appreciate why Cindy is getting TLC right now

, and I also understand why when Cindy is getting something, you don't want to make Swannie feel left out (got the same issue here

), but DH has GOT to change his ways or Swannie is never going to really lose much.   How about if when Cindy gets some kibble, you or DH tosses Swannie one or two kibble pieces and make him run for them?  Make it a game and give him some exercise at the same time!  That's what I do with Darko, and he loves it.  He waits in his "position" at treat time 'cause he never knows which direction I'm going to toss the treat. could be down the hall, or into the L/R, so he waits at that "intersection".   

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I think DH is finally on board this time.  We now have small plates we use during the day.  He'll give Cindy a lot and give Swanie 4 or 5 pieces, and pick Cindy's up when she's done.  Swanie and I already have the treat-toss game, he waits on the first step and I toss it to him.  I'll do that downstairs as well. I feed them canned 3 times a day, when I get up, when I get home from work (4:15) and before we go to bed. They get 1/2 can of 3 oz food each feeding, neither of them finishes it.  Then I put 1/2 cup in the bowls for both of them at night.  Additionally, CIndy gets a second breakfast of wet food after she gets her Pred in the morning, and if Swanie is around I'll throw a little in a bowl for him too.  We are trying to cut down on dry food, we were doing it before Cindy got sick and then it all went haywire, so we're back to trying again. 

I can't get him to play much though.  I mean he will, but just where he is, roll around with the mouse or whatever, no running or chasing.  However, like I said, he is more active sucking up to us for more food.