Scheduling Feeding Times

Hi! We recently adopted a now 6-month old male DSH tabby named Mylo. We already had another (female) DSH tabby named Sephie. The older one is going to be 3 years old in June and we have never had issues with her weight. Actually, she weighs around 8 lbs, which makes her a pretty petite cat. We have had her since she was a very young kitten.

Mylo, on the other hand, eats every time he has a chance. Every time after we pet him, he wakes up from a nap, he plays with his toys, or we get home, he goes straight to his food bowl and eats. He is not overweight, but he is starting to look rounder on the edges   (haha). Both of them have food readily available all day.

My question was whether we should start scheduling their feeding times and if so, how? I know kittens tend to eat more than adult cats, but we are starting to worry about Mylo's health. Because of the discrepancy in ages, we are not sure as to how to go about this. Anything would be of great help! Thanks

Ana 

Is there anywhere the kitten can get to where the older cats can't get?  I had to feed S&S on top of the VCR for a while, or the others would have eaten all of the Kitten Chow.

catspaw66 said:

Is there anywhere the kitten can get to where the older cats can't get?  I had to feed S&S on top of the VCR for a while, or the others would have eaten all of the Kitten Chow.

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It is actually the older cat that can get everywhere. Mylo doesn't seem strong enough (or hasn't figured out how) to get to the higher places.

Would it be wise to start scheduling the feeding times for both cats at the same time? As in feeding them same amount? Or should we wait until he hits adulthood? In other words, is he eating more because he is a kitten or because he just likes to eat? hehe 

I'm assuming the kitten chow is dry food? Scheduled feedings are always a good idea imo. It's easier to regulate and know exactly how much your cat is eating. Free feeding dry can lead to a cat becoming a kibble addict and can also lead to obesity. Kittens do need more food then adults, but you can easily add a meal or 2 for him, inbetween the regular meal times.
 

Katluver4life said:

I'm assuming the kitten chow is dry food? Scheduled feedings are always a good idea imo. It's easier to regulate and know exactly how much your cat is eating. Free feeding dry can lead to a cat becoming a kibble addict and can also lead to obesity. Kittens do need more food then adults, but you can easily add a meal or 2 for him, inbetween the regular meal times.

 

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Yes, the chow is dry. I just wasn't sure if scheduling for a kitten was healthy until they hit adulthood. We'll start on this ASAP. Thanks!

Since he is now at least 6 months old scheduling is fine. I schedule even younger kittens, just feed more often. Have you thought about introducing wet food?
 

Katluver4life said:

Since he is now at least 6 months old scheduling is fine. I schedule even younger kittens, just feed more often. Have you thought about introducing wet food?

 

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I have given wet food only to the older cat, just try it out. Since we have never had problems with Sephie over or under eating with free feeding, I never thought of scheduling until now. Mylo has not had wet food and he seems to eat all day.

Is wet food healthier? I've read articles but there does not seem to be a consensus about it.

I started the scheduled feeding today in the morning. I am planning on feeding Sephie twice and Mylo three times. Hopefully they catch on to it soon enough. So far they haven't complained about there being no food out all day. We'll see if that continues at night. :/

I second introducing wet food and scheduled feeding.

For the kitten you could try a higher fat canned food.  Or add an egg yolk, piece of chicken fat or organ meat (liver, heart) to her wet food.

Ritz said:

I second introducing wet food and scheduled feeding.
For the kitten you could try a higher fat canned food.  Or add an egg yolk, piece of chicken fat or organ meat (liver, heart) to her wet food.

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So yes to wet food for kitten? Even though he is eating the dry food normally (when it's out at least)?

Sorry about the redundant questions. Just want to make sure I'm getting all this right.

Wet food for a six month old kitten is fine.  If Mylo seems very hungry, you could add an extra meal.  Wet food is better for cats.  Period.

Ritz said:

Wet food for a six month old kitten is fine.  If Mylo seems very hungry, you could add an extra meal.  Wet food is better for cats.  Period.

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Will definitely look into the wet food then. As of today, he seems a little confused on the fact that the bowls are gone. He ate about an hour ago (second meal) and proceeded to clean himself and take a nap. Now he is staring at the cursor on the computer screen as I type this. So I think it is safe to say he is ok.   I'll monitor his behavior in the upcoming days and adjust to it. Maybe I'll add an extra meal if needed. Thanks for the advice! 

Here is a good place to learn about why wet food is healthier for your kitties. Written by a vet. http://www.catinfo.org/

There is a lot to take in when reading that so don't let your head explode. The basics is all you really need to retain. Feel free to come back here if you have further questions and of course we love pictures. Good luck, keep us posted.
 

If Sephie takes issue to meal feeding (since she is used to grazing) you can always get her a meowspace or something similar.  It is basically box that lets one cat in and keeps the other out.  The downside is that cat who is allowed in has to wear a collar.

le chat fou said:

Yes, the chow is dry. I just wasn't sure if scheduling for a kitten was healthy until they hit adulthood. We'll start on this ASAP. Thanks!

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Loving this thread! I had a horrendous issue here with your same dilemma. I put them all on a feeding schedule. I fed my kitten wet kitten food and monitored that none of the other cats (2 adults, 1 senior) got to it. I fed her plenty and she got plenty to eat. At that time I stopped free feeding kibble and started measuring out the feedings in between the wet feedings. This worked out well for that situation.

If you can separate them while feeding them this will hopefully work out well for you. I would certainly try to introduce them to wet food and reduce the kibble... if at all possible. If not, the scheduled feedings is your friend in this situation in my opinion :2cts:

Imbri said:

If Sephie takes issue to meal feeding (since she is used to grazing) you can always get her a meowspace or something similar.  It is basically box that lets one cat in and keeps the other out.  The downside is that cat who is allowed in has to wear a collar.

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Oh yeah she did have and issue yesterday when I started this. She didn't eat all day! But I've read that this is normal since she is not used to it. My husband is now in charge of the morning feeding for both and he informed me that both of them ate today when he fed them.

Mylo is having no issues with this, but he still seems a little confused when he steps into the kitchen and there is no food. We store the the cat food in the pantry, so whenever we open it he goes up to it, rubs himself on it, and begins to purr. He's always done this even before scheduling hehe.

This box thing seems interesting though. Since Sephie was used to being alone for the past 3 years, she hasn't quite gotten used to the fact that Mylo is staying. (We got him not to long ago.) We isolated them and all that good stuff you do when you bring in a new kitty. She now ignores him pretty well, but given the fact that Mylo is REALLY playful and Sephie is well.. umm.. grumpy to say the least, this box seems like a good investment. Unless I'm understanding its function all wrong, is it like a safe spot for just the one cat wearing the collar?

Ever since we moved into the apartment, she hasn't found a definitive safe spot. Although whenever she runs and hides we do not touch or attempt to move her from her spot. She used to live in my husband's parents when we were not married yet, so she had a plethora of hiding and safe spots all over the place.

So pretty much keep her grazing with her food in this box? Or am I totally off on a tangent here? Haha

Katluver4life said:

Here is a good place to learn about why wet food is healthier for your kitties. Written by a vet. http://www.catinfo.org/

There is a lot to take in when reading that :lol3: so don't let your head explode. The basics is all you really need to retain. Feel free to come back here if you have further questions and of course we love pictures. Good luck, keep us posted.

 

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Haha you were not kidding about the reading. This is really good though. Thanks!

Based on our experience with wet food, I know for sure Sephie will eat just about any kind of it with no problems. For Mylo though, should I ease into it? Mix it with his current kibble? Go straight into it?

Ok I just watched a video on the Meowspace box. I like it! Seems like a good investment especially for litter boxes and food.   Thanks again!

First see if Mylo will just go for the wet, if so, then no need to ease into it at all. If he has trouble accepting it then maybe crush some of his dry over the top. That can usually attract him to eat. But there is no need with wet to do a slow transition like you would do when switching dry brands.
 

le chat fou said:

This box thing seems interesting though. Since Sephie was used to being alone for the past 3 years, she hasn't quite gotten used to the fact that Mylo is staying. (We got him not to long ago.) We isolated them and all that good stuff you do when you bring in a new kitty. She now ignores him pretty well, but given the fact that Mylo is REALLY playful and Sephie is well.. umm.. grumpy to say the least, this box seems like a good investment. Unless I'm understanding its function all wrong, is it like a safe spot for just the one cat wearing the collar?

Ever since we moved into the apartment, she hasn't found a definitive safe spot. Although whenever she runs and hides we do not touch or attempt to move her from her spot. She used to live in my husband's parents when we were not married yet, so she had a plethora of hiding and safe spots all over the place.

So pretty much keep her grazing with her food in this box? Or am I totally off on a tangent here? Haha

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The Meowspace is a pretty decent size, they make them big enough to place a litter pan in!  You can always put a nice squishy bed in there as well as a small bowl of snacks and it can be her little fortress of solitude.   The door is magnetic so only the cat with the magnetic collar can open it.  It is like magic!

If she totally balks at the idea of being a meal fed cat then yes, you can keep her grazing with the Meowspace.  If she takes to meal feeding then the only reason for it would be to offer her a safe space away from Mylo.

I know my Callista would have loved something like that when I brought Jasio home, she still hasn't forgiven him for existing.

I think we'll give it a few weeks with the scheduling for Sephie and transition Mylo into wet food (and Sephie, too while we are it). I like the idea of the "fortress of solitude" even if the scheduling works for her.

I was reading their website and they even sell some that you can program with your pet's microchip ID! So that would mean no collar at all. But they are a tad more expensive (of course).

I think she has forgiven him but would much rather have him ignore her completely haha. I wish I could explain to her that he's just a little boy that wants to play.. But wouldn't that just make everything too simple? ;P