Putting a cat on a diet

How do you get one cat to diet when the other two are a perfectly fine weight? Sam, my orange tabby, is getting pretty chubby and he seems to be having trouble breathing when he sleeps. I would like to help him out, but since he and the other two cats eat out of the same bowl (and he is a pig about it), I don't want the others to suffer.

First you need to take your overweight baby for a check-up to make sure there are not any medical issues that cause kitties being tubby.

It's also important to have a vet's guidance when putting a cat on a diet because losing weight too quickly can have serious health consequences for cats. Also the breathing noises sound like they should be checked out.

I've seen some good hints from other members saying to put your thinner cat's food in a bowl inside a large box, with a hole cut just big enough for the smaller cat to enter and eat, but not the larger cat. Then you can put the larger cat's vet-suggested diet food out where he can reach it.

Oh boy I know the problem only too well!!! I have one vastly overweight cat(on a diet from the vet-we go to fortnightly 'fat club' meets) one just greedy and two little skinny things no matter what they eat. The only thing I have found that works is just sitting and watching them all eat. Katy is supposed to be fed little and often but as I am out all day this is not on. They all get fed twice a day and I watch them all eat and pick up bowls when Katy has finished. Dirt and Tulip (the skinny ones) have learnt that if they leave any - which they do- they will get fed upstairs on the bed! I also have a pocket full of food at all times, it makes for interesting stuff in the washing machine. Thank goodness they are all on dry food. Katy has also learnt what the word NO means and does tend to back off long enough for me to collect any half full bowls. Maybe if you start to feed from seperate bowls you could do this. You do need to be extra vigilant sometimes though.

Cindy is a real chunk, but Lucy is more sleek and trim, even though I always see her eating and it's not like she's being fed less. The vet suggested putting the food away at night, which I have started doing. Punky has filled out, too.

I think the problem is leaving such highly nutritious food out all the time and this is what the dry food companies recommend; having dry kibbles always available. Cindy was at the point where she would just lie on the floor next to her food dish and chomp on kibbles. Funny, yes, but not good for her health! In their efforts to manufacture nutrient rich cat food that sustains long life, I feel that the cat food companies have outdone themselves.

Maybe it's best to put a cat on a twice a day food regimen.

Only ever place your cat on a diet after a thorough vet check up and only on a vet's recommendation and program.

The suggestion about a small holed box for the thinner cats to eat in is a good one. You can also use a dog's wire crate & keep the door held just wide enough for the thin cats by using a double ended snap (I hope that makes sense).
While some cats only thrive on free choice food, I have always fed my cats set meals - twice a day plus a bedtime "snack'. The cats quickly learn the routine & this way I can always be sure who is eating, how much everybody is eating & easily control any supplements any of them need. My current old lady cat, Samantha, better known as Sam, is 20+ years & looks very fit & trim so it has worked for her.
Deb E