Need More Advice

I have now managed to get Theo , a  stray male cat (1 year 3 month old ) to  live relatively peacefully with my two older cats ( 10 -12 years old) . There is the odd altercation but things seem to be improving daily.  There are two issues I need to resolve and perhaps I can get some advice.  Theo loves to eat and he will eat my older cats food if I don't remove it from view.  The two older cats require smaller portions and often don't finish what I put out and Theo will then go after their food unless I remove it from view. Young  Theo requires ,after consultation with our vet ,a  different type of food from that of my two older cats . Theo loves to eat though he is slim and sleek!  .  My questions are (1) how should I deal with the feeding question when Theo is brazen enough to go after the two older cats food and question  (2) concerns the kitty litter situation - Theo has had  his own kitty litter in the guest room while he was being socialized ( we still keep that door to the guest room open with that kitty litter available) but we would like to eventually remove the kitty litter from that room. We  have two other kitty liter  locations inb the house  for the older cats who seem to be able to share those two litters.  Should I assume Theo will simply use the kitty litters of my older two cats if I remove his?  Advice on these two questions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Michael

The other cats should be fed in a safe location away from Theo.  I have two indoor cats and one eats so fast.  I put the slower eater in a room of his own.  I use a tall baby gate with a gate that opens.  There is also a small pet door at the bottom that I keep closed when the cat is in the room eating.  The gate is tall and no one has attempted to jump it.  I have been doing this for 2 years.  You also could be Theo in a special room and keep him there while the other two are eating. 

As for the litter boxes, the golden rule is one box per cat plus one extra.  So you really need 4 boxes.  I definitely would not take any away.  The last thing you need/want is litter box issues. 

Thankyou for the quick reply. What you say makes sense. I guess there are not many options and I have been more or less handling the feeding question as you pointed out.  My older two cats primarily eat wet cat food ( from a can) but I have kept some tried food out for them to graze on between those primary wet food feedings. Now leaving the tried food out and unsupervised will have young Theo gobbling it all down. So I guess

I simply have to offer the older cats a mid day snack and then remove the dry food from view. Thanks again ... Will try too resolving the kitty litter as well .. 

Michael

Getting everyone on scheduled feeding is really a good idea. I always free fed and now we have overweight cats. Everyone has to eat different foods, so it was getting to be a pain. I have finally gotten them all on a schedule, although the two fatties start begging an hour or two before every meal.

I can now happily report that Theo ( either a stray or feral - about a year and 4 months) is presently well integrated into the 'family' here and seems to  be tolerated by our two much older cats though there are times when paws are raised. What intrigues me and I would like to get some feedback on this is that Theo seems to have an endless appetite and gives me the impression he is being under fed. I checked with the Vet and for his weight and age and type of food  that1 and 1/3 cans per day should be sufficient.  Because our two much older cats take a different food we are feeding the cats separately in different rooms. This works fine but Theo always exists the room he has been fed in and rushes to where the other cats were fed looking for more food. This morning I left the kitchen and discovered Theo had climbed up on the table and stolen an entire slice off smoked salmon off my plate.  I am wondering if this endless wish for food merely speaks to the fact that Theo discovered us in extreme hunger  and used to come to us for food before we captured him and had him neutered at the vet etc., He was given as a precaution medication for worms, shots, anti-flea protection...  Is it common for cats under two years of age to have endless desires for food ?  Our two older cats simply eat there fill and walk away when they have had enough. Theo never seems to have enough.  Is it also wise to fee Theo  three times a day instead

of say twice a day. ?. He is being given wet food from a can as opposed to dry but I do from time to time try to satisfy him by giving him very SMALL portions of a dry food ( the vet purchased equivalent to his wet food.  )

Any thoughts?

Thanks again for all the help.

Michael

So happy that Theo is doing well.

As for the eating...  1/3 of a can for the entire day is not much.  I feed my boys 1/4 can in the morning plus dry food and 1/4 can in the evening plus dry food.  They only get 1/2 T. dry each feeding.  My outside boys get the same amount of wet food, but they do get a bit more dry.  You might need to feed him a bit more.

As for being always hungry, this is typical of former strays/ferals.  They never knew when they would eat and always had to watch their back so another cat or animal didn't get their food.  They often eat very fast and want to eat as much as they can.  Once he gets settled into a routine and realizes that the food comes each and every day he might settle.  Most of mine took 2-6 months to stop wanting to eat all the time and stealing the other cats food.  I do have one cat though that still wants to eat and eat.  It was just so entrenched in him that he can't let go.  He is much better, but still will eat and eat.  He now at least waits until the other cats walk away from their bowls.

What exactly are you feeding him and how much of each?  You might want to stop over at the Nutrition forum and see what some of the experts say there.

The amount of food for Theo according to his weight and the Vet info on the food he is taking is ! and 1/3 CANS  (not 1/3 of a can) . Thanks for the explanation  for Theo's insatiable hunger it makes perfect sense. I am in Canada and the food is Royal Canin (adult) 5.8oz cans. This food is I think only sold to Vets.  I tried to do some research on which name brand foods are recommended but it was rather difficult. Another vet suggested I use Purina.  Do you have any advice on which 'store bought' food is regarded as the 'best?".  I thank you for the quick reply to my question. Regards. Michael

freemike said:

 
The amount of food for Theo according to his weight and the Vet info on the food he is taking is ! and 1/3 CANS  (not 1/3 of a can) . Thanks for the explanation  for Theo's insatiable hunger it makes perfect sense. I am in Canada and the food is Royal Canin (adult) 5.8oz cans. This food is I think only sold to Vets.  I tried to do some research on which name brand foods are recommended but it was rather difficult. Another vet suggested I use Purina.  Do you have any advice on which 'store bought' food is regarded as the 'best?".  I thank you for the quick reply to my question. Regards. Michael

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There are different foods for different budgets.  I also am not sure of what is available in Canada.  I usually buy my food online as it is cheaper.  I use Chewy.com or Petflow.com sometimes Petco.com and even Amazon.com  

I use Wellness for all my cats.  I tried Weruva and it is so nutritionally sound, but it seems to be a bit too rich for my cats.  I also use Trader Joes food in their rotation.  I also feed dry and use a mixture of foods.  Right now I have some Wellness and Blue Buffalo. 

Purina has a new line that can be found in the stores called Beyond.  I know lots of people feed Fancy Feast or Friskies. 

Here is a link to the Nutrition forum.  You might find some others there in Canada and there is so much knowledge and information there.

Hopefully Theo will calm down with time.  My guess is he will.  It just takes them awhile to get out of the habit.