One skinny cat one fat cat

How can you put one cat on a diet when the other cat doesn't need to diet? They eat from the same bowl, that is filled in the morning and they graze on it all day/night. I switched then to weight management food about 6 months ago, and have keep the proportion the same, and they actually seem to eat less of the food. The cats love to play together and wrestle, play king of the cat tree, and chase each other, so they are active at least when I'm home. Why is one cat fat and the other skinny?

If you haven't already done so, have the skinny cat in to your vets for an exam - ask them to check thyroid function and for diabetes as well. Any increase in water intake or urination by this fellow?

My cats are the same: one skinny and one chubby. The vet said she was more concerned about the skinny one. She did tests and said he's fine. She told me that by comparing their frames, each cat is at a decent weight. But that the one shouldn't gain any more weight. I sneak treats to the skinny cat when the chubby one isn't looking and I hold the big one back when he shoves his brother away from the food dishes. It's frustrating, isn't it?

I have a fat and a skinny also. Elliot had HUGE paws when he was a kitten so we knew he was going to be a big boy, but aerowyn on the other hand was the runt, and at five months and even before that her paws were basically perfectly perportioned (which isnt a big tell of how big the cat will get but it is a clue) she will be one in a couple of days, and she only weighs five pounds. I dont lik eher being so skinny but I cant seem to make her fatter! I let them graze all day but if I were to switch to a higher fat food, elliot would get fat :O I was feeding her kitten food up until six months but then she started eating elliots adult food and he ate her kitten food down and wouldnt touch his own, and as he was getting fatter on that I opted to just stay with adult and give aerowyn wet food when elliot wasnt watching. (The easiest thing is to get him out onto the screened porch and then feed aerowyn) But she still stays skinny. Its just the type of cat syou have... just like you have people like shaquile o'neil (probably spelt that wrong) you have tiny little midget people! YOu wouldnt expect a midget to weigh 230 lbs or something would you? Or Shaq to weigh 45? I myself like a bit chubbier cat though, I dont like it when you can feel their backbones or hip bones.

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

If you haven't already done so, have the skinny cat in to your vets for an exam - ask them to check thyroid function and for diabetes as well. Any increase in water intake or urination by this fellow?

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Oddly enough, we ended up taking the skinny cat (Buddha) to the emergency hospital yesterday because he was unable to urinate. I was told to switch Buddha to a special diet (which has a higher fat content than the weight management I'm currently feeding them) and start feeding the cats separately. The vet said that Meeko's weight is fine, but that he shouldn't gain anymore. Keeping him on the weight management food should maintain his weight, or we can decrease his intake so he can lose weight.

Buddha was just right for his weight too, so when we switch him to the new diet, we may want to decrease his intake slightly to maintain his current weight. Any suggestions for how I should start feeding them separately?

One suggestion is to stop free feeding, and feed them in seperate rooms 2-3x a day. Give them about 1/2 hour with their dry food each time, and then put the food away.

I can not think of a way to free feed two cats, two different foods w/out seperating them, and I'm sure you don't want to do that. I'll be curious to see if someone out there is creative and will have a suggestion for you!