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Multiple cats on feeding on schedule, how?
I currently have two cats. I have never had to feed any of my past or present animals on schedule as they self fed but I have decided that I really need to purchase better food and feed on schedule.
I went out and bought Blue Buffalo Indoor Health which calls for 1/2-1cup daily for my both cats weight. My only issue is wondering how the heck the schedule should work and how I am going to feed two cats on a schedule. Do I separate them into different rooms and keep them contained until they eat all or take it away when they walk away and make sure to give it back to them at a later time?
It sounds like such a stupid question but I have no clue how all that works so any advice is greatly appreciated.
Also, are there any other brands that I should look at it? I do not want to keep switching their brand of food but I just want to make sure that I am giving them the best quality, affordable cat food.
Thank you!!
EDD 7/11/13 ??? VBAC, BABY!
Re: Multiple cats on feeding on schedule, how?
we have two cats and a dog, each with specific (and different) dietary needs. our herd gets fed twice a day as well. here's how we manage:
the more timid cat gets fed first, since she eats more slowly. she eats on the counter-top, so that we can keep an eye on how close to "finished" she is, and take the bowl away quickly so that the other cat doesn't come up and finish her leftovers!
the more aggressive cat eats on the floor, and gets fed last, as he wolfs down his food in a nanosecond.
the dog is now learning to "leave it" in regards to the cats' bowls, but we generally try to leash him up, and take him for a walk as soon as it's kitty feeding time, so that they can eat in peace. we've only had the pup a month, so it's a new system for everybody.
when it's doggy food time, we try to otherwise entertain the cats so that they don't steal his food (which to them is apparently very tasty!)
Emerald Nuts Midnight Run (4m) 1/1/12
Coogan's Salsa, Blues, and Shamrocks Run (5k) 3/4/12
Colon Cancer Challenge (15k) 4/1/12
Purple Stride NYC (5k) 4/21/12
Run to Combat Autism (5k) 4/29/12
RnR Philadelphia (Half Marathon) 9/16/12
So do you just half their daily amount per feeding? I am having a hard time wrapping my head around them only eating that little throughout the day. My smaller cat would probably get closer to 1/2 cup daily according to the guideline which isn't very much when split into two feedings.
EDD 7/11/13 ??? VBAC, BABY!
I currently have to separate my cats during the day (when we are at work) because they have different food requirements. However, when they ate together, I would put out a bowl with all of their food in it for 30 minutes in the morning, then pick it up, then put it out for 30 minutes at night. This was on a recommendation from our vet. I didn't feed them separately, but they were good at sharing and just eating what they each needed to eat. Baring medical problems, most animals are pretty good at eating enough. Both of my cats maintained their weight beautifully with this system until one got sick (and now has a special diet). Also, they don't like to eat crumbs, so I would just refill the bowl as necessary.
If you are really worried and you have a food scale, you can measure the weight of the bowl+food before feeding, and then after feeding to see how many ounces of food they have eaten. If you are feeding both together, though, this won't tell you what each has eaten, only what they ate combined.
I do know some cats who have serious obesity problems when their food isn't measured out, but if they are free-feeding now and you don't have overweight cats, don't worry about it. The only problem with scheduled feedings is being woken up at 5am by cats who think it's breakfast time. ;-)
40/112
We have 5 cats who eat raw, so we have to feed meals since we can't let the meat sit out, although we have also fed meals with dry and wet food.
They eat at roughly 7am and 7pm, although with DS in the picture, the times are more flexible.
When we fed dry, each cat got 1/2 their daily amount at each feeding. It may take them a bit to catch on, but they will quickly. We do have a couple that try to help themselves to other bowls, but we keep a spray bottle handy and that works for the most part.
As far as good food, BB is good, but a little pricey for my taste. Check out petfoodratings.net for a list of foods. I like this site because it rates based on quality and price. Look for a food with 4 stars and up.
5 cats. 1 baby.
yep, so stella (the smaller one) gets 1/4 cup in the morning and 1/4 cup in the evening. james gets half a can in the morning, and half a can in the evening.
it's totally enough food for them!
Emerald Nuts Midnight Run (4m) 1/1/12
Coogan's Salsa, Blues, and Shamrocks Run (5k) 3/4/12
Colon Cancer Challenge (15k) 4/1/12
Purple Stride NYC (5k) 4/21/12
Run to Combat Autism (5k) 4/29/12
RnR Philadelphia (Half Marathon) 9/16/12
Emerald Nuts Midnight Run (4m) 1/1/12
Coogan's Salsa, Blues, and Shamrocks Run (5k) 3/4/12
Colon Cancer Challenge (15k) 4/1/12
Purple Stride NYC (5k) 4/21/12
Run to Combat Autism (5k) 4/29/12
RnR Philadelphia (Half Marathon) 9/16/12
When you first start feeding meals, just set it down for 15 minutes then pick it up and dont put it back down until the next meal time. The cats will catch on quick that they eat at that time. We feed ours at 6am and 6pm. I think when you first start, they might only eat a bit so when you put it down later, you might want to add a bit, but it is ok if they dont get the full amount the first day. By the second day, they will probably "get it".
Ours eat next to each other when we can supervise, otherwise we separate them, one in the room and one in the hall. One of my cats tries to eat the others food after she finishes.
We feed ours 3/8 cup/day plus a couple of treats or a bit of wet food. They are at a healthy weight.
We mostly feed wet which is better for cats and makes
Mealtime easier. Small meals multiple times a day are the way to go. We feed slow eaters first also. Taste of the wild is inexpensive for its level of quality.