Social media feeds are full of cats eating in a line, or cats stealing each other’s food. While it may be heartwarming or funny for us humans to see that, it’s not what most cats need. Except for moms sharing food with kittens, most cats are solitary hunters who don’t share their prey in the wild.
When we force our cats to eat next to each other—or worse yet out of the same bowl—we force them to compete for their most basic need. This can make less assertive cats retreat until they don’t have to compete, or miss out completely.
Forcing your cats to compete for food can lead to weight loss and stress-related illnesses such as ulcers and other gastrointestinal diseases, even with siblings. As your cats age, feeding them correctly is even more important to keeping them healthy.
Fortunately, you can get your cats back on track with these 11 easy tips!
- Separate to satisfy. Get separate bowls or plates for each of your cats…and dogs if you have them. You don’t need a fancy bowl or plate. Thrift stores have lots of ceramic or glass options that help you avoid plastic.
- Destress the whiskers. Feeding a cat in a bowl smaller than their whiskers forces them to hold their whiskers back while they eat, which is uncomfortable. This would be like you trying to chew while smiling! Use bowls or deep plates that let the whiskers spread out.
- Space them out. Feed all animals at a comfortable distance away from each other, starting at least 3 feet. Monitor them for stress (dilated pupils, whiskers pulled in, ears flattened, ducking away from other cats or dogs) and place the bowls comfortably out of that range.
- Traffic slowdown. Avoid high traffic areas, like the kitchen, unless you can schedule feeding times away from busy times of the day.
- Squeaky clean. Wash their bowls often; daily if possible. Bacteria builds up in uneaten food and in the bottom of dirty bowls. Pet food bowls contain some of the most bacteria of any kitchen surface, especially plastic ones.
- Rise to the top. If your cats have a cat tree they like, you can feed them on different levels to resolve the need to get away from each other without taking up more space. This can be very helpful if you are feeding dogs and cats at the same time.
- Room service. If you find that any of your cats are still too uncomfortable to eat in the same room with the others, feed them in a different room. If that’s what it takes for him or her to feel safe, you must provide that space.
- Savor the smell. Warming cold food slightly (watch for hot spots if microwaving) ensures they can smell it, stimulating appetite. Don’t feed near scented plug-ins or candles, or around scented cleaning products. These items are often made with unregulated chemicals, unhealthy for humans as well as animals.
- Intermittent fasting. If you feed kibble, let it run out between feedings. Free feeding is one of the leading causes of obesity in cats. Avoid topping off food, as that leaves old food underneath to trap bacteria. Skip those plastic automatic feeders and waterers that give your cat nothing but old, contaminated food and water.
- Pimple prevention. Yes cats can get acne, usually on their chins. When bacteria builds up, it can clog the hair follicles, creating blackheads and pimples. Cats have a hard time grooming this off under their chins. This can become a serious, painful condition if left untreated. Keeping their bowls clean and avoiding plastic bowls will help.
- Make it a puzzle. Cats enjoy hunting for their food, so puzzle feeders are a great way to enrich their lives while they eat. Tap here for more on how to make and use puzzles for feeding.
Sara Ferguson is the Director of Happy Cats Haven, where cats always get another chance at their best lives in Manitou Springs, Colorado.
