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Cat Houshold

Feeding in Multi-Cat Households

The animals in multi-cat households may have different dietary requirements. Here's how to feed all your pets without sabotaging their diets.

Separating overweight and normal weight cats during feeding time is one solution to ensure all cats get their required daily caloric intake (and not too much). This may require adapting the cats to a feeding schedule rather than allowing free-feeding. If the cats are home alone during the day or if they are fed during the night, this approach will require keeping separate litterboxes in the rooms. Also, switching from premium diets to standard-type products may reduce the caloric intake for your cat. If these solutions don't work, try changing to a "light" product for all of your cats. Consult your veterinarian for advice.

For multi-cat households where the cats have different tastes, it is important to keep in mind that a diet containing lots of fruit and vegetables might be fine for humans, but such a regimen is not good for cats. Cats are carnivores and need dietary sources of nutrients such as taurine, vitamin A and arachidonic acid. Each cat in your household should be fed a complete and balanced diet with an occasional treat or two. Research shows that animals do not eat to satisfy their nutrient needs, but rather their likes and dislikes, so be sure to find a complete and balanced cat food your cat likes.

Posted: Wed Dec 18 00:00:00 PST 2002

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good article thank you
janet, bethlehem, PA
Posted: 10/2/2009 9:19:34 AM
Both my cats are 15 lbs and could stand to lose weight. One has urinary problems so now both are on Urinary SO dry food. The healthy cat constantly begs. Ocassionally I give him a treat.
janet, bethlehem, PA
Posted: 8/19/2007 11:00:17 AM
I also have a 3-cat household, and although they all eat the same food, they don't eat the same amount and I have a couple that are determined to get more than they're given. Basically, I have to stand in close proximity and make sure the younger 2 don't try to eat the older one's food. (The older one will just let them have it if they want it without putting up a fight.) There is no such thing as "grazing" in our house or one would be 20 lbs. and the other 2 would be about 8!
Stephanie, Fort Worth, TX
Posted: 2/4/2007 2:00:29 PM
i think that your ideas as they may work can alos be tweeked by mixing two difernet foods for the needs of boht cats diets can also be done if it is not a strict diet. some other udeas may include feeding some cats on the floor and some on a counter too or table.
Samantha, Edmonton, AL
Posted: 2/2/2007 4:14:10 PM
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