Having multiple pets in your home sounds amazing - the more the merrier, right? However, there is one common complaint - mealtime. Feeding multiple pets, especially ones that have different dietary needs or eating habits, can be challenging. One common issue that cat owners face is their pets stealing each other’s food. One may eat too much, one not enough, or one may be eating the other’s prescription diet. And what if you have cats AND dogs? They may be chowing down on food not formulated for their species. Fortunately, with a few simple strategies, you can create a mealtime routine that keeps all of your pets feeling satiated.
It’s so important to feed your pets a balanced diet and to feed them a specific amount of food that provides all the nutrition their bodies need to function. If one of your pets is eating another’s food, they’re getting more calories than their body needs while the other isn’t getting enough. This is particularly problematic in homes with dogs and cats since they have such different nutritional needs.
Food stealing can lead to conflicts between your pets too. Some pets are particularly possessive of what they consider “theirs” and may respond aggressively when someone else eats their food. Conversely, the pet whose food gets eaten may become afraid of the food thief and may start to allow the other pet to eat their food out of fear even if they are hungry.
It’s also tricky if you have one pet who can’t wait for mealtime and gobbles down their food quickly and one pet who is more of a grazer. It’s hard to graze when someone else has eaten everything already!
Here are some ideas for feeding multiple pets so everyone gets their fair share.
Feed on a Schedule
Scheduled meal times increase the likelihood that everyone is hungry and ready to eat at the same time. They will be focused on eating their own meal rather than taking someone else’s. Since cats love routine, they tend to enjoy scheduled meal times. Knowing when to expect their next meal helps keep them calm. Feed meals at the same time every day and remove all the bowls after about fifteen or twenty minutes. This gives them plenty of time to eat and enjoy their meal while you monitor them and make sure everyone is getting their fair share.
Free feeding allows for too many opportunities to overeat. If you free feed, you are also not able to monitor who is eating what and how much they are eating. In a home with many pets, it’s so easy to miss if someone isn't getting enough food or is losing their interest in eating.
Feed Pets Separately
While it looks really cute to serve your pets meals right next to each other, the proximity provides the perfect opportunity for stealing and conflict. Competition over food can lead to hissing, growling, and swatting. Try giving each pet a distinct feeding area in separate corners of the room - or in different rooms entirely - so they feel more secure and less vulnerable. The distance will help keep them distracted from each other while they are eating and give each pet enough time to eat at their own pace and forget about what everyone else is doing.
Feed Cats Up High
If you have a cat and a dog, try feeding the cat somewhere off the floor and instead feed them on the table, counter, or even on their cat tree. Cats love being up high and will feel very content to eat away from the dog while being able to survey their surroundings.
Try a Pet Recognition Feeder
Invest in a smart feeder with a lid that only opens when it reads the pet’s microchip or ID tag. This helps to prevent pets from eating food that isn’t theirs and is particularly helpful for pets on special diets for medical issues or different life stages.
Use Slow Feeders
If you have one pet who wolfs down their meals in one bite then tries to help themselves to another pet’s bowl, feed them with a slow feeder or food puzzle. This will help them to slow down and allow the other pet to eat in peace.
With a few adjustments to your mealtime routine, you can feed all of your pets much more easily, provide a balanced diet, and keep everyone happy, healthy, and well-fed.
Love, Nala
