Have you ever seen your cat sneak a bite from the bowl of their friend?
Having more than one cat can be a difficult job. You have to feed them more nutritious food separately. Leaving the cat hungry can be frustrating and stressful. This problem is not just annoying. It can lead to real issues. A cat with a slow eating speed might not get enough food. On the other side, a greedy cat could overeat and gain weight.
Cats are picky eaters. They can steal food from other cats if they like the food. Overeating can lead to food poisoning in cats. It can also cause different types of health issues, like food allergies and disease problems. The real challenge is to know how to keep cats from eating each other’s food.
Contents
Why Cats Steal Each Other’s Food
Stealing the food is not about greedy behavior. Sometimes there is a reason behind this behavior. Understanding how to keep cats from eating each other’s food is very important. It can also help you to know how long a cat goes without food.
Natural Instincts
House cats live a comfortable life. Even with this comfort zone, their wild instincts still play a role. Food is not easy to get for wild cats, and animals must compete for every meal. Some cats naturally eat as much as possible when food is available. This survival mentality can lead to one cat eating the other cat’s food.
Differences In Appetite
Not all cats eat at the same pace. Some cats eat their food in seconds. On the other side, some cats take time to eat food. If a fast eater notices extra food left in the bowl, they see it as an invitation to keep eating. This sometimes leaves the slow eater with nothing. It can lead to an unhealthy life for a slow eater.
Dominance And Territory
Cats compete with each other in a multi-cat home. Some cats use foods as a way to show dominance. If one cat eats from both bowls while the other steps back. This can cause stress for the cat losing its food and might lead to tension.
Simple Adjustments to Meal Time
If your cats are making trouble during mealtime, you can make simple adjustments. These adjustments can keep cats from eating each other’s food. Some feeding tips you should know to make your cats avoid this kind of behavior.
- The easiest way to make your cat avoid this behavior is to separate their eating area. A separate feeding area removes the temptation for food stealing.
- Place their bowls in different rooms. Different feeding schedules can stop your cat from eating another’s food.
- Give each cat their own personal space. If your cat keeps stealing food from another, you should use feeding barriers.
My cats used to steal food from each other. I was stressed about this behavior of my cats. After using these methods, I personally observed a complete change using these methods.
Train Your Cat
If your cat keeps eating other cats food, then you have to train your cat to break this habit. Feeding adjustments and smart feeders can help you break this behavior of your cat. Teaching good mealtime and manners to your cat is also very important. Some tips can make your cat learn better.
- Cats respond well to rewards. When your cat eats on its own and leaves the other bowl alone, then you can offer them a treat. You can also offer praise and gentle petting.
- If one cat rushes to steal food, you can train them to sit and wait. Make them sit in their feeding spot. Serve them food when they stay quit.
- If they try to move toward the other cat’s bowl, then you can gently guide them back. Repeating this several times can help you break this habit.
I trained my cats using these pro tips. A right training routine can stop cats eating each other’s food. It can also create a peaceful mealtime.
Conclusion
Figuring out how to keep cats from eating each other’s food may take some time. When every cat gets the best cat food, then they will stay healthier and more peaceful. I tried everything to make my cat avoid stealing. The mentioned pro tips helped me a lot to change this behavior of my cat. It took a few weeks to change this behavior. The struggle of a few weeks is the result of my stress-free life.
FAQ’s
How do I get my cat to stop eating the other cat’s food?
Changing feeding areas can stop your cat from eating other people’s food. Stick to a consistent feeding schedule to prevent food theft.
How do you feed two cats when one eats all the food?
Feeding cats in separate rooms can help both the cats eat proper food. You can also try a puzzle feeder to slow down the fast eater.
How do you keep pets from eating each other’s food?
Train pets to not eat each other’s food can be a great step. You can train them with positive reinforcement until they learn to stick to their own food.
Why shouldn’t you put cat food and water next to each other?
Cats prefer their food and water to be separate. This is because wild cats avoid drinking water near food.
