Also called · feeding multiple pets · food stolen · only one is gaining weight
What it looks like
- One gains weight while another gets thin
- They watch each other tensely near the bowls
- One of them never approaches the bowl at all
Why it happens
Cats — first come, first served
Cats are solitary by nature and keep their distance, but for a limited territory and for food a "first come" priority is known to exist. A weaker cat may not approach the bowl at all and end up undernourished.
Intake is hard to see in cats
Cats are nibble eaters that spread intake across the day. On free feeding, one report found them eating 13–16 times a day at an average of 23 kcal per sitting, which makes it very hard to tell how much any one cat has had.
What to do
Watch them eat, with your own eyes
Knowing who eats how much is where this starts. If one is not getting enough, feed that one separately.
Separate the bowls, or the rooms
Putting them out of sight of each other, or in different rooms, solves this on its own in many households.
Watch out for
Even with no sound of fighting, the animal being pushed out may be chronically underfed. Weighing them regularly is the most reliable check.
See a vet if
One animal keeps losing weight
An actual bite has occurred near the bowls
Common questions
Cats manage their own weight well enough on free feeding that obesity is less of an issue than in dogs. But in a multi-pet home the stronger animal still gets there first, so regardless of free feeding you need to know who is actually eating.
Related behaviors
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General behaviour and nutrition information. It does not replace diagnosis or prescription. Similar behaviour does not always have the same cause, and the cause is not necessarily diet or environment — have a vet rule out illness first, and consult a behaviour specialist where needed.