How do I keep one of my cats from eating all the other cat’s food?
Sweet Susie asked:
I have two great cats. My first cat is hugely obese — 15 pounds. We are doing everything we can to help her lose weight: diet food, vet recommended serving sizes, and exercise. Nothing is working because she is literally sabotaging our efforts. She eats her food AND at least half of our other (skinny) cat’s dinner. In a sense, she is eating for 1 and a 1/2.
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I have two great cats. My first cat is hugely obese — 15 pounds. We are doing everything we can to help her lose weight: diet food, vet recommended serving sizes, and exercise. Nothing is working because she is literally sabotaging our efforts. She eats her food AND at least half of our other (skinny) cat’s dinner. In a sense, she is eating for 1 and a 1/2.
How do I teach/train her to only eat out of her bowl? How do help her lose weight so she can live a healthy cat-life?
Thank you so far for all the great answers. I just wanted to add the detail that I serve my cat’s dry food and we never provide scraps from the table 
February 24th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
feed them in different rooms with the door closed and at certain times of day, not left out all the time.
February 28th, 2009 at 1:19 am
Can’t you just feed the cats in seperate rooms?
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Well, you can put the cats in two seperate rooms while their eating. I would say just cut down on how much the cat eats, and dont give it table scraps. Try and find foods that help it lose weight.
March 5th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Feed the greedy one first and when tubby is done put the food out for the other in a place the first one cant get too. Like the utility Rm. with the door closed.
March 7th, 2009 at 7:44 am
Feed them at different times. For example, you could feed one cat while the other is in a closed room. Then you could feed the other one afer the first one is done.
March 10th, 2009 at 7:36 am
If they need special requirements they will need to be in seperate areas. They have large cat cages or place them in seperate rooms. There is no way to keep the one cat from eating the others if you continue to free feed. Being a cat Mom is not always easy and the health of the cat will depend upon you! Offer some cat n ip and try to get the heavy one more active! Good luck
March 11th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
You’ll need to set up isolated feeding times. when you have a cat like this, you can’t leave a bowl out. It would be easier if you only had one, but since you have two. You’ll need to move to scheduled feeding times, and isolate the fat cat with her own food and not let her out until the other cats are done eating.
March 13th, 2009 at 3:18 am
I ran into this.
What you are going to have to do is set a feeding schedule, and feed them separately. Close the overweight cat away while the other is eating, so the other cat can eat in peace. And when feeding time is over, take up the food.
Good luck!
March 14th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
my cats do this sometimes. usually when it’s treat time. one will gobble hers up and then try to sneak the other’s treats. the easiest way is to feed them in seperate places. when your heavier kittie tries to go for the other cat’s food, just pick her up and take her somewhere else. give your other cat time to eat. this should help some.
March 16th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
In order to make really helpful suggestions for you it really helps to know WHAT food you are feeding the cats. Certainly the idea of feeding the cats on a “schedule” at different times will cut out the fat cat from overeating.
You really should go to and read Dr. Jean Hovfe’s article titled “Feline Obesity”. There are many articles there on proper cat nutrition also. The information at is also very good.
In order to lose weight a cat needs a high protein diet (60% wholesome meat protein) and a minimum of carbohydrate. The widely promoted “diet” foods for cats have it a**backwards as they increase the carbohydrate and reduce the protein. Cats need high quality meat protein (no by-product meat which is contaminated with chemicals - maybe not rat poison and still a poor and suspect food for your cat).
If this meat protein requirement is not met your cat will overeat and be obese as she tries to get the nutrition she needs to satisfy her “hunger”.