Need Help with Meal Times - NEW SYSTEM IN PLACE

[jenluckenbach]

OK, I run this house, not the cats.

Foster cats are free fed dry with canned fed 1 time per day.

My own cats eat dry food twice a day: in the am (6-7) and in the pm (6:30-7:30).
10 of them have their own crate that they are locked into until everyone has finished.
Rutherford eats in a room by himself.
and of the other 5, 1 in the kitchen, 2 in the living room and 2 in the cat room.

That's IT! no canned food, no regular treats, no exceptions. (well, OK, Fern and Willow DO get canned food mixed with their dry....it is the oly way they will eat it)

I know who ate what and how much. I know if a cat is "off-feed". I can feed special food to 1 or to all and they won't be in each others dishes.

This has worked for me for YEARS. They don't gain or lose weight so I know that they are not going hungry. And it is amazing how quickly a cat can adjust to the system. And they RACE for their carriers and wait to be fed. (those who eat outside of carriers are those who are too intimidated by them).

Ans so it goes at the Luckenbach house.

[mruffruff]

I wish I had mine willing to eat in carriers! It's really the way to go. It would have been real helpful when I had to treat them all for URI last week.

Nearly all of the 14 are carrier-shy. They were trapped ferals so they really don't like being enclosed. I don't think I could squeeze in 14 carriers in the 10 by 10 room with cat trees and 2 cages anyway.

They are basically free fed. I put down 6 double sided dishes of dry kibble at 6AM and pick up 5 dishes at 7AM. Then I put 6 back down at 5PM and pick up 5 again at 7PM. But there is always a double sided dish available. I've tried to "treat" them to wet food, but I end up throwing out most of it (thoroughly licked clean of gravy!). Temptations are given out at bedtime, only to those who are available. (Some like to hang out in the outside cat pen)

[Freedom]

I started 3 days ago. I have a house full of mystified cats. What's going on? Where's the food?

I decided that they could follow the vet's diet plan, at least up to a point. They eat in the morning at 7 when they insist it is time to get up.

Then they do not get food again until 5 PM. (I was trying for 6 but I couldn't do it - ME, not them!)

And a final feeding at bedtime (I didn't want to be woken up at 2 AM.)

The reason we HAVE to make a change is that we are considering adding to the family. A dog, one which under NO circumstances can eat cat food. So cat food can't be out and available all the time.

Afternoons are quite comical. What used to be quiet time with all 7 napping is now pacing time. They are all about trying to get me to feed them. I started this on a sunny day, and I just went out and did yard work so they wouldn't tear the place apart. (They are OK if I am not around, geesh.) Today is day 3. Only 2 are pacing. The others seem to get the idea.

Oh, one more change: I now put them in the bedrooms with the door closed while we eat lunch at noon time. I couldn't see not feeding them and having us eat; too much of a tease, almost cruel. They are going along with that. Today they voluntarily went in to the bedrooms, I didn't have to chase anyone!

They all still get excited and think it is time to eat at 11:30 and on until I put them in the bedrooms while we have lunch. Life is just a wee bit calmer around here.

Until the new arrival gets here!!!

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

WOW Jen, that sounds perfect!!!

My cats get dry food at 7 am.
Between 9 and 10 they sometimes beg for more; they just get a very small amount then!

Lunch is being served at 12 noon: wet food for all 4! Their bowl is empty within 1 minute!!!

At 6 pm, they get dry food again.
That's it!

[slick]

I started to free-feed Max months ago and it was the best decision of my life. He was OK until Speckles left for the bridge, then he would start pawing at me at 7am for the morning feeding.

Now, he has crunchies all day and all night to nibble on (Medi Cal low protein) and in the evening he gets his treat of wet food. We are both so much happier now.

I wish I had some advice for you Freedom. Sorry.