Give Each Cat Their Own Food Bowl - They Don't Want to
Separate Food Bowls for Each Cat
In the wild, cats eat and hunt alone. They are wired to be protective of their food. Forcing cats to share bowls at home may result in cats eating too quickly, guarding bowls, or fights. Feeding cats from separate bowls also allows you to give different portion sizes and diets.
If they're both healthy, it's fine for them to drink out of the same bowl. However, cats might not like sharing a bowl, and they may stop drinking in protest. They also might not like the typically larger size of a dog's bowl. It's best to leave out separate bowls in different places for your dog and cat.
Each cat can be fed in a separate room in the home with the door closed. Typically, a regular feeding schedule is used, and each cat is given a certain amount of time to eat (e.g., 20 to 30 minutes). Water is freely available in several places at all times.
When multiple pets share the same household in relative peace and harmony, it's natural to assume they can safely share the same water bowl. In the case of cats and dogs, this is generally true, and the animals won't come to harm by sharing a water bowl.
Communal feeding is convenient for us but can create mealtime tension and competition for cats. The key is to provide separate, small food bowls for each cat. I recommend separating the bowls by at least two feet to lessen the impact of any menacing stares.
Cats are biologically programmed not to drink water which is near their food or near their toileting area - this is thought to be their instinctive avoidance of contaminating their water with potential sources of bacteria.
Try feeding each cat in a different room, putting their food bowls far apart or separating eating spaces with a barrier like a baby gate, trash can or chair.
The easiest way to stop cats from eating each other's food is to feed at set times and monitor them. Put down cat food at the same time at the same place every day and watch them eat. Your furry friends will soon learn when meal time is and will very likely be sitting behind you watching your every move.
Use different rooms
Meal time should never be stressful or challenging, so consider feeding them in separate rooms if you can. This is an especially good idea if one of your cats is likely to steal from another. You may have a cat who eats slower than the others, or who likes to nibble and take their time.
Follow this simple rule: one box per cat, plus one extra. So if you have two cats, you should have three boxes. Making sure everyone has their space can help ease elimination issues. Some owners prefer a hooded box, but some cats don't like them.
If you have multiple cats, they may be comfortable enough with each other to share the same litter box. However, there are several reasons, including territorial behavior, why some experts would advise at least one extra litter box in your home.
Cats with dental infections, inflammation in the mouth or gastrointestinal disease may avoid drinking water due to the discomfort it causes them. Cats with underlying health issues may be more likely to become dehydrated, especially those with kidney issues, hyperthyroidism, some cancers and diabetes.
The bowl causes "whisker stress."
Whiskers are special "Tactile hairs" called vibrissae with extremely sensitive follicles. These sensitive whiskers compensate for a cat's poor eyesight.
Separate their resources. Reduce competition between the cats by providing multiple, identical food bowls, beds and litter boxes in different areas of your house. Provide additional perches. More hiding spots and perches will allow your cats to space themselves out as they prefer.
I think it's true only if the water bowl is placed right beside the food bowl like some pet bowls that have water and food bowls attached to each other. But if the water bowl is atleast 10 inches away from the food bowl there shouldn't be a problem.
"From age six months to maturity, most cats will do well when fed two times a day." Once the cat becomes an adult, at about one year, feeding once or twice a day is appropriate in most cases. Senior cats, age seven and above, should maintain the same feeding regimen.
If you let your cat eat when they choose to, a bowl of dry food left out overnight provides a snack if your cat feels peckish. However, most cats are happy to spend the night without food and wait until their breakfast the following morning.
When your cat is eating the other cats' food, it could be an expression of that instinct. Some cats will actually fight over it, while others become submissive and move away, allowing the bullying cat to fill up on their food.
Cats who eat dry food that you can make readily available may be left on their own for 24-48 hours as long as fresh water is accessible as well. Beyond that time frame, water may get too dirty to drink and the litter box full.
To meet your cat's energy needs with wet and dry food, we recommend dividing the total feed by 3 and then feeding as follows: Give your cat 2/3 of the amount of food in the form of wet food and divide it into two rations (e.g. breakfast and dinner).
Where should I put my cat's water bowl? Just like their food, your cat's water bowl should be somewhere relatively quiet. A hallway, for example, may be too busy for them, even if they are very sociable. Put your cat's water bowl somewhere clean and odour-free – and far away from their litter tray!
Raise your cat's dish
But it's actually easier for your cat to eat when the dish she's eating off of is slightly elevated, and therefore closer to her mouth. Give her a boost by using a stand that raises her dish a couple of inches off the ground.
You might have noticed your kitty is a bit of a fussy eater! One day he is happily munching away, the next he barely gives his bowl a sniff. Like people, cats get tired of their food.