Give Each Cat Their Own Food Bowl - They Don't Want to Share! Although having cats share a bowl is often easier, saves space, and creates fewer dirty dishes, there are so many reasons cats need their own bowls! Eating separate is instinctively how cats eat most comfortably.
Cats should have multiple food bowls for the following reasons: Separate Bowl. Two cats should not eat from the same bowl, they prefer to eat alone. If they see that there is competition and they will have to compete for food, they develop behavioral changes, such as anger, violent behavior, and greediness.
Feed them in separate rooms and close the doors between them during meal times. Feed the cats in the same room but at different times, while keeping other cats out until it's their turn. Feed cats in the same room but divide it into separate sections during mealtimes. Feed the cats on different levels.
Feed them at different areas in the room
If you don't have multiple rooms available, try to separate the cats by placing the food bowls as far apart as possible within one room. If the bowls are directly next to each other, one greedy cat can quickly stick their head in their neighbour's bowl without anyone noticing!
If your cats solely eat wet or dry food (and not both), you'll need 1 bowl per cat. But, if your cats eat a combination of wet and dry food, the number of bowls you need depends on the answers to these two questions: Does each cat like a mix of wet and dry food in the same bowl?
Separate Food Bowls for Each Cat
Veterinarians and cat behaviorists agree that giving cats their own food bowls is best. 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.
There's a litter box rule of thumb: n+1.
In the veterinary profession we have a litter box "rule of thumb," it's called the “n+1 rule.” And basically what it means is that you should have one more litter box than the number of cats you have.
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.
Provide multiple food stations throughout your home to help them eat apart. Try to accommodate where each cat would prefer to eat if they were able to choose. Provide food in quiet areas, in a room where the cat enjoys spending time and they are unlikely to cross paths with another cat.
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.
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.
When feeding multiple cats, competition can be fierce if every cat doesn't have its own dish to eat from. Separate dishes allow each cat to have their own space and their own food to focus on, instead of focusing on defending against another cat. Make sure that the food bowls are as identical as possible.
You can still feed them in the same room but there does need to be some separation. We don't want to feed the cats right next to each other, it can cause them to feel uncomfortable and change their speed of eating. You could try an elevated surface for the slow eater and feed the fast eater down low.
Bullying often begins with a shared food 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.
If multiple cats are using the same litter box, chances are one of them could get sick from the excess waste in the box if it isn't cleaned and managed well. So while having multiple litter boxes lying around your home may seem like more of a hassle to clean, it's the more sanitary option.
With some, it's stronger than others. 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 are naturally solitary animals and are often happy without the company of their own species. They are territorial animals who don't like conflict with other cats. Introducing a new cat to an existing cat in the household takes time and patience – but don't worry, we have advice for this!
"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.
The general rule for multi-cat households is the 'plus one' rule. This means for every one cat you have you should have one water bowl, a litter tray and a sleeping area plus a spare. For food bowls, having as many bowls as you have cats is the most sensible approach, to allow tailored nutrition for each cat.
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.
Most cats prefer an open litter box. Most cat owners prefer a covered litter box. Covered litter boxes may trap odors and make the human environment smell better but for those reasons they may not be as desirable for the cat. If boxes are not cleaned regularly, the odor may be aversive to them.
Basements and laundry rooms are popular choices but not actually recommended. Instead, Geller suggests the bedroom. "Your bedroom is a good location for a cat litter box since it's usually a quiet place," she says.
After months of testing, our overall favorite is Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Multi-Cat Litter, which clumps well, absorbs scents even better, and won't spread dust everywhere. We've found it to be especially effective in multi-cat households.