Feeding multiple cats can sometimes feel like you’re hosting a very chaotic dinner party. But don’t worry, with a few small, easy changes, mealtime can be smooth, stress-free and fun for your feline friends.
Here’s how to keep all your foodies calm, happy, and well-fed:
1. Set Up Separate Feeding Areas
Imagine if you had to eat your dinner elbow-to-elbow with someone trying to steal your chips, no thanks...Cats prefer having their own space to eat. To prevent competition or food guarding, give each cat their own bowl in a separate spot. This could mean different rooms, different corners of the same room, or even different heights if you have climbers (like a windowsill) if needed.
2. Stick to a Consistent Feeding Schedule
Cats love a schedule (even if they pretend to be cool about it) and routine helps cats feel secure. Feeding your cats at the same times each day creates predictability and reduces mealtime stress. When they know food is coming, there’s less chance of competition or anxiety around eating.
3. Use Slow Feeders for Fast Eaters
If you have a cat who eats very quickly, slow feeders or puzzle feeders can help. These tools encourage slower eating, giving other cats more time to finish their meals without feeling rushed or pressured.
4. One Bowl Per Cat
Each cat should have their own food and water bowl. Sharing bowls can cause tension, especially if one cat is more dominant. Individual bowls help ensure that every cat gets the right amount of food without feeling the need to compete. We recommend a raised, ceramic, fresh, clean bowl.
5. Provide a Calm Eating Environment
Try to create a quiet, low-traffic space for mealtimes. Loud noises or lots of activity can cause anxiety, especially for more sensitive cats. A peaceful environment makes it easier for all your cats to eat in a relaxed way.
6. Monitor Portions Carefully
When feeding multiple cats, it’s important to make sure each cat is getting the right amount of food.Overeating, like one cat sneaking extra bites from a slower eater’s bowl, or under-eating can easily happen when multiple cats are fed at the same time. Watch their body conditions over time and adjust portions if needed and if you’re unsure, our Customer Love Team is always happy to help.
7. Don't Hover
It’s completely natural to want to supervise and make sure your feline friends are eating peacefully, but it’s important not to hover or stand over them while they eat, this can actually create more stress and tension. Instead, aim to be nearby in a calm, relaxed way. Quiet observation from a distance helps your cats feel safe and confident during mealtime, without feeling pressured or anxious. Trust that with the right setup, your cats will learn to eat calmly together, and you’ll only need to step in if absolutely necessary.
Our helpful sign-up calculator is designed to make sure each feline foodie gets exactly what they need. But if you’d like to tailor your Marro plan to better suit feeding multiple cats, whether it’s to fit your budget or more tips to help make mealtimes more relaxing, just reach out to us, we are the feeding experts (if we do say so ourselves).