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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Can kittens overeat?

9 replies

Mincepiesallyearround · 23/11/2020 14:56

We’ve got two 15 week old rescue kittens. They’ve been here a week and settled in brilliantly. For the first few days they’d happily eat their wet food slowly side by side. In the past few days the boy has wolfed down his pouch of kitten food and moves on to his sisters bowl while she is still eating. She’s more of a grazer and eats a half to two thirds and then wanders off (later she comes back to the kitchen). But he often eats hers or she moves aside once he muscles in. We’ve lifted her bowl once she’s temporarily finished and put it aside but he’s been jumping into the counter to reach it and tearing cling film off etc! They’re on three pouches of high meat content kitten food a day with biscuits down all day. The boy is now noticeably larger than the girl from the week he’s been with us.

Can kittens overeat? Should I give the boy more at mealtimes like 1.5 pouches?

Shall I carry on trying to separate their food or let them get on with it? It’s hard to put them in different rooms as the litter tray is in the kitchen so that is where they are fed. Of my old cats my female would never have tolerated the other pushing in on her bowl so I’ve not dealt with this before!

OP posts:
JorisBonson · 23/11/2020 14:58

Kittens are absolute gannets. Try staggering their mealtimes so the greedy boy doesn't take his sister's dinner (I say this with experience of a very fat, greedy boy).

Mincepiesallyearround · 23/11/2020 15:00

It’s hard to separate them though because if I shut him out the kitchen so I can let her eat in peace he can’t reach the litter tray. My old cats would never have tolerated this so I’m a bit bemused why she doesn’t bop him one and tell him to sod off!

OP posts:
FannysSteadiedBuffs · 23/11/2020 15:06

We have a boy girl sibling pair and he is a fat bastard who will eat her food just because he's greedy and also to piss her off. She's more than capable of slapping him but for some reason not while he is eating. When he is eating she licks his bumhole Hmm We put two bowls out, they swap, she licks his arse, she leaves, he leaves, she comes back later and finishes off. She's definitely a grazer.

OllysArmy · 23/11/2020 15:10

We have 2 sisters one is about 50% bigger and will muscle in on her sister's food. Her usual trick is to eat half her dinner by which time the smaller cat has moved away and then start on that one . She rarely finishes both bowls and both come back later for seconds.

However the wet food is only a small amount (they share a tin) to complement their main food which is dry (biscuits) and the smaller cat loves the kibble. Dry food is much better for grazers (and doesn't smell!)

JorisBonson · 23/11/2020 15:19

@FannysSteadiedBuffs that made me laugh my drink out of my nose.

OP, surely he'll be ok for 10 minutes while your girl eats?

Shmithecat2 · 23/11/2020 15:22

Have they been wormed? Do you leave any kibble out for them to graze on? Did they have limited access to food before you got them?

Mincepiesallyearround · 23/11/2020 15:31

They were wormed the day we collected them from the rescue, so yes. Kibble is down all the time. Haha sounds like some sibling pairs are a right handful!

Keeping them separated at mealtimes is further complicated by two young children coming in and out and leaving doors open! I think I’ll keep an eye on it and put her leftovers aside for her if she shows signs she’s hungry again soon after.

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 23/11/2020 17:39

No, kittens can't overeat (in theory). They're growing. I would just keep on filling the food bowls. Only reassess if one starts looking particularly fat.

Mumdiva99 · 24/11/2020 07:23

@FannysSteadiedBuffs glad my cats aren't the only bottom lickers!! Lol. Although only one of mine does it. Her sister doesn't return the favour....is that usual?

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