How To Feed Two Cats When One Is Overweight

Feeding Multiple Cats

Got more than one cat? Trying to feed them can be tricky, especially when one needs to lose a few pounds. It’s like a daily food puzzle, right?

Every cat eats differently. Some gobble their dinner down fast. Others prefer to snack all day. Plus, some eat a lot, some eat very little. It gets stressful trying to make sure everyone gets enough food, but not too much, especially if one cat is on a diet.

Good news though, there are smart ways to make sure your overweight cat sticks to its diet. You can manage their meals and keep them from eating another cat’s food.

Microchip Feeders

Want to stop your overweight cat from stealing food? A microchip cat feeder is your best bet. These feeders were made for homes with multiple pets. They keep food safe from greedy eaters.

Here’s how they work:

• You program your cat’s microchip to the feeder. It’s usually just one button click.
• The lid opens only when it senses a cat with a registered microchip.
• If an unrecognized pet comes near, the lid stays closed.

You can feed your dieting cat normally, then put the other cat’s food into the microchip feeder. This way, your overweight cat can’t sneak extra bites.

We think the SureFeed Microchip Feeder is a great choice. It might seem like a lot of money upfront, but it’s much cheaper than paying for many vet visits to help your cat lose weight.

This feeder even has a training mode. It helps cats get used to the lid opening gradually, so they feel comfortable.

Sure Petcare SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder with Sealed Lid, RFID Collar Tags Compatible, Works for Wet and Dry Food, White, 4 x C Cell Batteries Required, Not Included

• SELECTIVE ACCESS FEEDER: The lid only opens for authorised pets, preventing cross-feeding, ideal for pets on prescription diets
• PERFECT FOR WET AND DRY FOOD: Sealed lid and bowl helps keep food fresher for longer, keep flies out, whilst locking odours in
• MICROCHIP AND RFID COLLAR COMPATIBLE: Works with all common identification microchips and the Sure Petcare RFID Collar Tag (1 included)
• SIMPLE ONE BUTTON PROGRAMMING: Easy and hassle-free set-up with the touch of a button, and the capability to store up to 32 pet IDs
• BATTERY POWERED: Up to 6 months battery life. Use with 4 x C Cell batteries (not included)

£113.01

Check Price

Last update on 2025-06-20

Top Tips for Feeding Cats Separately

Microchip feeders are great, but there are other ways to manage feeding too. Some of these need more effort from you, or some training for your cats. Pick what works best for your home.

• Separate Rooms: If your cats eat their food right away, this is easy. Just feed them in different rooms until they finish. Or, one cat can eat outside, if that works.
• Separate Carriers: This method keeps cats apart and can also make their cat carrier a positive space. Put food at the back of each carrier, then close the door while they eat. It helps if your cat is nervous about carriers.
• Different Meal Times: You can train your cats to eat at different times. Feed one cat first, keeping the other out of the room. Once the first cat is done, switch them. This works if each cat eats their meal quickly. It takes a little patience from you.
• Baby Gates: If you can’t use separate rooms, try baby gates or pet enclosures. These keep your cats apart during meal times.
• Supervise Meals: This isn’t the best use of your time, but it works. Watch both cats while they eat. Move them away if they try to eat each other’s food.
• Train for Scheduled Meals: One problem with multiple cats is that some like to graze all day. Leaving dry food out is too tempting for an overweight cat. Over 5-7 days, you can train your cats to eat only at set times. Just remove any food left out for grazing, and take away unfinished meals after 5-10 minutes. They will get used to it.

“Don’t Feed Me!” Collars

If your cat is overweight and goes outdoors, a “Don’t feed me!” collar can be really helpful. You control their diet at home, but what about when they’re out exploring?

When your cat wears a “don’t feed me” collar, other people will know your cat is on a diet or has health issues. They’ll then know to send your cat home for meals instead of offering food.