Private Dining Rooms
~About a 5 minute read~
There is something so wonderful about having more than one cat in a home. Double the affection… double the play time and fun… and double the personality! I love seeing two cats grooming each other or playing together. It’s just so endearing when cats are being themselves around other cats. It’s as if they’re fulfilling their mandate or their daily cat quota.
There’s quite a spectrum of cat-friendship… just like there is for humans! Your cats might absolutely adore each other but they can still squabble every so often. Maybe your cats squabble more often than not. If you are looking to improve your cats’ relationship, a few changes around the food bowl can make a big difference.
Cats are not social hunters or eaters. They are also the originators of social distancing. Cats prefer distance - or at least the choice to have some distance - between each other. This is especially true around the food bowl.
Food can be a source of tension between cats. This is why I recommend feeding your cats in - what I like to call - “Separate Dining Rooms” and the subject of this blog post.
“Eating Together Means They Are Getting Along” is a myth!
Feeding our cats together is a common practice. Some might even offer food to two or more cats from the same bowl. This is also often used as an introduction tactic between two cats and a way to measure how well cats are getting along. If they are eating beside each other, they must like each other…
But really, cats will eat beside each other only because their tolerance is incredibly high. They also might be overriding their instincts due to lack of choice. Just like not every human will hold the door open for you, not all cats will be as nice and tolerant or even know to hold the door. (The analogy started to fall apart at the end there.)
It’s honestly a testament to how nice cats can be that they will tolerate eating near each other. Cat’s are wonderful creatures, aren’t they?
But why test them? Why compromise peace and harmony in the household?
Cats don’t want to get into fights. They will do everything that they can do to avoid conflict. It takes a lot for them to make their feelings known and they will tolerate a lot. It’s like eating at the kitchen table with your annoying younger sibling. You’ll only tolerate so much!
You may find that a cat shakes their body after eating, or always faces towards the other cat to keep an eye on them. Or maybe one cat waits until the other has finished eating to start their own meal. Or they all eat incredibly fast!
These are all signs of tension around the food bowl. It’s subtle, I know! But the cats are saying “oh go ahead of me in line” or “I’m going to keep my eye on you” or “I need to eat this now or else I won’t get any”.
Sharing food is a very human thing to do. We love to gather around the table for meals. We love talking about food. We love sharing recipes and baking for each other. Potlucks are the best! Cat’s do not subscribe to this lifestyle. In fact, they prefer the opposite!
Eating together does not mean that cats are getting along. In fact, it will test and strain their relationship instead.
How to feed in Separate Dining Rooms
The concept of feeding in separate dining rooms (maybe not literally but at least figuratively) is a strategy where we are creating cat-safe environments. We are taking into consideration the cat brain and their preferences and providing them with an environment that works for them.
Separate dining rooms means feeding your cats behind a closed door. A bathroom or a bedroom works perfectly. Give them about 20 minutes to finish their meal and then you can open the door again. If your cat needs longer to finish their meal, give them longer or give them a smaller portion and add more meal times. Just make sure everyone has finished their meal before you open the door.
Working with Grazers
If your cats are grazers, try feeding multiple times a day. A good schedule could be: Morning, Later morning, Lunch, Afternoon, Late Afternoon, Evening, and Late Evening. Pick and choose what works for you and add more meals if needed.
It’s more cat-like to eat multiple, small meals in a day. Grazing is actually just your cat being more of a cat!
You may already know your cat’s grazing schedule. When does she come to the bowl for more food? Try to space out your “separate dining room” times to align with when she naturally wants to eat. Feel free to adjust the timing over a week or two to suit your schedule better. You’ll all soon know the routine and your cats will even go to their designated rooms in anticipation of meal time.
A Closed Door is just not possible!
If feeding behind a closed door isn’t possible, try feeding one or more cats:
On top of the fridge;
On top of the counter or table;
On a shelf in another room;
On the back of the couch;
Behind a baby gate;
On opposite sides of the room.
You might see a theme here: most of my suggestions are somewhere off the ground. Cats love this: privacy and elevation! Think The Lion King and their elevated den.
If you have one cat who loves elevation and another cat who is more often on the ground, use that to your advantage and feed them accordingly.
You may still want to keep an eye on the cats to ensure that each cat is finishing their meal and that peace is maintained.
Other Benefits of Feeding Separately
Feeding separately means you’ll be able to keep track of how much each cat is eating. You may even see cats who typically don’t eat their full meal, will do so once given privacy.
Do you have one cat who is chonky while another is lean? Do you have a picky cat? Do your cats immediately regurgitate their food after eating? Are your cats on different foods and they’re eating the other cat’s food?
Feeding your cats separately may solve these problems. You’ll be able to keep track of each of your cat’s daily intake better and keep their eating habits consistent.
You’ll also be able to notice if your cat stops eating. This is important to note because not eating for even 24 hours is dangerous for cats. You’ll be able to identify when your cat isn’t feeling well faster and get them to the vet before it becomes a crisis. This can be lifesaving.
Final Thoughts
Meal time is sacred. It’s the time when our cats are fuelling their little bodies. Sharing bowls or feeding areas are a common source of tension and conflict between cats. Even if you don’t notice any conflict between your cats, try feeding them in separate dining rooms. You might be surprised with the results!
