My cat has turned into a bully and a jerk-suggestions?

[hangemhigh]

Hilton is 2 (spayed female) and has been the only pet in the house since I rescued her-never a problem at all, the perfect only child. A month ago I adopted Romeo, same age, male, neutered. They've both adjusted nicely in every way except FEEDING. Hilton is FAT. She's on a special diet to take off a couple of pounds. Romeo is thin with a lousy coat-he needs to gain a couple and have better nutrition overall. To introduce them, I led up to feeding them at the same time and found that Hilton bullies Romeo (no aggression other than she just hogs both food bowls until he gives up and wonders away). I have begun to feed them separately now as they both require different food. When I isolate Romeo to feed, he cries for Hilton and won't eat. Vice versa for her. Driving me crazy-Any ideas? Hilton is getting fatter and fatter and Romeo just doesn't eat when he's isolated to feed unless she's around. When she's around, she's runs him off. Any ideas on how to fix this? They're driving me nuts!

[Eurobabe]

1. Yowsa, not sure how to cure this one...

Could you give them both some wet food perhaps something that is low calorie so that at least she gets fed, and then maybe you can offer him something later?

I solved my food dilemma in a weird way. Demon is thin, but he can't tolerate Sebastians' diet food, even one kibble of high fiber food and he barfs. So I have S. food in a low cabinet, and we open and close the "trough" as he begs for it. (which is like always??) The Demon has his own food dish up on a desk countertop, with his sensitive stomach blend. Works for us, but you have to train them to go to their own corners. Don't ask how we did that?? Dunno.

[hangemhigh]

3. Cool idea-I don't know of a low cal wet food-any suggestions? nt

[Lorien]

2. I have this same problem with Puck and Miro

Miro will eat Puck's food, but Puck won't eat without Miro. My solution: I put puck and her food on top of the fridge, and feed Miro near the bottom of the fridge. Miro is too fat to jump anywhere, and Puck is young enough to safely jump down when she's through. She can see him eating his food, so she feels OK about eating hers.

You might try Organix dry food and Wellness canned food for Romeo; they're holistic, and my friends and I have had great results for our cats with both products.

[hangemhigh]

4. This gives me an idea, what do you think?

I work at home and am in my office at the computer most of the day. I am thinking of settting up 2 food stations, one on either side of me so I can "train" them to their own food. Also like the idea of putting my little fattie down low and Romeo up high-

As for nutrition, Hilton is on a vet prescribed Purina for Fat Cats (Overweight Mgmt.) feed. I don't know much about Purina products but already assume I want her on something that's not made up of crap. And the vet raped me on the price. I started the other cat on Royal Canine with a pouch of Friskies wet each day (couldn't find a holistic wet at my pet store.) I am also interested in a brand that I can stock up on in advance of the coming economic onslaught.

Really appreciate everyone's suggestions on feed-Hil needs to drop some weight but is very healthy with a gorgeous silky coat. Romeo looks "poor" with long hair that has no sheen or gloss. It's clearly nutritional and not grooming.

Thanks in advance-I guess I am becoming the crazy cat lady I always made fun of!

[Lorien]

6. Sounds like a good plan

you might try clicker training as a training method: www.clickertraining.com

As for pet foods, check out this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=255&topic_id=555&mesg_id=555

Innova makes a good light natural food-that's what Miro gets much of the time. Holistic foods have fewer or no fillers, so the cat eats less anyway (more nutrition means fewer mouthfuls, generally) He's lost a lot of weight since going holistic.

Some sources for Natural pet foods:

www.waggintails.com

www.pookiesbowwowbakery.com

http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/dept_brands.asp?dept%5Fid=131

(note: they advertise Nutro, but Nutro, like Purina, is a Red company).

Also, check out Artemis pet foods retailer finder for your area:
www.artemiscompany.com (my cats are wild for their "fresh mix" brand).

[hangemhigh]

7. Oh, thank you so much!!!!!!! nt

[hangemhigh]

5. Pix of the critters, Hilton and Romeo

Hil, left, Romi, right.

[demnan]

8. That's completely opposite of mine (the thinner male dominates)

Pad Thai dominates the food. I feed Lily in the den (where she is very happy, as she is irritated by Pad Thai) so she can get her glucosimine pill at least before Pad Thai eats her food. He will try to eat all the food he can so she doesn't get any.