Cats feeding

None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.

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If your cat refuses food because it is not fresh, do not replace it; wait until the next scheduled feeding time to teach them to accept the provided food.
This trains the cat not to manipulate you.
- This approach does not work for all cats; some may refuse to eat regardless.
one person who lived it
Use stainless steel bowls instead of plastic to prevent bacterial buildup that cats can smell.
Plastic bowls can trap bacteria in their porous surface, and cats have a sense of smell 14x better than humans.
one person who lived it
One approach to slow down eating is placing golf balls in the food dish, though this may result in messy cleanup.
The balls force the cat to eat around obstacles, potentially reducing vomiting from fast eating.
- Cats may swat the balls out, creating sticky messes on carpets.
one person who lived it
Consider providing a drinking fountain instead of a static bowl, as cats often instinctively avoid stagnant water.
Running water may help prevent chronic UTI issues associated with low hydration.
- One person reported their cat hisses at and refuses to use fountains.
3 people, independently
Use a shallower or wider water dish to prevent whisker irritation if your cat is not drinking enough.
Sensitive whiskers may be irritated by touching the sides of narrow or deep dishes.
- Some sources suggest cats dislike getting their whiskers wet rather than irritated by the dish shape.
3 people, independently

Place water dishes in multiple locations around the house, including bathrooms, to encourage drinking.
One person reported their cat's coat became glossy and they drank more water all day and night after adding a dish upstairs.
2 people, independently
Elevate the water dish slightly using a shelf under the bowl.
This may help keep water out of the cat's nose or accommodate neck issues like a thyroid tumor.
one person who lived it
Check for leftover kibble before the next meal to ensure the cat is eating enough.
A small amount of leftover kibble indicates the cat is not under-fed.
one person who lived it
Ignore begging behavior and withhold food until the cat is calm, using a stern tone if necessary, to train them not to beg.
Rewarding begging reinforces the behavior; waiting for calmness breaks the association.
one person who lived it

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Use heavy-duty, wide, and flat ceramic dishes for water if your cat tends to tip over lighter containers.
Some cats treat spilling water as a game and will tip over anything that isn't sufficiently heavy.
one person who lived it