Question for those who've owned cats & dogs at the same time - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 06-08-2011, 07:20 PM

I have two cats, and I'm now seriously considering getting a little dog. I'm thinking that food will be a problem. When I'm around, I can tell them "NO, don't eat each other's food." What happens when we're sleeping or not home?

Any suggestions?

Retro4Life · 06-08-2011, 07:46 PM

If you feed them both at specific times, I'd think they would exhaust their supplies and their bowls would be empty until the next feeding. So hopefully overnight there wouldn't be any food to steal.

When I feed my cats, they just gobble it all down in a few minutes. There's nothing left! And when we had a dog, it was the same way. Back in those days, we'd often overfeed our pets a bit and there would at times be "left overs" particularly in the cat food, but for the most part we were lucky that our dogs never cared for the cat's food.

Janice · 06-08-2011, 08:10 PM

It's not that way with our cats. I keep dry food down all the time, and they get canned food once, maybe twice a day. They don't eat that in one sitting either. I'm screwed.

Zoneboy · 06-08-2011, 08:34 PM

My Grandparents had a similar problem and bought one of those gates intended to keep young children from going into other rooms. They were able to feed the cats and keep the puppy at bay at the same time. Since the cats were able to jump over the gate, they gave him his food in the bathroom or another part of the house with the door closed to keep the cats away.

robyrob · 06-08-2011, 08:40 PM

we put the cat food up on a small table in front of a window where they can eat and watch the birdies, at first the dog would occasionally try to get up tyhere and steal the cat food, but some punishment and scolding has got her trained off of that now (it helps that one of our cats freaks out and chases the dog off whenever she tries to go near HER food, or into one of HER rooms)

a couple of the cats will drink the dog's water or sometimes even nibble on the dog food a bit, but I don't think its a big deal. One of our cats sometimes likes to stand IN the dog's food bowl and just stare the dog down until she gives up and goes away.

Waterston_Fan · 06-08-2011, 09:10 PM

Try to have the dog and cat interact for a bit then have the dog in the room for awhile then try again...

Food I think if your cats can, just have the cat food on the table or on the chair and have them eat it there. I don't know what kind of dog you will get but there are some dogs that will eat too much.

tiredmike59 · 06-08-2011, 10:40 PM

I never had a problem with the dog and cat eating the other's food.
The cat thought the dog's food was disgusting, and the dog much preferred
those caramels in the litter box. I told him they would spoil his supper, but
he ate them anyway.

06-08-2011, 07:20 PM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Question for those who've owned cats & dogs at the same time I have two cats, and I'm now seriously considering getting a little dog. I'm thinking that food will be a problem. When I'm around, I can tell them "NO, don't eat each other's food." What happens when we're sleeping or not home? Any suggestions?

06-08-2011, 07:46 PM	#2
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	If you feed them both at specific times, I'd think they would exhaust their supplies and their bowls would be empty until the next feeding. So hopefully overnight there wouldn't be any food to steal. When I feed my cats, they just gobble it all down in a few minutes. There's nothing left! And when we had a dog, it was the same way. Back in those days, we'd often overfeed our pets a bit and there would at times be "left overs" particularly in the cat food, but for the most part we were lucky that our dogs never cared for the cat's food.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

06-08-2011, 08:34 PM	#4
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,352	My Grandparents had a similar problem and bought one of those gates intended to keep young children from going into other rooms. They were able to feed the cats and keep the puppy at bay at the same time. Since the cats were able to jump over the gate, they gave him his food in the bathroom or another part of the house with the door closed to keep the cats away.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

06-08-2011, 08:40 PM	#5
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,180	we put the cat food up on a small table in front of a window where they can eat and watch the birdies, at first the dog would occasionally try to get up tyhere and steal the cat food, but some punishment and scolding has got her trained off of that now (it helps that one of our cats freaks out and chases the dog off whenever she tries to go near HER food, or into one of HER rooms) a couple of the cats will drink the dog's water or sometimes even nibble on the dog food a bit, but I don't think its a big deal. One of our cats sometimes likes to stand IN the dog's food bowl and just stare the dog down until she gives up and goes away.
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06-08-2011, 08:10 PM	#3
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	It's not that way with our cats. I keep dry food down all the time, and they get canned food once, maybe twice a day. They don't eat that in one sitting either. I'm screwed.

06-08-2011, 09:10 PM	#6
Waterston_Fan Eternal Member Eternal Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 26, 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,195	Try to have the dog and cat interact for a bit then have the dog in the room for awhile then try again... Food I think if your cats can, just have the cat food on the table or on the chair and have them eat it there. I don't know what kind of dog you will get but there are some dogs that will eat too much.

06-08-2011, 10:40 PM	#7
tiredmike59 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 05, 2010 Location: OUTLAW STATE {MO} Posts: 1,868	I never had a problem with the dog and cat eating the other's food. The cat thought the dog's food was disgusting, and the dog much preferred those caramels in the litter box. I told him they would spoil his supper, but he ate them anyway.