Hi Guys,

We recently just purchased two bengal kittens which are amazing, except when it comes to feeding time.

When the breeder had them I guess they ate out of the same bowl which meant one was getting a lot more food than the other, which i'm trying to change.

We've started feeding them in separate dishes, however as soon as one bowl hits the ground they both run to the one bowl - you need to pick up one and show it the other bowl, they then scoff the food as quickly as possible, almost choking on it. They then race to each others bowls to see if there are any scraps left.

Yesterday when I tried to feed them i went into the kitchen and prepared the bowls without them knowing and scrubbed my hands so that they couldn't smell it. As soon as they saw me they ran and me and started climbing up me screaming.

They're lovely little things, I just need some advice on how to train them to eat out of separate bowls and minimise the scratches and accidental biting to happen during playtime only.

Cheers!

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The little monsters 3

It's good to feed them in separate bowls. It sounds like they are really hungry at feeding time. As growing kittens, they do need frequent meals -- just like a baby would. You can try to separate the feeding areas and take one kitty over to that location and bowl. Hopefully, the breeder gave you a feeding schedule and the fact that as the kitten grows, he requires additional food. It sounds like your kitties are still hungry even after eating. Most cats will walk away from the food when they've had enough. Your kitties need to be gaining about a pound a month until adulthood. I've never heard of a kitten climbing up a person because they are about to be fed. Make sure you're giving them enough food at each meal.

As for scratches -- I think everyone with a kitten has gotten a lot of them. The best way is to play with them with wand toys. This is not going to stop them from attacking your feet as they are now prey. Do not let them use your hands as toys.

Thanks for the responses so far. They're on a raw diet which I'm following from the breeder, vet and raw food supplier (farm down south). They get fed at 9am (raw rabbit and ox heart), 6pm (raw rabbit and ox heart) and then a handful of sliced chicken breast at 10pm. According to the breeder, vet and farmer this is ideal. They're just being smart I think and trying to win me over, it's not going to happen.

It's as if they panic for food. If you get off the couch they run to the kitchen, it's as if they're always starving.

The little girl jumps and grabs the bowl as you're putting it down - sometimes knocking it all over the place.

Any tips would help...

If you can possibly fit into your own schedule, multiple meals would be better while they are kits. Three or four meals a day is not too many. They have small tums and probably cannot get enough food in two sittings.

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~ Kyenta

I'm not sure why this would annoy them. I would not, personally, be annoyed at someone feeding me more if I am hungry, growing, and need it.
Kits are flexible and adjust easily to a new schedule.

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~ Kyenta

Try feeding them a little bit more at meals. They are growing kitties and will require more food as they get older up to adult time. They are obviously very hungry by the time their scheduled meal comes along. While it's great that you're keeping them on the breeder's schedule, I'm sure that was more because of all the kittens. Little ones need food. Their tummies are small and can't hold as much. Don't be afraid to up the food here a little bit.

I would also try feeding them more frequently. When our two first came to us, we were told by the breeder 1/2 a pouch each twice a day. This was nowhere enough a couple of days later, and I started to give them multiple meals, breakfast, lunch, tea and supper. They only have small tummies, but lots of growing to do as kittens and so they soon burn it up.

My two were way more content when they had three to four meals a day (certainly not annoyed!!!) and the competitive eating soon improved as well. When they are older you can revert to two meals a day but right now I would definitely feed more frequently.

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Clare
Hendrix and Jagger, Brown Marble Boys (born 18 August 2013)
Hampshire, UK

Cats are very adaptable! Kittens need at least three to four meals per day. If you're just going to do three, then give them a larger portion. Cats know when they are full and will walk away from the bowl. They are using up a lot of energy. I would not hesitate ti give the kitties as much as they want to eat -- at least the first several months of their lives.

I give my cats 6 small meals a day. I started when they were kittens like yours and ravenous. They split one 3 oz can wet food around 6am. Then they go out and play until I am ready to go to work. I lure them into the house with 1/2 cup dry to share. I put a 1/4 cup snack in their auto feeder to pop up at noon and another 1/4 cup snack to pop up at 4pm. I am home by 6:30-7:00 and they share a second 3 oz can of wet food. Then they go on the patio to play until bed time. I lure them into the house with 1/8 cup of dry food just before bed. It may sound like a lot, but that's one 3 oz can of wet and about 1/2 – 3/4 cup of dry per cat each day.

Jill, I like the way you're doing it and your kitties are no longer kittens. Raiden has food out all day long. Even wet. I'll dump what he doesn't eat into a container to give the raccoons later in the day and open him up a new can. He'll go through a lot of wet food. The wet food comes up at night and there is always dry food for him. He's a nibbler! He eats only a little bit and then will come back later. I've always fed my kitties this way.

Thanks for the responses. As well as going by their recommended feeding schedule from the breeder this is also what the food supplier and their vet recommends.

I would love to be able to feed them 4 - 6 times a day, but unfortunately we all work. :(