WHy do cats believe that food on their cat companion's plate is so so much better? I personally have to watch my cats while they're eating to prevent plate switching, since our bengal thinks that his other cat mate's food tastes so much better no matter what it is (even when it's the same food).
Do you have similar dinner arrangements? Is there dinner plate envy between your cats? =))))))))
I would love to hear your stories!
P.S. Also I can never ever feed one cat without feeding the other (kitten+adult cat situation going on) and not get evil offended looks and pityful cries in my face.... So I have to feed them both at the same time...

Yes, definitely, mine do this too. People have similar "grass is always greener..." impulses too, so I find it more amusing than surprising. And you're right, it presents a big problem when one cat has to eat a special food (for taking a medicine or recovering from something or whatnot).

What I find interesting is that the "eating hierarchy" is often not what you'd expect. In fact for my three it seems to be the exact opposite of what I'd expect. Gaga is the biggest, toughest, burly-est cat who can easily take down the other two when they play/wrestle/chase. But she is the least assertive about selecting her food (even though she's the most food motivated strangely) so the other two routinely wedge themselves between her and her food, making her switch, with no blowback. And then the other bengal, Serafina, the picky eater, is 2nd. She can make Gaga switch but not Neytiri. Even though she can be kind of tough on Neytiri in other circumstances depending on her mood, she recognizes some sort of "eating pecking order" which she doesn't challenge. And then "top cat" is Neytiri who is the smallest, youngest, least athletic cat who always ends up getting the worst of it in wrestling and chasing games, she seems to have her "pick", and can then separate either of the other from their food dishes and make them "switch"... weird!

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The little monsters 3

I have 5 cats, so mealtime is quite the event! Lots of plate switching going on. Kinda like musical chairs. They seem to work it out and no one goes hungry.

My oldest (and only female) is the one who will push the boys away from their dinner, then stay and clean up everyone else's dish. They all give in to her.

When I first brought my baby Bengal home, he had to stay in his "safe room" and eat the food that the breeder started him on, so there was a lot of curiousity about what HE was getting that the others were missing out on. The cats would literally tear at the carpet under the door trying to get in. Once Bengal baby Hunter was let out to join the pack, they all eat the same food, so it gets less crazy at mealtime.

Rio and Chilli do this all the time. Funnily enough, although Chilli is the "dominant" one of the two when it comes to food Rio is the boss and Chilli lets Rio rule!

Lisa
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My cats will choose to eat the other's food if i leave them alone. But Osiris still eats kitten food, and I worry if Ramses eats it then he is gonna get fat, so I put Ramses in the bathroom to eat and close the door, and then I will put Osiris' food out in the hall or living room.
Osiris, despite being the baby, is also the more bossy one. ESPECIALLY with their mushy food. I give Osiris a whole can, since he is a baby and still growing and i give ramses half a can, since he doesnt need as many calories. Well, Osiris eats his so fast and Ramses, the little priss that he is, takes his time and chews and looks around. Next thing he knows, Osiris is there to steal his mushy food. Ramses doesnt even care! But if Ramses even walks too close to Osiris when he is eating his mushy food, he growls! To eliminate this behavior, I just feed them separately now.

I have this problem but it is made more tricky by the fact that 3 of more 4 kitties are on different foods!

Bubbly - has KD food as she has kidney issues, but Jasper loves her food so goes for it when he can;
Chilli - has food for cycstitis but prefers the high protein food;
Tara - is a blob and is supposed to be eating smaller portions but grazes on anything that she can get her mouth on; and
Jasper - I try to keep him on the high protein food but is happier eating the food of all of the above!

I start them all off on the right food, usually re-arrange them once then give up :-/

My kittens (5 months old sister) share the same food plate and litter box. They are very close and everything has been fine until now. The smaller of the two eats very fast and gets more than her share. I have noticed the larger one growling lately at meal time. I thought about putting two dishes down, but the the greedy one will eat hers and go for the other plate and then a fight will develop. I am hoping the lust for food will subside as they get older.