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My problem is the cat's food must be left out. She's hyperthyroid and it is very important that she can eat whenever she needs to (literally any time we can get her to eat.) I've been through this before, with a cat, and once they lose weight you can't put it back on. Every ounce of weight we can keep on her is that much longer we get to keep her healthy.
The cat has no interest in the dog's food. She's a bit indignant that he eats hers though.
This is only an issue when we're home because the dog is penned when we leave the house. We'd like to let him roam the house when we're home but we have to figure out how to keep the cat from going on a diet every time we let him out. She can't afford to lose any weight.
Since your pup is not going to be eating the cats food while you are away, feed your cat during that time. Put the cats bowl away when you are home, the cat will adjust.
We've always had a dedicated cat room with a baby gate, for food, litter box, and just when the cats feel like being by themselves and resting without dogs deciding to try and play (would be extra important with a puppy!) We also cut a cat sized opening in the basement door, since one of my cats doesn't like the others and that gives her more choices to get away from everyone. As a thought though, my youngest cat was kind of skinny and I was trying to get him a little extra food for awhile. I was putting some on top of a tall china cabinet my older cats couldn't even get to. If you don't have a room you can make the cat's room (although I think a relaxation room is best for cats living with dogs) I bet you could find a place the lab can't reach if you really look around the house.
Pammyd, I bet if you let your dog spend supervised time with the kitties, you'd find your dog learns very quickly to interact with them, and could be buddies with those that allow it! Whatever works best for you, though!
This is a good idea, and if you haven't the extra room, surely there is some where in the house that you could put cats food where puppy can't reach?..on the freezer?..clean one (top) bookcase shelf?
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