Changing your cat’s diet too quickly can cause digestive upset, including vomiting, diarrhea, or refusal to eat. A gradual transition helps your cat’s stomach adjust and reduces the risk of these problems.

If you notice any vomiting, diarrhea, or other signs of digestive upset, slow down the transition process and consult your veterinarian.

Gradually add the new diet over a minimum of one to two weeks. Start by substituting one-quarter of the new diet for two to three days, then increase to one-half of the total volume of food for another two to four days, then three-quarters of the new food for a final three to five days before completely switching to the new diet.

It is vital that you closely monitor and record calories when starting a weight reduction program. If your cat resists the new food, try warming it slightly or mixing in a small amount of tuna water or low-sodium broth to increase palatability. If your cat does not eat for 48 consecutive hours, see a veterinarian.

Cats are obligate carnivores and often do better on a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet for weight loss. For many cats, a canned prescription therapeutic diet fed up to 3 to 6 times daily is recommended.

Do not use a manual gravity-dispensed self-feeder. While this seems obvious, these types of “auto-feeders” are nothing more than unlimited food dispensers. The same rule applies to community food bowls or indiscriminate refilling: “Just fill their bowl to the top, honey!” is a recipe for weight gain in cats.

Portion control and caloric restriction are the most effective and safe methods to help your cat reach a healthy weight.

Pet your cat or play with it when it begs for food. Many cats will be happy to substitute food for affection, so flip the equation, and you may find that playtime displaces chow-time.

Try dividing the total daily food volume or calories into three to six small meals.

APOP Founder Dr. Ernie Ward frequently recommends a “Midnight Weight Loss Snack” for cats, typically consisting of a small portion of a high-protein food or treat for cats that begin meowing in the middle of the night. Offer this “extra meal” just before your bedtime to satiate your cat during the night.

When the bowl is empty, and your cat is asking for more, try adding a few kibbles of its therapeutic weight loss diet to the bowl. By a few, limit it to no more than five to ten tiny kibbles. Be sure to include any of these “treat meals” in your cat’s total caloric consumption calculations.

Offer fresh water instead of food. Many cats love fresh water, so when they are eyeing an empty food bowl, try filling up the water bowl instead.

What about the cat that wakes you at four in the morning to be fed or the cat that meows incessantly or head bumps you until you feed them? Our cats have often trained us well.

Here are some tips when dealing with a cat begging for food:

Do not use a manual gravity or auto-dispense self-feeder. While this seems obvious, these types of “auto-feeders” are nothing more than unlimited food dispensers. The same rule applies to community food bowls or indiscriminate refilling (“Just fill their bowl to the top, honey!”).

Careful portion control and gradual caloric restriction are the most effective and safe methods to help your cat reach a healthy body condition.

Pet, scratch, brush, or play with your cat when it begs for food. Many cats will be happy to substitute food for affection, so flip the equation, and you may find that playtime displaces chow-time.

Feed three to six small meals, including a last evening feeding. Dr. Ernie Ward calls this a “Midnight Snack,” which typically consists of a small portion of a high-protein food or treat offered just before bedtime. This “extra dinner” can help with unwanted feeding behaviors.

Divide the total daily food volume or calories into three to six small meals. Whatever you do, don’t feed extra food simply because your cat asks you to!

When the bowl is empty, and your cat is asking for more, try adding a few kibbles to the bowl. By a few, limit it to no more than five to ten tiny kibbles.

Offer fresh water instead of food. Many cats love fresh water, so when they are eyeing an empty food bowl, try filling up the water bowl instead.

What do you do if one cat is of normal weight and the other is diagnosed with obesity?

While there are countless creative solutions to this problem, here are a few we’ve found most successful:

Feed separately whenever possible. Place the overweight cat in one room and the healthy-weight cat in another during meals. After 15–30 minutes, remove any leftover food.

Elevate food for agile cats. Feed the healthy-weight cat on a counter or cat tree where the overweight cat can’t reach.

Avoid free feeding or grazing. Instead, establish a consistent feeding schedule with two to four set mealtimes per day.

Use food puzzles or slow feeders. These help overweight cats eat more slowly, burn calories through play, and stay mentally stimulated.

Track food intake and weight. Regular monitoring helps prevent overeating and allows for quick adjustments if one cat is gaining or losing weight unexpectedly.

Reduce stress at mealtimes. If competition or food aggression occurs, use closed doors or barriers to keep cats calm and focused on their own meal.

By combining these strategies, you can maintain control over portions, protect cats on special diets, and create a healthier feeding routine for every pet in the household.