How to Slow Down a Cat Who's Eating Too Fast

When a cat eats too quickly, it can develop health issues such as gas and vomiting. If your cat gobbles down its food and you want to slow it down, there are some steps to reducing the problem and helping your cat eat at a more normal pace.

Things You'll Need

  • Cat food
  • Cookie sheet or tray
  • Slow-eating bowl
  • Ball
  • Extra bowls
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Fill a cookie sheet with the amount of food you normally give your cat but spread it around the sheet. When your cat comes to eat, it will take more time to eat the same amount of food since it is spread out rather than piled in a bowl. This prevents the cat from taking large mouthfuls of food.

    • 2

      Buy a bowl designed to slow down eating. These bowls have raised pillars inside that the cat must eat around, causing it to slow its eating pace. You can mimic this idea by placing a ball (such as a tennis ball or baseball) in your cat's regular bowl.

    • 3

      Feed your cat several small meals a day instead of one or two large ones. This means more work on your part, but if other methods are not successful, this tactic may be your best bet.

    • 4

      If you own more than one cat, there may be competition among your pets if they eat from the same bowl. Offer each cat its own smaller bowl of food to prevent rapid eating.