Molly explains why a cat's whiskers touching a bowl can cause stress and recommends a flat dish to avoid it.
The episode begins with hosts Molly DeVos and Dewey Vaughn introducing the topic of how to feed cats, emphasizing its importance for cat owners. Molly, a certified feline training and behavior specialist, first addresses bowl selection, explaining whisker fatigue and recommending wide, shallow dishes to avoid stress. She mentions a bamboo bowl sold on their website. Next, they discuss feeding multiple cats, advising to feed them out of sight and at least two feet apart based on cats' solitary hunting instincts. The conversation then turns to elevated bowls, with Molly questioning their necessity for most cats, citing that wild cats eat off the ground, though she notes exceptions for medical conditions. They explore feeding frequency, recommending multiple small meals daily to bond with cats and mimic natural eating patterns, with Molly sharing her schedule of five meals for her cat Pico, including a timer for a 3 a.m. feeding to prevent nighttime disruptions. The hosts cover calorie calculation, providing a formula based on weight in kilograms and referencing a feline body score chart to assess ideal weight. Molly advises against storing food in cans due to bitterness and suggests using containers. They briefly touch on treats, noting they should be included in daily calories, and discuss weight management by gradually reducing portions. The episode concludes with a call to action for listener questions and promotions for their store and nonprofit mission to reduce shelter euthanasia.
