Hello everyone, I'm down to 2 cats and one free-range ferret. My cats are indoor cats, so I'm in a constant struggle to keep them from getting fat. Louie Ferret is the oldest of the herd, so when they were kittens, the cats quickly learned that there was always food available. When my ferrets (3 of them, during the kitten years) would drop a little weight, I used to mix some kitten food in with their kibble. The cats assumed this was a favor to them and even began eating like ferrets, a few bites, every few hours, from the ferrets' bowl and they began ignoring their kitty kibble. We tried many different brands and varieties, to no avail. When Alfador Cat was a little under a year, he developed asthma and the vet took him off of dry food, so he wouldn't inhale the kibble dust, and put him on wet food. This was a great treat for him and Menchi Cat and they would lap up the food, but we were never able to get them to eat more than 1/2 can each for breakfast and dinner. They were saving room for the ferret kibble. To this day, 5 years later, they would rather have ferret food than cat food. Since Louie is free-range, I can't even hide his food in his cage, besides the fact that the cats have been seen climbing into ferret cages to feast (funny sight). I also tried using one of those guinea pig igloos to cover the bowl, but the cats learned to head-butt it out of the way or turn it over before the ferrets even learned to go inside and eat! So, is there anyone else with cats who think they're ferrets? Has anyone ever actually successfully reasoned with their cat to explain that ferret food is made for the biology of a ferret and cat food for the biology of a cat? And how do you tell your cat that the kitten food in the senior ferret's bowl is making her a little round? But seriously, does anyone have any ideas? I know that Louie won't be around much longer, he's over 7 and inflicted with Adrenal Disease and Insulinoma, but the cats' bellys grow bigger daily. They flop side-to-side when they walk (funny sight too) and the vet is going to want some answers. And I need some help! Thanks, Jennifer and her Jersey Fuzzbucket [Posted in FML 6144]