She doesnt need to eat 3x/day tho. It might be a process for both of you to adjust but she's better off 2x/day and up the fun making. Also, what I have found helpful to reduce begging or harassing for food is to have a ringtone that only plays every 12 hrs so she learns yo associate feeding as being preceded by that tone rather than an ad hoc thing she can endless renogotiate you over chronically.

Does she have a cat tower/tree? Those are helpful to keep them active and jumping up and down and shit

[–] Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world 3 points 19 hours ago (2 children)

The ringtone is a great idea. Classic operant conditioning.

The question then is whether to scale back the third meal bit-by-bit, or to switch straight to a twice a day feeding schedule.

[–] alternategait@lemmy.world 1 points 12 hours ago

I actually set mine to the sound of the fire alarm so if there’s ever a fire (hopefully never) rather than freaked out I hope my cats will run to the food bowls.

[–] cheese_greater@lemmy.world 1 points 18 hours ago

I would just switch immediatey to every 12 hrs do it for your wakeup time and 12 hrs later. Maybe be more generous with how long you leave it out the first week (maybe like 30-45 mins vs 20) but try to get that down.

She will eat to satisfy her hunger first. Anything after that is likely boredom or just something to do. You have to make and enforce that choice for her health