Pet Feeding Guide

Each dog eats twice per day — morning and evening. Every meal has two parts: Victor kibble weighed on the kitchen scale, plus a scoop of pre-made topper from the fridge. The topper is cooked white rice mixed with Kirkland organic mixed vegetables.

Mix the kibble and topper together in the bowl so the picky ones can't just eat the rice and leave the kibble behind. A quick stir with a spoon is enough.

Exact Weights Per Meal

Supplements

All three dogs get Cosequin (glucosamine/chondroitin joint supplement) with their morning meal. Cali and Buddy each get 1 chew; Odin gets 2 chews. Since we reduced the kibble by 25%, they're getting less of the built-in glucosamine from the Victor, so the Cosequin is even more important now.

Cook once a week. The whole batch takes about 30 minutes and makes 7 days of topper for all 3 dogs. Store in the fridge.

What You're Making (7-Day Batch)

Instructions

How to Store the Topper

Keep the full batch in 1–2 large airtight containers in the fridge. Wide, shallow containers (like a large Rubbermaid or Pyrex) work better than deep ones — easier to scoop from and the food stays fresher because less air gets trapped.

The topper lasts 5–6 days in the fridge comfortably. If you're worried about the tail end of the week, you can split the batch in half and freeze the second half, then move it to the fridge on day 3 or 4 to thaw overnight.

Per-Meal Portioning

No need to pre-portion into individual containers. Just use the kitchen scale at each meal:

1. Place the bowl on the scale, tare to zero
2. Scoop in the correct kibble weight
3. Tare again
4. Scoop in the correct topper weight
5. Stir together with a spoon

Freezing

The topper freezes well for up to 3 months. If you want to cook two batches at once every two weeks instead of weekly, that works. Freeze in daily or half-week portions and thaw in the fridge overnight.

Monthly Quantities

Shopping Frequency

Every 2 weeks at Costco: 1 bag of Victor kibble (~$69), 2–3 bags of mixed veggies (~$20–30), and restock rice as needed. The rice lasts about 6 weeks; the veggies (~5.6 lbs/week) need restocking more regularly.

Chewy: You can also order the Victor through Chewy with autoship if that's easier. Compare the price — sometimes Chewy autoship is slightly cheaper per bag.

What to Buy — Product Picks

Rice: Go with the Supreme Long Grain 25 lbs for $9.89. Avoid instant/minute rice — it turns to mush. Regular long grain holds its shape better in the fridge.

Mixed Vegetables: Kirkland Signature Organic Mixed Vegetables, 5 lbs (~$9.97) from Costco. Frozen is nutritionally equivalent to fresh and way more convenient. You'll go through about 1–2 bags per week. Avoid canned — too much sodium.

Where the Money Goes (Monthly)

Hey! Thanks for taking care of the dogs. Here's everything you need to know about feeding them.

The Basics

The dogs eat twice a day — morning and evening. Each meal has two parts: dry kibble (from the green Victor bag) and topper (pre-made in the fridge in a large container).

What to Put in Each Bowl

Use the kitchen scale. Place the bowl on it, hit tare, add kibble, tare again, add topper. Stir everything together in the bowl before giving it to them.

Supplements

Each dog gets Cosequin chews with their morning meal only. It's a joint supplement — looks like a brown treat. Container is on the counter or in the pantry.

• Cali — 1 chew
• Buddy — 1 chew
• Odin — 2 chews

Important Notes

• Buddy is picky. He might not finish his food right away. That's normal. Don't add extra topper to coax him — he'll usually come back to it.
• Odin is also picky but tends to eat when Cali eats. Feed them at the same time.
• Cali will eat anything. Don't let her steal from the other bowls.
• Fresh water always available.
• Dogs can be kenneled in the attached garage when needed.

Don't go from full kibble + wet food to the new plan overnight. Transition over about 10 days to avoid upset stomachs.

At the 75% kibble level, the Victor food still covers all essential vitamins and minerals. The topper adds calories, fiber, and digestible carbohydrates. Here's what each ingredient brings:

• White rice (70%): Easy-to-digest carbohydrate energy. Dogs digest white rice better than brown. Gentle on stomachs.
• Mixed vegetables — carrots, corn, peas, green beans (30%): Fiber, beta-carotene, vitamin K, manganese, and some plant protein. The variety adds good micronutrient coverage.

Why Not a Supplement?

At 75% kibble, you don't need a separate multivitamin. The Victor formula already has glucosamine, chondroitin, probiotics, omega fatty acids, taurine, and a full vitamin/mineral panel. At 75%, that's still enough to cover daily requirements. If you ever drop below 70% kibble, you'd want to add a dog multivitamin supplement like Balance IT.

Calorie Match

This plan delivers approximately the same daily calories each dog was getting on the old kibble + wet food plan. All three dogs are maintaining their weight well on the current amounts, so no adjustment should be needed. If any dog starts gaining or losing weight, adjust the topper amount up or down by 15–20g per meal.

The base recipe (rice, eggs, peas) is your staple. But if you want to rotate things for variety, here are safe add-ins:

• Eggs (hard-boiled or scrambled): If you want to add extra protein, a few hard-boiled or scrambled eggs per batch is an easy option. Chop them up and mix in. One of the most bioavailable protein sources for dogs.
• Frozen broccoli: Fine in small amounts. Costco has the Kirkland Organic 4×16oz for $9.99. You can swap some of the mixed veggies for broccoli if you want variety. Don't overdo it — too much broccoli can cause gas.
• Bone broth (no sodium/no onion): Mix a splash into the topper for extra flavor on days the dogs seem uninterested. Make sure it has zero onion and zero garlic — check the label carefully.
• Ground turkey: You can add it to a batch for extra protein. The Costco fresh ground turkey (93/7, 4×1.67lb for $25.99) works — cook it through, drain, and mix in. It's more expensive per calorie than eggs, so treat it as an occasional rotation, not a staple.
• Spinach: Small amounts are fine, raw or lightly steamed. Good source of iron. Don't make it a main ingredient — oxalates in large quantities aren't great for dogs.
• Plain pumpkin puree: Great for digestion. A spoonful mixed in can help with loose stools or picky eating.

Both cats eat twice a day — morning and evening. Each cat has their own microchip-activated feeder that only opens for them, so you don't need to worry about them stealing each other's dry food. The lid opens automatically when the right cat approaches.

Dry Food — Feeders

Each feeder holds dry kibble. Just top them off when they're running low — there's no strict per-meal amount for dry. The feeders control access, not quantity.

• Maui's feeder: Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Grain-Free Salmon & Yellow Pea
• Moki's feeder: Royal Canin Veterinary Gastrointestinal (the prescription bag — don't substitute)

Wet Food — Per Meal

Each cat gets ~1 can of wet food per meal (morning and evening). Open a can, put it in their bowl next to their feeder. Flavors are flexible — we keep several on hand.

• Maui: Her current favorite is Fancy Feast Medleys Shredded White Meat Chicken Fare. She'll eat others too — Fancy Feast Medleys White Meat Chicken Primavera, Purina ONE Chicken, etc.
• Moki: Whatever he'll eat — see the pickiness note below. We keep Fancy Feast Medleys, Purina ONE Beef, and Purina ONE Chicken on hand. Try whichever he'll accept.

Feeding Schedule

Feed them around 8am and 8pm — same time as the dogs. The dry feeders handle themselves — you just need to put out wet food twice a day and give Moki his pill.

Moki takes Methimazole for his thyroid. This is important — don't skip doses.

Dosing

Both cats use a Litter Robot in the laundry area (same room where they're fed). It's a self-cleaning automatic litter box — it handles the scooping itself.

Your Only Job: Empty the Collection Tray

• Pull out the waste drawer at the bottom and empty it into the trash every 2–4 days, depending on how full it looks.
• If the blue light is flashing, the drawer needs to be emptied.
• No scooping needed — the Litter Robot does that automatically after each use.

Litter Refill

There's a litter hopper on top that automatically keeps the bowl filled. Just make sure there's Fresh Step clumping litter in the hopper — if it's getting low, top it off. You shouldn't need to worry about this much during a normal stay.

Maui 13 lbs

Maui was born in June 2009 — she's almost 17 and doing remarkably well for her age. A few things to know:

• Allergies: She has environmental/food allergies — hence the Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin food. Don't switch her dry food.
• Overweight: She's on the chunky side. Don't give her extra food, treats, or let her eat Moki's food. We're trying to keep her weight stable, not actively diet her right now.
• Early-stage kidney disease: Currently minor and being monitored. She's not on a prescription kidney diet yet, but avoid high-phosphorus treats (no deli meat, no fish-heavy treats). Keep fresh water available at all times — cats with kidney issues need to stay hydrated.

Moki 8 lbs

Moki was born around June 2011. He's a small, wiry cat and has had a few health things going on for years:

• Hyperthyroidism: Managed with Methimazole (see the medication section). When well-controlled, he's fine. Signs it's not controlled: weight loss, increased appetite, hyperactivity, vomiting.
• Early-stage kidney disease: Same as Maui — minor, being monitored. Fresh water is important.
• Digestive sensitivities: His gut is just sensitive. Stinky poops are normal for him. Loose stools occasionally happen too — if it's one-off, not a concern. If it's persistent or he's clearly uncomfortable, let us know.
• Extreme pickiness: He will sometimes completely stop eating a food he previously loved. This is not illness — it's just Moki being Moki. We keep several food options on hand. If he won't eat one thing, try another.

Hey! Thanks for taking care of the cats. Here's the short version of everything you need to know.

Daily Routine

1. Feed both cats twice a day (morning and evening) — see amounts in the quick reference above.
2. Give Moki his Methimazole with both meals — rub the gel on the inner flap of his ear (alternate ears). See the medication section for details.
3. Empty the Litter Robot drawer every 2–4 days, or when the blue light flashes. No scooping needed — it cleans itself.
4. Keep the kitchen fountain running — cats and dogs share it, and staying hydrated matters especially for the cats.

Key Things to Know

• Keep their bowls separate. Maui will eat Moki's food if you let her, and Moki needs to eat his own food for the medication to work.
• Moki may refuse a food. If he won't eat what's out, try a different flavor or brand from the options we left. You can also add a splash of hot water to his wet food and stir it in — the warm smell often gets him interested.
• Maui is friendly and low-maintenance. She'll probably want lap time. She may beg for food — don't give her extra.
• Moki is more skittish and may hide for a day or two while he adjusts to you being there. That's normal. He'll come out eventually.

What to Watch For

• Moki refusing to eat for more than 24 hours
• Moki vomiting repeatedly or seeming lethargic
• Either cat avoiding the Litter Robot (may indicate a hardware issue)
• Either cat clearly in distress

Regular Items