Why Is My Cat Always Hungry

How Can You Know That Your Cat Needs Food

Vocals: Cats are usually quiet. They wont let out loud cries, unless and until they need something. It might mostly be for food otherwise when it is in danger or a bad mood. After ruling out the other two causes, if he is still letting out high pitched meows, then it is time for you to feed him.

Behavior: There is no wonder if a cat is clingy, especially when you share a strong bond. It is a way they express their love for you. But dont fail to notice when he is being clingy and also where. If you find him running between your legs restlessly, seeking your attention whenever you are near his food bowl, or he himself directs you to his bowl, it is an evident indication that he needs food. Sometimes they are cranky and show their rage towards you for not feeding.

Your Cat Is Lonely Or Bored

Some cats eat more because they are bored or lonely as well. Well, the best thing to do is to give the cat with more stimulation, and you should stop leaving kibble out for them to munch on almost all day. Let the cat work for the meal, like providing it in the puzzle toys. Through this, cats will burn more calories and will keep their minds engaged.

Rule Out Medical Reasons

If your cat acts like youre feeding them for the first time in years every time you open a can of food, there could be a medical reason as to why theyre so hell-bent on eating.

Parasites, hyperthyroidism, and diabetes are just a few of the reasons your cats behaviors around food may have changed.

Before assuming a psychological reason, such as an eating disorder, run some tests with your vet to eliminate the possibility of a serious illness causing your cat to act so ravenous.

If your vet gives you a prescription for medication or a diet change, you should see if you can fill it at Chewys online pharmacy and have it delivered to your door.

Read Also: What Was Gargamel’s Cat’s Name

The Cat That Is Always Hungry

A cat that is always hungry might not be hungry. Most of the time overeating in cats is not the cats fault. Sometimes, we cat owners can be guilty of feeding our cats too much and far too frequently.

Cats are opportunistic feeders. In the wild, cats will hunt for their food and eat what is available. When they come upon food the cat in nature will eat until very satiated because who knows when it will eat again.

But indoor cats, our little fluffballs, dont have to hunt. And since cats are opportunistic feeders there are plenty of opportunities to eat in a humans house.

We will fill their little bowls up with cat food time and time again , toss snacks at them, and sometimes feeding food from our own table.

Then one day we notice that our cat is overweight and always begging for more to eat.

Eating And Putting On Weight

You do not want to fatten up your cat too much. Cats, like people, may just like eating and can eat more that whats really good for them. Being overweight is not healthy for a cat. It can lead to severe health problems.

Is your cat an unspayed female who has had contact with male cats? If she has an increased appetite and cant seem to stop eating and shes packing on the pounds she may be pregnant. She is going to lead lots of nutrients to feed the little kittens growing inside her. You can skip the pickles and ice cream, though.

Read Also: What Big Cats Live In North Carolina

Is Your Cat Always Hungry

If you are wondering âall my cat wants to do is eat?, you are not alone. Your catâs appetite being high is a common eating problem. Another way to say this is having a cat that is food obsessed can be âa featureâ of cats. In this article, we are going to discuss possible causes and solutions for addressing increased appetite in cats . There are reasons that your hungry cat wants to eat all the time.

Remember, polyphagia itself is not a disease. Itâs a symptom of either a behavioral or medical issue. To resolve these issues as a responsible cat owner, you must find the source.

Signs That Your Cat Is Obsessed With Food

Every cat is different, but some of the typical signs that your furbaby may be a little too obsessed with eating include:

• Aggressiveness around the food bowl

• Rubbing up against your legs while you are in the kitchen

• Seeming impatient at mealtimes

• Vocalizing louder than usual

• Over-excited behavior at mealtimes

• Seeming over-interested in your food getting onto the counter tops when you prepare meals, trying to sniff and eat food you have left out

• Generally pestering you for food

• Bad behavior at his or your meal times

Read Also: How To Introduce A New Kitten To An Older Cat

Break The Crying Habit

If your cat bolts into the kitchen every time youre in there, gently grab your cat, bring them to another area of the house, and calm them down. Keep your cat in this room until the begging stops.

When it is feeding time, shower your cat with lots of positive reinforcement for eating when theyre supposed to eat.

These two techniques should help curb the begging habit of a constantly hungry kitty.

If your cat continues to beg and whine whenever you are near the food bowl, just ignore the behavior. Do not positively or negatively reward their crying. It may get worse before it gets better, so patience is a must.

Again, it must be stressed that you have to rule out any potential illnesses or physical conditions with your vet as the reason why your cat is so food obsessed.

If there are no physical reasons why your cat is begging for food and youve tried the aforementioned tips, it may be time to talk to a behaviorist for a plan of action to reduce unwanted begging and food aggression.

Do you have a cat whose stomach seems to be bottomless? What have you done to keep your cat from driving you bonkers while begging for food? Let us know in the comments below!

The Cat Food Isn’t Meeting The Nutritional Needs

Though you seem to be feeding them always, cats might still be hungry. Why? Well, poor quality cat food could have some effect on the cat. They will eat and eat more since they could not satisfy the true hunger for nutrients.

You might consider feeding them with canned food because it is more nutrient-dense and tastes a lot better too. Since their stomachs are small, cats might only need a couple of tablespoons of raw or canned food to stay healthy and fit.

Read Also: How To Make Cat In Little Alchemy

Behavioral Problems Of Cats Associated With Eating:

• High pitched cries on their scheduled meal time felines are smarter and can memorize their regular meal time quickly. Because of this, they tend to nudge you to provide the meal at that exact time in case you forget to do so.

• If your cat is hungry or not slaked with his meal, he will first try to get you in his will, and after failing in that attempt, he will do counter surfing to get food for himself.

• Whining to get rewards cats are indeed kids and will show a special interest in new foods. So whenever you feed your kitty with something new, and he likes it, he will demand that often by exhibiting odd notes.

Why Is My Cat Always Hungry 3 Possible Causes

Do you feel like your feline friend always pounces on you, ready for the next meal? No matter what time of the day, it seems like your cat is always ravenous and ready for more kibble. Many cat owners are prompted to ask a key question that could reveal deeper issues: why is my cat always hungry?

If you want to dive more into the hidden causes of constant cat hunger, youll want to take a look at the possible warning signs below!

In this article:

• Boredom or depression

Read Also: What Was Gargamel’s Cat’s Name

Eating And Weight Loss

If your cat always seems to be hungry but seems to be losing weight no matter how much she eats, something is terribly wrong. Your cat possibly has a severe health problem and needs to be taken to the vet. Fortunately, many of these potential ailments can be cured or at least managed with medication or changing your cats diet.

Here are some things your vet may screen for:

Another Thing To Remember When Wondering Why Is My Cat Always Hungry

Cats stomachs are extremely small: a couple of tablespoons of canned or raw food or a third of a cup of kibble per feeding is about all a cat needs to stay fit and healthy. Of course, if your cat is a 20-pound Maine Coon, hell need a lot more food than a petite Singapura, so be sure to work with your vet to figure out the most appropriate amount to feed your feline friend.

Tell us: Is your cat always hungry? How did you solve the issue?

This piece was originally published in 2015.

Read Also: Smurf Comic

Why Is My Cat Always Hungry

• Pin
• Email

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

Your cat will display habitual behavior around mealtime when it is hungry, and many cats can be quite demanding that they are served. But cats aren’t as motivated by food as dogs, so acting hungry all the time, begging, or whining for food between feedings may point to a medical issue. Understanding how and when cats act hungry can help you know when to see your veterinarian and what to report.

Feeding Recommendations From Your Local Veterinarian

Canned food only is my first choice. For an adult cat, start with ½ of a 5.5 oz. can twice daily and no additional food. This is the starting point and likely will need to be adjusted downward.

For little cats, a half of a 3 oz. can twice daily may work better. This amount is also cat-specific and often needs adjusting up or down. Feeding canned food seems to create the best balance between calories and feeling full, and the meal seems to tide the cat over better than a dry food meal.

Recommended Reading: How To Say Cat In Korean

Should I Worry That My Cat Is Always Hungry

Your cat cant beg for food without reason. Whether its a psychological or physical reason, you need to find out why your cat wants to eat all the time. The best decision would be to consult a professional veterinarian, because constant overeating may be a sign of severe health problems:

• Intestinal parasites
• Cancer
• Depression

But if you went to a vet and heard that you shouldnt worry about a cats health, the answer to Why my cat is always hungry? may be very simple:

Some cats wont stop eating because they are bored. So, maybe your cat merely wants to play more and needs more stimulation to stay active? Provide her with new toys, interactive cat games, or more interaction with you, her human. It will help your feline burn calories and keep her mind engaged.

Also, consider automatic cat food feeders to control a cats diet.

Another reason for your cat always hungry could be that shes merely getting old. Older cats may undergo behavioral changes as well as physical problems Ive already discussed here, leading to increased appetite.

What to do? Remember about annual periodic screening at a vet hospital. If your cat is 6+ years old, visit a doctor twice a year, to make sure shes healthy.

How To Feed Your Cat So It Stops Begging And Starts Losing Weight

Cats, Nutrition

Cats receiving an adequate number of calories per day will be hungry . So feeding a cat until it is full is almost always overfeeding unless it is an actively growing kitten under eight months of age.

Naturally, cats eat multiple small meals a day by hunting and eating what they catch. Having a bowl of dry food available allows multiple small meals of a high caloric feed with no effort on the cats part, this is a recipe for weight gain.

Don’t Miss: How To Keep Stray Cats Off Outdoor Furniture

Recommendations For Owners Who Stick With Dry Food

Dry food can be fed but must be done by careful measure, specific meals and no snacking. Todays dry foods have much better ingredients allowing for a higher number of usable calories per cup, so even less is needed compared to the Little Friskies of 30 years ago.

Feeding multiple feedings a day is useful but can be a source of contention as the cat tries to get to be fed in between feedings. No open bowls of food should be available. Dry food is offered for a set amount of time, and any leftover food is removed until the next feeding. Sometimes, taking the bowls up, so there is no reminder of the lack of food is helpful to limit begging.

Is Your Cat Hungry Due To An Underlying Medical Problem

Not all food obsession is down to gluttony. In many cases, over-excitement at feeding time and an inability to leave their food bowl with even a scrap inside could be a sign of an underlying medical problem. Parasite infestations, diabetes, and thyroid conditions can all cause an animal to act like they are ravenous all the time.If your cats behavior around food changes suddenly, it is definitely worth arranging an appointment with your veterinarian who can run tests to determine if there is a medical reason for your kittys voracious hunger.

Read Also: What Was Gargamel’s Cat’s Name

Why Is My Cat Eating So Much And Losing Weight

The inner workings of a cats digestive system can be confusing to the everyday cat owner, and its often difficult to identify issues with your cats health based on their weight and size due to the varying ideal bodyweights for each breed. Feline Hyperthyroidism is a common ailment for cats of all ages and breeds, and can be identified clearly if you notice your cat is eating more frequently, or is acting hungry more often, while still losing weight.

According to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Cats afflicted with hyperthyroidism usually develop a variety of signs that may be subtle at first but that become more severe as the disease progresses. The most common clinical signs of hyperthyroidism are weight loss, increased appetite, and increased thirst and urination. Hyperthyroidism may also cause vomiting, diarrhea, and hyperactivity. The coat of affected cats may appear unkempt, matted, or greasy.

Our expert veterinarians Dr. Barron and Dr. Ellen go into detail about how you can identify Feline Hyperthyroidism in your cats, and what your options are for treatment.

How To Prevent Excessive Hunger In Cats

The first thing to check on when you notice an increase in your cats appetite is the amount and quality of food you are feeding. Cats are obligate carnivores meaning they need a high protein diet to be healthy. Good quality cat foods should contain greater than 35% protein. Protein in the 40s is even better. The amount of protein alone isnt enough that protein needs to be high-quality, meaning that it comes from real, whole meats rather than plant-based sources. Meat proteins are more complete and easier to digest, so your cat gets more out of them.

Next youll want to look at how much you are feeding your cat. Check the feeding labels on the back of your cat food cans or bags. You want to feed for the weight that your cat should be, not the weight that they are. This means that for weight loss, youll want to feed less. For weight gain, youll want to feed more. If you need help determining a healthy weight for your kitty, consult your veterinarian.

Remember to take treats into account when youre figuring out your cats daily food amount. The more treats you feed, the less food they should get per meal. Instead of feeding high-calorie snacks, you may try to substitute low-calorie foods, like green beans, lean meats, or oatmeal to keep your cats hunger in check. Youd be surprised, some kitties actually really like these foods!

If youre still having trouble controlling your cats ravenous appetite, its time to seek veterinary advice.

Don’t Miss: Smurfs Cat Name

Reasons Your Cat May Seem Hungry

There are a variety of reasons why a cat could be persistently hungry, even when it has regular meals.

Regardless of the cause of your catâs excessive hunger, it is important to consult with your veterinarian for proper nutritional advice and to ensure any possible underlying problems are resolved. In addition to regular checkups, seek out veterinary care if your catâs appetite changes suddenly, as that can also be a sign of problems.

To keep your cat from being constantly hungry, provide it a healthy, nutritious diet suitable for its needs â including how those needs change over time. Good exercise and mental stimulation will help ease emotional distress to keep your pet on a healthy diet, and the more attuned you are to your catâs behavior and activities, including its eating patterns, the more quickly you will notice any changes that could indicate concerns before they become serious problems.