Cats enjoy eating their food, and they always eat with pleasure, but have you ever wondered why they eat so much? It is like they are always hungry, always wanting more and more food, even right after eating. When a cat refuses food then that is a good sign that there is some problem that requires medical attention. Also, if the cat starts overeating, that is a possible sign of a health problem too.
Identifying Eating Habits of Your Cat
You must observe your cat constantly to check whether there is something strange in their eating behavior. Of course, cats should be fed a few times per day, and there is no correct answer to how much food is enough, but there are some things you can follow to avoid overfeeding your cat.
In general, kittens should be fed more frequently than adult cats to improve their energy and growth process. However, their little bellies cannot handle a lot of food. They should be given smaller amounts of quality food, but more frequently. Four smaller portions during the day should be enough. Adult cats should be fed about twice per day, larger portions in comparison to small kittens.
It is also important to feed your cat with nutritional food of high quality. They should not be fed only with leftovers of your lunch. You should find food that is best for their health and their specific breed.
Cats, same as humans, require food rich in proteins, minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, as well as water to function optimally and to be happy. If you notice that your cat is constantly hungry and begging for food, and if that is something that worries you, call your veterinarian and seek advice on how to proceed.
Identifying Behavior Of Your Cat
Your cat will start showing habitual behavior when mealtime comes. They will start wandering near the food storage, they will meow, scratch, and rub against you. When you give your cat food, stay close and observe how much they eat and how they eat their food.
Look for possible signs of a problem, such as increased thirst, vomiting, frequent urination, or diarrhea. If you notice that they are overeating, it is important to act quickly so the medical issue will be dealt with as soon as possible. Increased appetite and overeating can have dangerous effects on the overall well-being of your cat.
Possible Reasons For Your Cat’s Increased Appetite
If your cat is always hungry but it does not gain weight, then that may point to some health issue. Some of the main reasons for your cat’s increased appetite might be the following:
- Your cat might have diabetes. This happens when their body does not produce enough insulin, and the food they consume is not transformed into energy. To compensate for this, your cat will overeat to increase their energy levels. If you see that your cat frequently urinates and drinks a lot of water, that might be a sign of diabetes.
- Your cat might have worms. These parasites in the body feed off the food that your cat consumes. They are stealing the nutritional contents, leaving your cat always hungry. Worm-infested cats usually look swollen around their bellies and may appear like they are gaining weight. Cats usually get worms by eating fleas or other prey. Worms are more common for outdoor cats, but indoor cats can get them too.
- Your cat may be dealing with stress. Same as humans, cats also eat a lot when they are depressed, sad, anxious, or stressed out. Loneliness and boredom can also lead to overeating. If you suspect that your cat is eating because one of these reasons, try spending more time with it. Pet, cuddle, and play together so their psychological situation will improve. Over time, they will return to their standard, healthy eating habits.
- Your cat may suffer from hyperthyroidism. This condition triggers appetite because your cat starts to burn a lot of calories. If they have a very active thyroid gland, they will use their energy quickly and will become hungry quickly. This usually happens in older cats, and symptoms are not easy so to determine. However, if the veterinarian diagnoses hyperthyroidism early, its treatment is easy.
- Your cat might have cancer. If all other reasons are eliminated, and your cat is still excessively hungry, then a good idea is to test the cat for cancer. Intestinal tract tumors are known to happen in cats, so test it to see whether this is the case with your cat. Tumors are rare, but they do happen, so it is better to test them to be sure.
