...to be really confused and frustrated at my cat?

[Littleen]

Perhaps not the best place to post this, but it's got a lot of people on here so maybe someone can help!

I have 3 cats, all are normally very happy, cuddly and chilled out creatures at 7 and 8 years of age.

They always have access to water and cat biscuits, and get fed a sachet of whiskas each at six o'clock every evening. One of the cats loves his food a bit too much, but this is just getting crazy. He's for the last 3 years atleast (I can't quite remember) been nagging me for food from 4pm until dinner time at 6. Very annoying, but he just doesn't seem to get the schedule, whilst the two other don't say anything unless I'm late feeding them. I never give in and feed him earlier, unless I plan on being out until very late (very rare), and they can't be fed when I get back.

The last 2-3 weeks he's been getting so frustrating though, nagging from any time between 1 and 3 in the afternoon, hours and hours before dinner time! He's healthy, got a good if slightly larger weight, don't have worms or anything (he has had that before so know how it works) and he's still getting fed like usual with the other cats. He's not finishing his evening meal anymore, but snacks on it later at night and in the morning too. I find this a bit strange, as normally he will have his own meal and half of his brothers' too. He does get the same amount throughout the day though, just not in one go.

I'm so annoyed, he runs in my feet nonstop, miaowing and pawing and whatnot. I know he's asking for dinner because of his behaviour, it's different when he wants cuddles etc. He's got lots of food that he likes available, and eats, but it's "not good enough" -.-

Please can someone give some advice? I've got a baby due in a few days, and don't want to keep tripping over my cat with a baby in my arms too!

[Littleen]

Ahah, that's so long -.- sorry. Don't want to drip feed.

[Anniegoestotown]

If he wants food why don't you feed him.

Also cat biscuits are a definite no no. They do more harm than good i.e. kidney damage.

[Anniegoestotown]

My elderly nearly 18 year old girl who resembles a greek street cat eats at least 3 tins of senior cat food per day about 8am, 5pm and a tin to be eaten over night. 1 sachet seems quite small.

[DarlingGrace]

My vet says you shouldnt feed wet food but use quality dry food

[Binkyridesagain]

If I tried to get my cat to eat to a schedule I can guarantee he would find some way to get his revenge. He is fed when he is hungry, usually 2 meals a day, about a half a tin worth each sitting. After he eats, he sleeps.

[hamptoncourt]

Mumsnet wisdom says All Cats Are Bastards.

Hope this helps.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Canned food is alot of water. As pp said they need a good quality dry food. He's probably starving having to wait all day for a pouch that's a high percentage of water and isn't satisfied from the biscuits which probably make him really thirsty.

[bonzo77]

The cat might be a bit worked up about the baby. Sometimes they can sense these things. Have you tried feliway?

[ThePieSmuggler]

There are advantages and disadvantages with both wet and dry food, there's not a one size fits all food, it's very much upto individual preferences/health requirements of the individual so don't worry too much about whether its wet or dry, so long as fresh water is available all the time!

[Kundry]

3 cats with constant access to cat biscuits is confusing to the cats. Some cats will cheerfully just eat the right amount of biscuits a day and then be quiet but others will hoover up all available biscuits and another may be getting nothing.

If I did your feeding regime with my cats I'd have one cat that was too fat to move but still nagging me for more food and one emaciated cat who was never getting a look in.

I'd suggest clear meal times with no food in between and a Feliway diffuser to calm all of them down. If you want one Whiskas meal and one dry that's up to you (and many vets recommend dry food).

I can't recommend Vicky Halls' books about cat behaviour highly enough as they sorted out all my cat behaviour problems.

I've also got a fat cat who continually begs for more - am currently using Royal Canin Satiety Management feed on the vet's advice and the weight seems to be coming down and much less begging as well.

[HighlanderMam]

My advice?

Feed him more.

[Pigsmummy]

My cat is driving me nuts too. If I am home he pesters constantly for food, so I have stopped feeding him between meals, he gets fed morning and evening now and I leave Iams out in a dish all day. Fingers crossed.

Is your cat wormed?

[GloriousGoosebumps]

It doesn't sound as though he's getting enough food. The recommendation is 3 pouches per day in at least 2 separate meals for an average cat weighing 4 kg. You do seem quite dogmatic in your view that the cats can only be fed at 6 pm; I eat when I'm hungry and I'm sure you do too. So increase the amount of food you give him and feed him when he's hungry.

[Littleen]

Thanks for the responses - the cat's food and feeding schedule have worked fine so far for the other cats (had 4 cats until last year) and they're all within healthy weights and wormfree! We have tried different kinds of wet food, but this cat will only have his whiskas. He won't even have whiskas from a tin, but it's not an issue really. Biscuits all day is also not an issue, as they all seem happy to graze - none of them binges on it. When they're out of biscuits there's no stop to the complaints, so not removing them :P Can't afford fancy stuff from the vets, and they've always had whiskas/friskies etc with no problem. The wet food is more a treat than anything, I feel it's important with the combination, but having lots of wet food would come to £9 or so per day per cat, which is mental (don't live in UK). Basically, we can't change what they eat, but it's worked fine for 7 years so why not now!

Perhaps it's the impending baby doom? It's literally been the last few weeks he's been so moany. Going to try to add another sachet between them all for the evening and see if that satisfy him better. Sigh! :P

[YouTheCat]

I feed mine in a similar way - biscuits in the morning and a sachet in the evening. But I give half the sachet at tea time and the other half later on. Seems to work for my cat, or the little bugger just keeps following me from 7/8 onwards.

[Littleen]

glorious 6pm feed was what he's had since being a kitten, and it's for the routine which the other cats are happy with too. Can't feed 3 cats on demand - I can't exactly sit around the house waiting for them to be hungry! The other cats haven't had an issue with the routine at all!

Mind, now my OH came home (early) from work and he suddenly stops nagging. Wahh.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Humans regularly misinterpret cats seeking attention as cats requesting food. So there is a baby due you will have new stuff in the house, you may have a bag packed and downstairs, you are giving off different pheromones in cat world this is all incredibly confusing and your cat maybe seeking reassurance that he is still special.
I feed my cats in meals they get a half portion of Arden Grange in the morning and 1 pouch each in the evening and this is plenty for them. Sadly cats will over eat and the vast number of obese cats I see daily confirms this.
If you were my client I would be suggesting getting a Feliway plug in to ease your cats through this period and taking time to give each cat attention.

[Littleen]

Meant £9 per day, not per cat aswell. But £9 per day = £63 per week just in sachets. woah!

[FoxesRevenge]

Do you worm them regularly?

[Littleen]

Thank you Lonecat I'll try some feliway :) He surely must notice the changes, what with cotbed coming up and everything. Perhaps he'll enjoy some catnip too. hehe.

[FoxesRevenge]

Sorry, just seen that they are wormfree!

[Littleen]

foxes yes I do, they're all clear :)

[lljkk]

Mine get chucked outside when they nag too much for food. They seem to get that message.