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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to have thought that cats were meant to self regulate when it comes to food?

71 replies

catnao · 02/05/2011 13:19

I have two cats. One of them is slim and elegant and leaves food when it's had enough. The other, on the other hand, is frankly, massive. It is only about a year old. It cries loudly and persistently for food ALL day, and the only time the thing moves with any sort of alacrity is when anyone makes a move towards the kitchen. I KNOW it must be lying when it insists it's starving, but the problem is with three of us seldom all in the house at the same time, it manages to fox us all into thinking it hasn't been fed. Possibly just seconds earlier. Why is it eating like this? Just simple greed, or can cats have food issues?

OP posts:

worraliberty · 02/05/2011 13:21

When was the last time you wormed it?

lesley33 · 02/05/2011 13:23

Don't know why - but some cats don't self regulate with food. Its doesn't seem to be that uncommon. I think its a myth that cats self regulate and dogs don't. You need to look at how you control access to food for your fat cat.

Original poster

catnao · 02/05/2011 13:23

It was wormed about a fortnight ago - and also it's absolutely rotund - wouldn't it get thin with worms?

OP posts:

lesley33 · 02/05/2011 13:26

If it was eating a lot but thin, then this could very clearly have medical causes. But your cat is fat so more likely to be greed - unless it could be pregnant?

handsomeharry · 02/05/2011 13:26

My DBs cat doesn't self regulate when it comes to food. He cries constantly for food and would eat constantly if allowed. DB has had him at the vet and the vet can't fimd anything wrong with him.

Sorry - I know thats not much help!

worraliberty · 02/05/2011 13:26

Not necessarily as worms can make the belly swell. Also, the over eating unless vigorously worked off, would definitely make it fat.

You refer to your cat as 'it' so I don't know if it's male or female, but nutured boys do tend to put on weight.

Just get whoever feeds it to write a note to say so.

blimppy · 02/05/2011 13:26

Some cats just love food! Our fluffy bundle of fur is also rather large, entirely a result of virtually no exercise and a love of food. I try desperately to limit her food supply, but the lack of movement means that she remains plump (she calls it "big furred"!). You'll have to develop a system of leaving notes for each other to say she has already been fed. Also, could she be eating your slim cat's food? Our's certainly used to eat her slim brother's food. You may need to separate their feeding places, or lock her out while he eats and remove any food he leaves uneaten.

edam · 02/05/2011 13:26

I'd imagine so re. worms. My cat's a bit like this - constantly moaning for food. I put down some dry and some wet in the morning, then top up the dry when I can't resist his begging, then he gets more wet in the evening. Which is probably too much, tbh. He's not fat, though, same size as his brother who belongs to my sister.

worraliberty · 02/05/2011 13:27

Errrm that would be 'neutered' lmao

lesley33 · 02/05/2011 13:27

Nutured toms can put on weight - but this means their food needs to be regulated.

TheVisitor · 02/05/2011 13:28

Stick with dried food and water only and put one person in charge of feeding the cat. I have one that meows at me even when there's food in the bowl, but he's just trying it on for what he thinks is nicer stuff, like chicken. Get everyone in the family to play with the cat so it exercises - at a year old, he should still be very playful.

Original poster

catnao · 02/05/2011 13:29

Ah - well I guess he's just very greedy then. Also extremely exercise resistant. My friend has his siblings and they are slim. I might have to take him to visit to make him ashamed. Notes a good idea - thanks.

OP posts:

Original poster

catnao · 02/05/2011 13:30

Oh - he is a neutered tom - I didn't realise this could = fat. The other one is slim, as I say, but it is entirely possible the fat one is also a thief.

OP posts:

handsomeharry · 02/05/2011 13:31

at the thought of shaming the cat!

lesley33 · 02/05/2011 13:34

The amount of cat food recommended by cat food manufacturers is too much unless a cat is very very active. Most cats need far less than owners put out for them. Agree cat may be stealing thin cats food so need to get rid of this possibility.

Also good to encourage your cat to exercise. So play games with your cat. You may need to have a word with neighbours as well to make sure nobody else feeds you cat.

But don't feed your cat in response to its asking for food. Have an amount that the cat gets given every day and over time adjust this if your cat is still fat. An agreed feeding time may help as your cat should learn that it only gets fed at a specific time and that it won't get any food at other times. It may also be that your cat sometimes asks for food when it is really thirsty or ewven just bored. So try playing with it in response to requests for food outside of feeding times.

TheBride · 02/05/2011 13:34

did he used to be stray?

I only ask as when we first fostered our cats they would scoff everything and beg for more- I guess as they were used to feast and famine. Once they got used to it, they calmed down and became more moderate, and annoyingly also more fussy. Whereas once they would scoff leftover spag bol, now it's Whiskas sachets or nothing

lesley33 · 02/05/2011 13:35

Neutered toms are more likely to put weight on. But please don't use this as an excuse for your cat to be fat. It just means that you have to regulate access to food.

TheBride · 02/05/2011 13:35

Sorry- just to add- the vet suggested we cut out the dry food completely- and it did work. They begged less and got thinner.

edam · 02/05/2011 13:36

If I try playing with my cat when he's shouting for food, I get mugged. He grabs me round the ankles to make his point VERY clear.

Kewcumber · 02/05/2011 13:37

Is he an outdoor cat or an indoor one because I have heard that cat need to free range in order to self regulate with food.

Original poster

catnao · 02/05/2011 13:39

He's ALLOWED out. he chooses not to go outside. Occasionally sits on decking directly outside back door, coincidentally leading off kitchen....

OP posts:

lesley33 · 02/05/2011 13:39

Fair point Edam, I have known cats like this. But I have also known cats that would be distracted in this way. Cats are different and what works for one wouldn't work for others.

But I do hate seeing fat animals. As adults we choose whether we live healthily or not, but it is really our responsibility as pet owners to make sure our animals are not fat.

TheBride · 02/05/2011 13:40

That's interesting Kewcumber. My cats are indoor cats (not from choice- long story- basically we are the longest serving cat foster parents ever- was meant to be 4 wks- it's now 3 yrs later).

As I mentioned, both started off REALLY greedy, have calmed down, but are so different to the cats I had as a child who free roamed and barely seemed to eat anything they gave us, preferring to forage for rodents.

Original poster

catnao · 02/05/2011 13:40

Oh - he wasn't stray, but I have wondered if he was given to us too early. The lady we got him from took him off the mother that he was suckling at the time, which seemed a bit sad. He is also VERY clingy, especially to me, but also to my partner if I am not there.

OP posts:

TheBride · 02/05/2011 13:40

"we gave them", not "they gave us". I have never eaten anything the cat gave me, honest.

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