...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!

Mine leads me to his bowl every time he sees me. He's not hungry, he just thinks I won't realise he's only just been fed

Not that all cats begging for food is a result of a medical condition, but it can be. We had a cat who went from having biscuits where he just ate what he wanted over time to one who was obviously hungry and begging all the time. It transpired after many vets visits that he had acromegaly which caused insulin resistant diabetes. He put on weight initially but was very hungry all of the time. I am not suggesting that this is the cause of all cat food begging, ours certainly begged for chicken before his behaviour changed, but it might be worth getting your cat checked out by the vet just in case - For us, by the time we had had it properly diagnosed and there was a chance of operating he was not well enough to survive the operation.

A cats bladder can be damaged by dry food. My cat got a serious problem & ended up having to have a special meat diet. Id recommend getting a vet`s advice.

My mums cat started doing this a little over a year ago. He's a very outdoorsy cat & if he was hungry he'd usually just go snack on a mouse or something but he became very persistent. She mentioned it to the vet during a routine check up & it turns out he has a thyroid condition. It's very easily treatable but he will need medication for the rest of his life.

I'd take it to the vet. We used to do the same as you and my boy changed his habits. Turned out he preferred the wet food because it was easier to eat, but he still couldn't manage it in one go. He has a disease that affects his gums.

Could your car have mouth issues?

*cat, not car!

Thanks for all the advice :) I will take him to a checkup at the vets if it doesn't improve, but he normally eats mice etc when he's really hungry (from having worms for example) so he's not quite so desperate! Will try to give a little bit more food and see how he gets on, it could very well be all the changes in the house as well that he is reacting to. Hopefully it'll be better soon!

lljk I do sometimes chuck him out and shut the catflap, but he's such a big and strong cat that I reckon he could break it open, so don't dare risking it! :P

Is there anything in particular your cat enjoys ie: sitting on your lap, ears being rubbed, being in the garden with you, playing with a cat toy? Perhaps you could spend some quality time giving him some extra fuss, something that relaxes you too sometime in the afternoon. Keeping in mind knowing cats he will expect this daily so maybe just a short amount of time considering how busy you'll be in the near future. For instance when my cat wasn't eating much I put my finger in his dried food to encourage him to eat, now he won't eat unless I do this. Thankfully he doesn't like wet food!! LOL. I also noticed my cat was getting very clingy when I was about to go away so kept my suitcase out of site but accessible and he did calm down a little bit, so I also tried out giving him more fuss and he lapped it up. :-) Please let us know if you find a way that works for you and your cat and good luck.

What Glenda said. Both my cats (sisters) got like this about 2 years ago and have been since diagnosed with a thyroid condition. I would take him to the vet just to be sure.

I had an older cat & for her this behaviour was a symptom of a thyroid condition too

Yes check for hyperthyroidism.

Mine cries and cries on a morning until I put some kibble down. It is irrelevant how much is already in the bowl, she has to see me pour some out, or at least pretend to.

Cats are strange and wonderful creatures.

Zombie thread!

This is what's commonly known in my household as "trying it"

Ah, now I've had cats for 65 years, usually 3 or 4 at time. The last 30 or so years have been Siamese. I've seen this behaviour before, and I reckon it's not hunger but attention-seeking. If your cat is the right weight and his coat isn't 'staring' or sticking up (sign of health problems or pain) then he's having enough grub.
My Siamese called Minty is doing the same thing in the kitchen; getting right under my feet, sticking his head under my arm and so on. He'll break my neck tripping me up one of these days. I think the reason is he's just bored. They have a catflap but it's so cold outside they aren't going out much at all. Minty likes activity and interest so he's going crazy with boredom. Like you I have a routine for feeding. I might offer a little tidbit during the day if I have some meat in the fridge, but not often.
Mine have Iams biscuits always available in their bowl and they get pouches (Felix) morning and night. At night they also get one of the following: chopped chicken, tuna, ham, flaked cod, raw mince, sardines.
I think it may indeed be something to do with your pregnancy. He senses something's different. I should give a little tidbit (tiny bit of meat) and some extra cuddles and attention.
I've never tried Feliway, but others say it works.
Bloody cats eh?

OP you are not alone in your frustration. I have two cats, one is always hungry, always yamming and milling about looking for it. She is never satisfied with what I give her, because it wet or dry. If I don't give her wet she cries, if I don't give her dry she cries, if I give her both one type rots in the bowl. She drives me nuts so much so I've been tempted to give her away ( I have two kids under 3 who also constantly yam for food).
It's not attention she wants either, I know exactly what she wants, it's dreamies. Those tiny nuggets of cat heroin.
My other cat eats anything that she is presented with and is happy.
I think cats are a bit like people sometimes you just get one that's never bloody happy!

Cats will over eat if they are bored.

Ffs you seem to think you are being virtuous by not feeding him until the allotted time. Why not just give. Him a bit of dinner if he wants it?

Flossyfoof- do you really think it's in an animal's interests to be obese?

My cat has started being more demanding in the same way. We've figured out that an old lady who lived across the road & who has moved on must have been feeding him. So we're up from 2 pouches & some biscuits a day to 3-4 pouches a day. It's driving me nuts, but there's little I can do about it - he's not overweight & clearly needs the food!
Roll on summer when he'll explore further afield and find a new second home!