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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Bengal male 3 yrs obese and obsessed with eating

31 replies

MangoMonster · 14/11/2011 21:35

I have two bengals, one male, one female. They both go out ina very big garden during the day. However, the male is obsessed with eating, he will come back up to 10 times for food a day. He's obese and needs to lose weight. He has a tendency to be sick as in vomit indigested food due to eating too fast i suspect. What can I do. He's always been like this since he was neutered. He lives for his food... Diet food I must add.

Anyone else got a cat who wants to eat all day?

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Original poster

MangoMonster · 14/11/2011 21:36

Female is perfect weight.

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thisisyesterday · 14/11/2011 21:41

i don't know, but I would say a trip to the vet wouldn't go amiss just to check there isn't some reason for his large appetite and also to see if they can suggest anything to calm him down a bit.

Original poster

MangoMonster · 14/11/2011 21:50

He's has regular checks at the vet and has has various tests for a problem in the past. He's healthy, as far as the vets can tell. He's emotionally insecure I think. He was the biggest kitten in the litter so has always been keen on eating. He's very needy... He's on a strict diet at the moment but I know he'll convince one of my neighbours to feed him, the charmer...

He's around 7.5 kg and should be 5.5kg.

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Original poster

MangoMonster · 14/11/2011 21:52

Do you think it's he needs something to calm him? Not sure about felliway, is it safe? Could it just be habit?

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noddyholder · 14/11/2011 21:56

My cat is like this The boy. the girl isn't. I have been told to cut snacks etc by the vet and put him on a strict diet with no 'treats' when he went back he was heavier .He is also healthy and a pedigree but food is his life. Sorry have no tips my cat eats when stressed too eg a cat around outside in teh garden would send him to the biscuits!

Original poster

MangoMonster · 14/11/2011 22:04

Bossy, that's exactly it, he's an addict. He would rather sit in all day in the vain hope he might get fed than go out and have fun. He loves going out. I feed him 10 times a day but little bits at a time. Other cat is not bothered and only eats when hungry. Short of treating him like a new born baby, I'm not sure what to do. He has to lose weight for the good of his health, but what can I do to help him emotionally? He is a baby really...And a very adorable one at that. He gets stressed at anything, other cats, rain, being in, being bored. Can't seem to satisfy him without feeding him.

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Original poster

MangoMonster · 14/11/2011 22:04

noddy not bossy, typo.

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overthehillmum · 14/11/2011 22:06

Hi mango, what is his diet? I ask as my cat is obese and I am trying to get her to lose weight. Any hints would be appreciated.

Original poster

MangoMonster · 14/11/2011 22:08

Using hill prescription rd, although not had much success! A little though. You can get it from the vet or check with vet if it's suitable then you can get it from amazon cheaper.

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overthehillmum · 14/11/2011 22:12

Just going to google it now and see about booking her into the vets.

overthehillmum · 14/11/2011 22:13

Sorry, posted too soon, meant to say thank you.

Original poster

MangoMonster · 14/11/2011 22:15

I've had two cats before for 22 yrs and they only ate when they were hungry so this baffles me. He can't even fit on our laps any more, bless him. I think it's stress. But he is a bully and can have most cats... They are all scared of him, not surprised seeing as he's twice as big.

I know I'm really over analysing this, but I think he really feels the need to be top of the pride and adored, so he gets stressed easily and eats to compensate.

Feel so bad reducing his intake but it's for his own good, although he whines at me constantly like he hasn't eaten in a week.

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Original poster

MangoMonster · 14/11/2011 22:16

No problem, it does work if you can stop them eating elsewhere.

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noddyholder · 14/11/2011 23:25

I am quite bossy I know my one is like a baby too loves to be in scared of the wind in the garden and just loves food and cuddles. He feels like a big teddy I really love him and his sweet nature but I haven,t conquered his appetite yet. Good luck x

Fluffycloudland77 · 15/11/2011 08:49

I have a Bengal male too.

Firstly I would check the ingredients in his food. Cats are obligate carnivores but most biscuits are maize based. Now if your body needs protein but your food is carb based your not really getting what you need are you? I feed 3 100g pouches a day plus a handful of applaws bisciuts which contain 80% chicken with a bit of potato. His weight is stable at 5.5kg, as long as he has a waist I am happy.

You can buy collars off the Internet which say do not feed on them, as long as they are snap release not elasticated they are safe. Or you can buy cheap snap collars in the £1 shop and write on them in laundry pen.

You could also do a leaflet drop with his photo on saying please don't feed this cat he is on a prescription diet but is getting food elsewhere and it is making him very ill.

If you go on Bengal cat forum you will find a lot of info on nutrition for them, they are known for vomiting if given maize based food.

Lastly go by your own instincts with his weight, if he has a waist I'm happy with mine because he is pure muscle not pot bellied.

Original poster

MangoMonster · 15/11/2011 12:11

Thanks Fluffycloud makes sense, I will look at the Bengal cat forum. Maybe he would do better on a different food.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 15/11/2011 14:10

Just be careful with the raw feeding lot, their the NCT of bengal owners.

(they feed a raw diet, which is ok but you have to know what you are doing or you could end up harming the cat through lack of taurine which is destroyed through mincing or cooking meat).

Original poster

MangoMonster · 15/11/2011 19:00

Thanks, had a look, don't worry I don't have the expertise for all that. Got some good ideas though, especially with regards to more meat protein. Hopefully he might find it more satisfying. They both have very delicate stomaches though... So might ake a while to find something that works. Thanks for the advice, was feeding hills rd on advice from vet but it's not really workin that well.

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Original poster

MangoMonster · 15/11/2011 19:03

Going to try 3 fixed meal times too. It might have become a habit to ask for food when he really wants attention.

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piratecat · 15/11/2011 20:18

it is deffo emotional greed op. my sis has a very fat cat, and she has to stick to two meals a day for him. that, she CAN control.

the vets have said he is quite healthy, and that some cats do get fatter than others. what he eats outside is out of your control unfortunately. don't give in to him. ten snacks is crazy. i know cats like to graze, but he can't.

Original poster

MangoMonster · 15/11/2011 20:23

Thanks piratecat will do.

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piratecat · 15/11/2011 20:26

i know it's hard. my sis's cat will do anything for food, he would like yours prefer to sit by the food cupboard all day. she has to throw him out, and ignore him. He yowls, and he wakes her up at night. very hard.

Original poster

MangoMonster · 15/11/2011 20:31

I have to throw him out and ignore him too! He just seems to need to comfort and I have a DS who's 2 with SN so not much time for cat loving during the day. They were my babies until DS came along. The girl can amuse herself, but he is such a soppy baby :)

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piratecat · 15/11/2011 22:04

i have a new cat, a boy. after two girls who both died prematurely over thelast 2 yrs.

He is a total baby too. ridiculous and i am doing my best not to pander too much to it!

Original poster

MangoMonster · 15/11/2011 22:38

They are so unbelievably adorable though, arent they. Sorry to hear about your other kitties.

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