Cat won't stop eating or stealing food

[queribus]

Smudge is a 6 yo, Bengal-cross. We've had him (and his sister) for a year - both from the CPL. He won't stop eating! He's dragged bread out of (closed) cupboards and eaten that. He's taken toast out of the toaster and eaten chicken soup out of the pan on the hob.

He'll steal anything and can open cupboards, even managing to push the tin of dried food out onto the floor and eat the lot. This evening he ate a pain au chocolat.

He's been to the vet who recommended worming (already done). Despite the eating, he's lost weight, but seems very young for diabetes or thyroid problems.

Is it behavioural? Any ideas.

If he's eating lots but losing weight then I fail to see how it can be behavioural. Did the vet do any blood tests? I would give him more food and take him back to the vet.

Also, has he been like this all the time you've had him? Or is it recent? And how much do you feed him?

I think you need Fluffy on this one. Keep an eye on the thread until she's around. Is his sister OK with food as or is she just a slightly more restrained pig?

Oh - what weight is he?

He's going back in a couple of weeks for blood tests. He's been like this for about four months, not all the time. He did have a period of weeing everywhere and randomly attacking us. His sister, Tabs, is fine - but really tiny.

He's a large cat - weights 5.6kg.

He is fed in the morning about 7am, and in the later afternoon - 5pm.

Any idea about his background? We have a cat that will eat absolutely anything. (He does have a weight problem though.) We know that he came from a home where he was neglected and fed irregularly so, in his case, it appears to be behavioural.

Well if he's eating a lot but losing weight then either there is something wrong, or he is simply not getting enough food. As it's only started recently and not all the time then probably the former and the vet will need to investigate.

How much food does he have at each sitting?

We were told he went to the CPL after a relationship split and neither party could keep the two cats. No neglect as far as we know.

Thyroid was my first thought too. Our cat has been recently diagnosed with lymphoma (we declined intestinal biopsies but the ultrasound was convincing enough). She'd been steadily losing weight and constantly demanding food. In our case she isnt absorbing food properly and her poo is horrific. She has awful wind too. Im not saying this to scare you as my old lady is 13 and also Bengals have some brilliant behavioural traits! Just wondering if a dietary intolerance is a possibility.

That's a thought - especially if he's going for grain carbohydrates to steal.

What brand and type of food does he normally get?

If it wasn't for the weight loss I would say that the stealing is just fun for him. We have a Bengal who will steal from under the grill and in saucepans if left unattended. Scones are a particular favourite and he can open cupboard doors if they don't have a slow closer!