Cats are obsessed with food.

[Rents]

Both my cats are becoming increasingly obsessive about food. They mewl constantly between meal times, have ripped open a bag of dried food (which was hidden on top of shelves) and the kitchen bin is no longer safe (it is a pedal bin with a lid but has been compromised twice already!).

They have even being trying to steal food from our plates, have had to put them outside when eating (open plan house) or upstairs which isn't ideal and make me feel guilty.

Could this be the change in weather? They are going out less so they may be bored?

It has got worse since my partner was ill in bed one day and they missed breakfast and lunch ( he said he couldn't physically move and I was at work all day). Could be food insecurity? Or worms, although both where wormed in the summer and I haven't seen any evidence in their night litter tray.

Any ideas or just a nutty cat phase they are going through?

I really don't know. What's their weight like? If they're on the skinny side then you might not be feeding them enough. If they're a bit podgy then they're probably just greedy. It could be food insecurity though as you say. I often find the same behaviour in ex stray cats. It takes them a while to realise that food will always be around and they don't have to bolt it all down the second they see it.

They could well be bored because of the weather and the lack of 'action' outside even if they go.

As they eat dried, have you thought of making them forage for their food? \link{http://www.icatcare.org/advice/keeping-your-cat-happy/making-your-home-cat-friendly\This} might be of interest.

Loads of guidance on making foraging toys on the net but in the interim, you'll find ready made kibble balls in supermarkets or pet stores.

\link{http://www.ehow.com/how_2294840_make-cats-foraging-toy.html\Here's} one - but you'll find lots of others if you just google on How to make cat foraging toys or something similar.

The older one is on the podgy side (vet said about 15% over weight), the younger one is a normal weight.

I'll ensure that strict meal times are adhered too incase it is food insecurity, sometime their morning feeds can be ad-hoc (both in shift work).

I'm watching them now and it could be a cat v food competition between them. They are each stalking then other to ensure that neither of them are about to miss out on anything (I'm making a sandwich, neither of them are going to have anything). They both had lunch an hour ago.

The big one has 2 and 1/2 pouches of wet food and royal canin dried food spread through 3 feeds and the little one has the same with 1 and 1/2 pouches.

X post. I'd try a couple of kibble balls if I were you. They're good to have in any case.

How much do you feed them? It's not impossible to get two gannets but I'm wondering if they need more food generally?.

That's a really good idea about the food foraging! Will get some kibble balls in. Non noisy ones! Thank you.