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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.

Original poster

Cat obsessed with food!

16 replies

WalkingWolf · 01/10/2014 22:10

Wondering if anyone's got any advice?

I feed my cat a grain free wet food, the recommended amount for his weight, 3 times a day.

He just always seems to be looking for food. Every day I come down stairs to the bin being ripped to shreds even if there's nothing in it. He can't be in the kitchen if I'm so much as making a sandwich as he will just steal food at any chance he gets.

If I open the fridge he will jump in and grab whatever he can. He's so quick that I don't even see it coming. I have to open the
Fridge a tiny bit and try and grab what I need before he jumps up and try's to push himself in if that makes sense?

The worst thing is he swipes food out of the DC hands and scratches them. Hmm

I do try and keep him out of the room when they are eating but it's not always possible.

He's always constantly on the worktops licking them, he also licks all the clean dishes that are on the draining board.

He's not due to be wormed until the end of November.

Any ideas? Apart from his food issues he's a lovely cat!

OP posts:
LastingLight · 02/10/2014 06:51

How old is he? Is he a rescue?

OwlCapone · 02/10/2014 07:00

Is he a healthy weight? Is he a very active cat? Maybe he does need a bit more food than the pack suggests for his weight.

I don't understand the whole "feed X amount for this weight of cat" thing. Surely if the cat isn't the right weight, then you are feeding them too much or too little...? Do cats have different metabolisms to other cats?

Original poster
WalkingWolf · 02/10/2014 07:32

He's 2, a rescue and a healthy weight. Do you think I should give him a bit more food then?

OP posts:
Original poster
WalkingWolf · 02/10/2014 07:33

Oh and he's not very active at all. I was told he was an outdoor cat but he doesn't like going outside.

OP posts:
TeWiSavesTheDay · 02/10/2014 07:36

Cats can get hyperthyroidism, usually in old age but maybe worth checking at the vets.

Snowmonkey77 · 02/10/2014 07:53

Poor kitty and poor you! I haven't experienced this personally - when my cat is hungry she sits patiently by the food bowl, mute with hungry eyes!

Obviously I don't know your cat but one suggestion would be to start giving him an extra pouch a day just to see how that influences his behaviour. We feed our cat 3 or 4 of the foil pouches and some days that's enough and some days she wants a little more. She does go outside though and when she is more active her appetite increases hugely. Temperature can also be a factor - as it gets colder she just needs more food.

There could be an underlying reason for the begging and stealing though - you mention he is a rescue cat and if he has experienced hunger and irregular feeding in the past this may contribute to this kind of behaviour. Alternatively he may just be bored. Cats can get obsessed with food in an unhealthy way and this could be due to a stressful upbringing or other psychological reasons. If you are sure he us getting enough food and the behaviour persists I would suggest asking the vet what they suggest.

OwlCapone · 02/10/2014 07:58

I would only feed him more if it stopped him scrounging and didn't make him fat. I'd ask the vet for advice TBH.

What if you feed him more often but less at each time? Does he wolf his food down as if it's going to be his last meal?

My cat wolfs his food down, unless it's the dry stuff, and then looks for food elsewhere but he is greedy with a tendency to be fat. He doesn't go to the same lengths your cat does though.

Was he rescued as a kitten or has he had to scrounge for food?

Original poster
WalkingWolf · 02/10/2014 08:47

I was only told that he was abandoned. Although his notes say that he was a healthy weight when the rescue took him in.

I feed him 3 times a day. 7am, 1pm and 7pm, plus treats inbetween. He basically inhales his food every time.

One of the DC opened the kitchen door last night and accidentally let him in. He jumped onto the worktop and dragged the whole cooked chicken on the floor which we were going to have for dinner.

He's got a vets appointment tonight so I'll ask them about it then.

OP posts:
Original poster
WalkingWolf · 02/10/2014 08:51

I will give him a bit more food today and see if that makes a difference. I don't think it will though.

OP posts:
Original poster
WalkingWolf · 02/10/2014 08:57

Sorry if it seems like I don't like him as that's not the case! He's a lovely cat and very affectionate. It's just getting a bit draining always having to make sure the whole kitchen is spotless before I eat my dinner so the cat doesn't lick the work tops. Having to wash/dry the dishes straight away and not being able to put any food in the bin and keeping the cat and DC separated when they are eating which is hard when you've got two toddlers who seem to constantly eat.

OP posts:
OwlCapone · 02/10/2014 09:34

It doesn't should like just a bit more will stop him if he was stealing a whole chicken!

How long have you had him?

Lweji · 02/10/2014 09:42

If he was abandoned he may have learnt to get any food he could or go hungry.

Maybe have toys he can use his hunting instinct on, instead of food?
Or associate stealing food with an unpleasant response, such as a little water spray?

sunbathe · 02/10/2014 09:46

I second the hyperthyroidism suggestion. My cat's just been diagnosed with it. He was asking for food all the time.

LastingLight · 02/10/2014 09:48

I made our glutton cat a food toy by cutting holes in an old water bottle and putting his food in that. He had to push it around for the food to fall out. That kept him busy for a while at each meal.

thedevilinside · 02/10/2014 11:25

I have a glutton cat. He's eaten 24 pouches in two days. I got him as a kitten one year ago, and he doesn't do much, expect sit in the garden and watch the guinea pigs and catch the odd insect. He's a lovely and friendly, and still kittenish, but will he heading towards fat cat territory if he carries on eating. Not sure what to do about him

HansieLove · 02/10/2014 20:23

I have a garbage can that is stainless steel and has a lid, with a foot pedal to open the lid. They are pricey. It holds a lot, and a white garbage sack fits perfectly.

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